TOPIC · Adverbs & particles

Adverbs of Frequency in German

A1

After this lesson, learners will be able to understand and use various frequency adverbs in German.

In this lesson, we will explore frequency adverbs in German. These adverbs indicate how often an action occurs and are crucial for expressing the degree of regularity in everyday activities. Let's dive in!

What are Frequency Adverbs?

Frequency adverbs describe the frequency of an event or action. Here are some commonly used ones:

AdverbMeaningFrequencyExample
immeralways100%Ich trinke immer morgens Kaffee. (I always drink coffee in the morning.)
fast immeralmost always90%Er ist fast immer pünktlich. (He is almost always on time.)
meistensusually80%Wir gehen meistens spazieren. (We usually go for a walk.)
oftoften70%Ich spiele oft Fußball. (I often play football.)
regelmäßigregularly60%Sie liest regelmäßig Zeitungen. (She regularly reads newspapers.)
manchmalsometimes40%Manchmal gehe ich ins Theater. (Sometimes I go to the theater.)
gelegentlichoccasionally30%Ich treffe meine Freunde gelegentlich. (I occasionally meet my friends.)
seltenseldom20%Wir essen selten Fastfood. (We seldom eat fast food.)
fast niehardly ever2%Er kommt fast nie zu spät. (He hardly ever comes late.)
nienever0%Ich gehe nie ins Konzert. (I never go to concerts.)

Position of Frequency Adverbs in a Sentence

Frequency adverbs usually appear after the conjugated verb:

Ich gehe oft schwimmen. (I often go swimming.)

When emphasizing, the adverb can appear at the beginning of the sentence:

Selten besuche ich meine Verwandten. (I seldom visit my relatives.)

Questions about Frequency

To ask about the frequency of an action, use the structure:
Wie oft + verb + subject + ...?

Wie oft spielst du Gitarre? (How often do you play guitar?)
→ Ich spiele dreimal pro Woche. (I play three times a week.)

Summary

Frequency adverbs are essential for clear communication regarding the regularity of actions.