Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

This lesson covers Italian frequency adverbs like sempre (always), spesso (often), and mai (never). Learn how to express how often actions happen and where these adverbs are placed in sentences.
  1. The adverb goes after the verb, except "di solito" and the adverbs that begin with "ogni".
  2. With "mai" it is mandatory to use negation.
Frequenza (Frequency)Avverbio (Adverb)Esempio (Example)
100%Sempre/Ogni giorno

Faccio sempre esercizio. (I always exercise.)

Ogni giorno vado in palestra. (Every day I go to the gym.)

85%Di solitoDi solito vinco le partite. (Usually I win the matches.)
70%SpessoGioco spesso a tennis. (I often play tennis.)
50%Qualche voltaVado qualche volta in palestra. (I go to the gym sometimes.)
40%Ogni tantoOgni tanto faccio nuoto. (Sometimes I swim.)
20%RaramenteFaccio sport raramente. (I play sport rarely.)
10%Quasi maiNon gioco a tennis quasi mai. (I almost never play tennis.)
0%MaiNon nuoto mai. (I never swim.)

Exercise 1: Gli avverbi di frequenza: sempre, spesso, mai

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

raramente, sempre, Ogni tanto, mai, spesso, qualche volta, ogni, Di solito

1. 50%:
Vado in palestra ... durante la settimana.
(I go to the gym a few times during the week.)
2. 100%:
Faccio sport ... giorno al parco vicino casa.
(I do sport every day in the park near my house.)
3. 70%:
Mi alleno ... con la mia squadra di calcio.
(I often train with my football team.)
4. 100%:
Gioco ... a pallacanestro con i miei amici.
(I always play basketball with my friends.)
5. 40%:
... vado a nuotare in piscina.
(Every now and then I go swimming in the pool.)
6. 85%:
... vinco quando gioco a tennis.
(I usually win when I play tennis.)
7. 20%:
Faccio esercizio ... quando fa freddo.
(I exercise rarely when it is cold.)
8. 0%:
Non vado ... in palestra dopo il lavoro.
(I never go to the gym after work.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Io gioco ___ a calcio con i miei amici.

(I play ___ soccer with my friends.)

2. Lei non nuota ___ in piscina d'inverno.

(She never swims ___ in the pool in winter.)

3. Noi facciamo ___ esercizio la mattina.

(We always exercise ___ in the morning.)

4. Tu non giochi ___ a tennis con me.

(You never play ___ tennis with me.)

5. Marco ___ corre nel parco dopo il lavoro.

(Marco ___ often runs in the park after work.)

6. Noi non giochiamo ___ a pallavolo durante la settimana.

(We never play ___ volleyball during the week.)

Frequency Adverbs in Italian: sempre, spesso, mai

This lesson focuses on Italian frequency adverbs, which tell us how often an action happens. Mastering these adverbs will help you express routines, habits, and frequency naturally and clearly in Italian.

Understanding Frequency Adverbs

Frequency adverbs explain how frequently something occurs, from 100% of the time to 0%. Below are key adverbs that cover the full range of frequency:

  • sempre / ogni giorno – always / every day (100%)
  • di solito – usually (85%)
  • spesso – often (70%)
  • qualche volta – sometimes (50%)
  • ogni tanto – every now and then (40%)
  • raramente – rarely (20%)
  • quasi mai – almost never (10%)
  • mai – never (0%)

Placement and Usage

Generally, the adverb goes after the verb:

Faccio spesso esercizio.

Exceptions include di solito and adverbs beginning with ogni, which come at the start of the phrase:

Di solito vinco le partite.

Ogni tanto faccio nuoto.

When using mai (never), it is important to use negation in the sentence:

Non nuoto mai.

Important Notes on Italian vs. English Frequency Adverbs

In English, frequency adverbs typically appear before the main verb (e.g., "I always exercise"), while in Italian, they generally follow the verb. Another difference is the use of negation with mai, which is obligatory in Italian to convey "never." For example, "I never swim" translates as "Non nuoto mai," combining negation and the adverb.

Useful phrases include:

  • sempre – always
  • spesso – often
  • quasi mai – almost never
  • mai – never (with negation)
  • di solito – usually

Summary

By learning to use these frequency adverbs correctly, you will improve your ability to talk about habits and routines in Italian. Remember their typical placement after the verb, except for certain adverbs like "di solito" and those starting with "ogni," and always include negation with "mai" for negative statements.

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Fabio Pirioni

Bachelor in Humanities

University of Udine

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 03:37