Lessons

Adverbs of frequency: sempre, spesso, mai

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Adverbs of frequency indicate how often something happens.

What these words do (frequency adverbs)

These expressions tell how often you do something.

Meaning (from most to least) Italian Typical use
100% sempre / ogni giorno always / every day
very often di solito / spesso usually / often
sometimes qualche volta / ogni tanto sometimes / every now and then
rarely raramente / quasi mai rarely / almost never
0% mai never

Where to put the adverb in the sentence

In this unit, use this simple rule:

  • Most frequency adverbs go after the verb.
Pattern Correct example
Verb + adverb

Faccio sempre esercizio.

Gioco spesso a tennis.

Two common exceptions (place them before the verb)

  • di solito usually goes before the verb.
  • Expressions that start with ogni often go at the beginning of the sentence (as a time phrase).
Expression Correct Common mistake
di solito Di solito vado in palestra. Vado di solito in palestra.
ogni + time Ogni giorno vado in palestra. Vado ogni giorno in palestra.

Tip: In real Italian, you may also hear Vado ogni giorno in palestra. In this course, follow the unit rule: “ogni…” at the start.

"Mai" needs "non" (mandatory negation)

In Italian, mai is used with the negative non.

Correct Wrong

Non nuoto mai.

Non gioco a tennis mai.

Nuoto mai.

Gioco mai a tennis.

Also useful: quasi mai works the same way: Non + verb + quasi mai.

A practical “build the sentence” checklist

  1. Choose the verb: vado / faccio / gioco / nuoto.
  2. Add the frequency:
    • After the verb: sempre, spesso, qualche volta, raramente, quasi mai
    • Before the verb: di solito
    • At the start: ogni + time (ogni giorno, ogni settimana)
  3. If you use mai: add non before the verb.

Quick self-check (before you move on)

  • Did I put the adverb in the right place?
    • di solito → before the verb
    • ogni… → at the start
    • others → after the verb
  • If I wrote mai, did I also write non?
  • Does the sentence still sound “verb-first” and simple (A1 style)?
  1. The adverb goes after the verb, except di solito and adverbs that start with ogni.
  2. With mai, it is mandatory to use negation.
(Adverb) (Example)
AvverbioEsempio
Sempre/Ogni giorno

Faccio sempre esercizio. (I always exercise.)

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

Di solitoDi solito vinco le partite. (Usually I win the matches.)
SpessoGioco spesso a tennis. (I play tennis often.)
Qualche volta / Ogni tanto

Vado qualche volta in palestra. (I go to the gym sometimes.)

Ogni tanto faccio nuoto. (Every now and then I swim.)

Raramente / Quasi mai

Faccio sport raramente. (I do sports rarely.)

Non gioco a tennis quasi mai. (I almost never play tennis.)

MaiNon nuoto mai. (I never swim.)

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

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1. In questo periodo fai ___ esercizio dopo il lavoro. In questo periodo fai sempre esercizio dopo il lavoro.

These days you ___ work out after work.

2. Dopo l'ufficio vado ___ in palestra con i colleghi. Dopo l'ufficio vado spesso in palestra con i colleghi.

After the office I ___ go to the gym with my colleagues.

3. Non faccio ___ ciclismo perché non ho la bicicletta. Non faccio mai ciclismo perché non ho la bicicletta.

I ___ go cycling because I don't have a bike.

4. ___ il sabato nuoto in piscina e ogni tanto faccio anche palestra. Di solito il sabato nuoto in piscina e ogni tanto faccio anche palestra.

___ on Saturdays I swim in the pool and every now and then I also go to the gym.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences by adding the frequency adverb indicated in parentheses and placing it in the correct position in the sentence. (Example: Mangio la frutta. (sempre) → Mangio sempre la frutta.)

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  1. (sempre) Vado in palestra.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Vado sempre in palestra.
    (I always go to the gym.)
  2. (di solito) Corro al parco.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Di solito corro al parco.
    (Usually I run in the park.)
  3. (spesso) Faccio yoga la sera.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Spesso faccio yoga la sera.
    (I often do yoga in the evening.)
  4. (qualche volta) Gioco a calcetto con i colleghi.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Qualche volta gioco a calcetto con i colleghi.
    (Sometimes I play five-a-side football with my colleagues.)
  5. (raramente) Dopo il lavoro faccio sport.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Raramente faccio sport dopo il lavoro.
    (I rarely do sports after work.)
  6. (mai (usa anche la negazione 'non')) Vado in piscina.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Non vado mai in piscina.
    (I never go to the swimming pool.)

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Fabio Pirioni

Bachelor in Humanities

University of Udine

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Last Updated:

Sunday, 27/09/2026 19:50