Adverbios de frecuencia

Objetivos

Identify the correct adverb of time for the context

Adverbios de frecuencia

Play AudioCon frecuencia Play AudioSin frecuencia
Play Audiousualmente, Play Audioconstantemente Play Audionunca, Play Audiojamás
Play Audiogeneralmente, por lo general Play Audiorara vez, Play Audiopocas veces, Play Audiopoco
Play Audioa menudo, Play Audioregularmente Play Audioa veces, Play Audiocasi nunca, Play Audiode vez en cuando
Play Audiocada semana, Play Audiosemanalmente Play Audioapenas (hardly ever)
Play Audiotodos los días, Play Audiodiariamente Play Audiopor lo menos
Play Audiomuchas veces, Play Audiobastante, Play Audiomucho
Play Audiosiempre

In Spanish, word order may be more flexible than it is in English. These adverbs of time and frequency may be used at the beginning or end of the sentence. However it is more common to see them at the beginning.

To say what someone does before or after another activity, use the expressions “antes de” + infinitive and “después de” + infinitive.

  • Play AudioAntes de cepillarme los dientes, yo tomo café.
    (Before brushing my teeth, I drink coffee.)
  • Play AudioTengo que ducharme después de hacer ejercicio.
    (I need to shower after exercising.)

Without the preposition “de”, “antes” and “después” change to mean “beforehand” and “afterwards”. They are followed by the conjugated verb.

  • Play AudioUsualmente hago ejercicio y después trabajo.
    (Usually I exercise and afterwards I work.)
  • Play AudioTengo que hacer mi tarea pero antes voy a echarme una siesta.
    (I have to do my homework but beforehand, I am going to take a nap.)

To express that you do something once, many times, or a couple of times you use the word “vez” (time, instance). Below are a few ways to use this expression, and it comes after the verb or at the end of the sentence.

  • Play AudioMe lavo el pelo tres veces a la semana. (I wash my hair three times a week.)
  • Play AudioMi novio se afeita la barba una vez a la semana. (My boyfriend shaves his beard once a week.)
  • Play AudioCelebramos tu cumpleaños una vez al año. (We celebrate your birthday once a year.)

 

“Cada” + a day of the week, month, or another time expression also expresses “every”.

  • Play AudioCada año, celebro el día de San Valentín (Every year I celebrate Saint Valentine’s day.)
  • Play AudioCada fin de semana, voy a la casa de mis padres. (Every weekend I go to my parents’ house.)