文法ガイド

それは何ですか？

頻度を表す副詞は、動作がどのくらいの頻度で起こるかを示します。

よく使われる頻度を表す副詞には、次のものがあります。

• always — 毎回
• usually — たいてい
• often — 何度も
• sometimes — ときどき
• rarely — あまり～ない
• hardly ever — ほとんど決して～ない
• never — 一度も～ない

これらの語は、正確な数を示さずに頻度を表します。

いつ使うか

頻度を表す副詞は、習慣、日課、繰り返される動作について話すときに使います。

• I usually drink coffee in the morning.
• She often walks to work.
• They never eat meat.

これらは Present Simple と一緒によく使われます。なぜなら、この時制は規則的な動作や習慣を表すからです。

より正確な頻度を表す表現もあります。

• every day
• once a week
• twice a month
• three times a year

これらの表現は、ふつう文の最初か最後に置かれます。

• I exercise three times a week.
• Every Friday, we order pizza.

構造

ほとんどの動詞とともに

頻度を表す副詞は、主動詞の前に置きます。

subject + adverb of frequency + main verb

• We sometimes play tennis.
• He rarely drives at night.

動詞 “be” とともに

頻度を表す副詞は、動詞 be の後に置きます。

subject + be + adverb of frequency

• He is never late.
• We are usually at home on Sundays.

助動詞と法助動詞とともに

頻度を表す副詞は、最初の助動詞または法助動詞の後に置きます。

subject + auxiliary or modal + adverb + main verb

• She can always help you.
• I have never seen that film.
• They do not usually work on weekends.
• He will often call in the evening.

Sometimes, usually, and often

Sometimes、usually、often は、文の最初にも置くことができます。

• Sometimes, I walk to work.
• Usually, we eat dinner at home.
• Often, she reads before bed.

Sometimes は文末にも置くことができます。

• I cook dinner sometimes.

Never

Never にはすでに否定の意味があります。not と一緒に使わないでください。

• I never smoke.
• She is never rude.

例

1. I always check my email in the morning.
2. She usually takes the bus to work.
3. We often cook dinner together.
4. He sometimes forgets his keys.
5. They rarely go to restaurants.
6. My parents hardly ever travel in winter.
7. I never drink coffee at night.
8. She is always friendly to customers.
9. We are usually busy on Mondays.
10. He can often solve difficult problems.

例外

いくつかの頻度を表す表現は、通常の副詞の位置に従いません。

every day、once a week、three times a month のような表現は、ふつう文の最初か最後に置かれます。

• I call my parents once a week.
• Every morning, she goes for a walk.

副詞 sometimes は、主動詞の前、文の最初、または文末に置くことができます。

• I sometimes work from home.
• Sometimes, I work from home.
• I work from home sometimes.

よくある間違い

1. Incorrect: I go always to work by bus. Correct: I always go to work by bus. Explanation: 副詞は主動詞の前に置きます。

2. Incorrect: She always is tired. Correct: She is always tired. Explanation: 副詞は動詞 be の後に置きます。

3. Incorrect: He does never eat breakfast. Correct: He never eats breakfast. Explanation: Never にはすでに否定の意味があるので、does を否定の助動詞として使わないでください。

4. Incorrect: They don't never arrive late. Correct: They never arrive late. Explanation: not と never を一緒に使わないでください。

5. Incorrect: I am drink usually coffee. Correct: I usually drink coffee. Explanation: Present Simple では、主動詞の前に am を使いません。

6. Incorrect: She can drive always safely. Correct: She can always drive safely. Explanation: 副詞は法助動詞 can の後に置きます。

7. Incorrect: We go to the gym often every day. Correct: We go to the gym every day. Explanation: 1つで十分なときは、2つの頻度表現を使わないでください。

8. Incorrect: He never is late. Correct: He is never late. Explanation: 動詞 be とともに使うときは、副詞を動詞の後に置きます。