Collins Cobuild

Unit 41
Frequency and probability
Main points
This  includes  words  like:  ‘always’,  ‘ever’,  ‘never’,  ‘perhaps’,
‘possibly’ and ‘probably’.
Adverbials  of  frequency  are  used  to  say  how  often  something
happens.
Adverbials of probability are used to say how sure you are about
something.
These adverbials usually come before the main verb, but they come
after ‘be’ as a main verb.
1
You use adverbials of frequency to say how often something happens.
a lot
always ever
frequently
hardly ever never normally occasionally
often
rarely sometimes usually
We often swam in the sea.
She never comes to my parties.
You must have noticed how tired he sometimes looks.
2
 You  use  adverbials  of  probability  to  say  how  sure  you  are  about

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something.
certainly definitely maybe
obviously
perhaps possibly probably really
I definitely saw her yesterday.
The driver probably knows the quickest and best route.
Maybe he sincerely wanted to help his country.
3
 You  usually  put  adverbials  of  frequency  and  probability  before  the
main verb and after an auxiliary or a modal.
He sometimes works downstairs in the restaurant kitchen.
You are definitely wasting your time.
I have never had such a horrible meal! I
shall never forget this day.
Note that you usually put them after ‘be’ as a main verb.
He is always careful with his money.
You are probably right.
Today’s inflation figure is certainly much too high.
‘Perhaps’ usually comes at the beginning of the sentence.
Perhaps the beaches are cleaner in the north.
Perhaps you need a current membership card to get in.
‘A lot’ always comes after the main verb.
I go swimming a lot in the summer.
4
‘Never’ is a negative adverb.
She never goes abroad.

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I’ve never been to Europe.
You  normally  use  ‘ever’  in  questions,  negative  sentences,  and  ‘if’-
clauses.
Have you ever been to a football match?
Don’t ever do that again!
If you ever need anything, just call me.
Note  that  you  can  sometimes  use  ‘ever’  in  affirmative  sentences,  for
example after a superlative.
She is the best dancer I have ever seen.
This is the most awful evening I can ever remember.
You use ‘hardly ever’ in affirmative sentences to mean almost never.
We hardly ever meet.
We ate chips every night, but hardly ever had fish.

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