Frequency Adverbs - How Often?

Category
Basic Grammar
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Keyword #
자주, 매일, 항상
Lesson
25

Frequency Adverbs - How Often? 🕐

TL;DR

  • Frequency adverbs tell us how often something happens, like "always," "often," or "never" 📊
  • They usually go right before the verb in Korean sentences 📍
  • Common ones include 항상 (always), 자주 (often), 가끔 (sometimes), and 안 (never) ⭐

What Are Frequency Adverbs? 🤔

Frequency adverbs are words that tell us how often something happens! 🔄
In Korean, they work similarly to English, but they have a specific spot in the sentence 📌

Common Frequency Adverbs 📝

Here are the most useful ones to know! ✨
항상 = always 💯
→ 저는 항상 커피를 마셔요.
(I always drink coffee.)
자주 = often / frequently 🔁
→ 친구를 자주 만나요.
(I often meet friends.)
매일 = every day 📅
→ 매일 운동해요.
(I exercise every day.)
보통 = usually 👍
→ 보통 7시에 일어나요.
(I usually wake up at 7.)
가끔 = sometimes 🌤️
→ 가끔 영화를 봐요.
(I sometimes watch movies.)
별로 = not really / not much 😐
(used with negative verbs!)
→ 별로 안 좋아해요.
(I don't really like it.)
거의 = hardly / rarely 🥲
→ 거의 안 먹어요.
(I hardly eat it.)
절대 = never / absolutely not 🚫
(used with negative verbs!)
→ 절대 안 해요.
(I never do it.)

Where Do They Go? 📍

This is super important! 🎯
Frequency adverbs go right before the verb in Korean! 👈
→ 저는 항상 한국어를 공부해요.
(I always study Korean.)
→ 자주 김치를 먹어요.
(I often eat kimchi.)
→ 가끔 노래를 불러요.
(I sometimes sing songs.)

Time-Specific Frequency Words ⏰

These combine time words with frequency meanings! 🗓️
매일 = every day 🌅
매주 = every week 📆
매달 / 매월 = every month 📋
매년 = every year 🎊
→ 매주 토요일에 쉬어요.
(I rest every Saturday.)
→ 매년 여행해요.
(I travel every year.)

Exceptions ⚠️

별로 and 절대 are special! 🌟
These two adverbs must be used with negative verb forms (안 or -지 않아요) 🚨
→ 별로 안 바빠요. ✅
(I'm not really busy.)
→ 절대 안 가요. ✅
(I never go / absolutely won't go.)
You can't say "별로 바빠요" or "절대 가요" - it sounds weird! 😵

Quick Tips 💡

Want to emphasize "really never"? Combine them! 💪
→ 거의 안 먹어요.
(I hardly ever eat it.)
→ 절대 안 먹어요.
(I absolutely never eat it.)
Remember: these little words make your Korean sound way more natural! 🎉
Start using them in your daily practice and they'll become automatic! 🚀
 
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks with the correct frequency adverb. ⏰
 
  • 저는 _ 커피를 마셔요. (every day)
      • Answer
      매일
 
 
  • 친구를 _ 만나요? (how often)
      • Answer
      얼마나 자주
 
 
  • 우리는 _ 한국어를 공부해요. (always)
      • Answer
      항상
 
 
  • 저는 _ 운동해요. (often)
      • Answer
      자주
 
 
  • 부모님을 _ 전화해요? (how often)
      • Answer
      얼마나 자주
 
 
  • 저는 _ 늦게 자요. (sometimes)
      • Answer
      가끔
 
 
  • 친구는 _ 도서관에 가요. (every day)
      • Answer
      매일
 
 
  • 저는 _ 피곤해요. (always)
      • Answer
      항상
 
 
  • 영화를 _ 봐요. (often)
      • Answer
      자주
 
 
  • 저는 _ 요리해요. (sometimes)
      • Answer
      가끔
 
Vocabulary
커피 - coffee
마시다 - to drink
친구 - friend
만나다 - to meet
공부하다 - to study
운동하다 - to exercise
부모님 - parents
전화하다 - to call
늦게 - late
자다 - to sleep
도서관 - library
가다 - to go
피곤하다 - to be tired
영화 - movie
보다 - to watch
요리하다 - to cook
Common mistakes 🚨
  • 🔄 Don't confuse 자주 (often) with 항상 (always) - 자주 means frequently but not every time, while 항상 means without exception
  • 📍 Remember that frequency adverbs go before the verb in Korean word order
  • ❌ 매일마다 is redundant - just use 매일 (every day)
  • 🤔 When asking "how often," use 얼마나 자주 together, not just 자주 alone