Frequency Adverbs

In Portuguese, word order is usually very relaxed, but there are some "sweet spots" for frequency adverbs. For most verbs, you want to place the adverb right before the action. It's like a little spicy appetizer before the main course. For example, Eu sempre bebo café (I always drink coffee). The word sempre tells us the deal before the verb bebo even happens. However, when you use the "to be" verbs, ser or estar, the adverb often likes to jump to the other side. You would say Eu estou sempre cansado (I am always tired). It’s like the verb estar is a VIP and gets to go first. If you're using a negative like nunca, it usually takes the top spot at the start of the sentence. Eu nunca chego atrasado (I never arrive late). Yes, even if your friends know that is a lie, the grammar remains perfect! Think of the adverb as a shadow to your verb—it follows it closely, usually just a step ahead.

1. 1Think of frequency as a battery charge for your actions. You don't need to do math, but seeing the "percentage" of frequency helps you choose the right word.
2. 2100% Frequency: Use Sempre (Always). This is for things you do every single time, like breathing or checking your phone.
3. 380-90% Frequency: Use Geralmente or Normalmente (Usually). Use these for your standard routine, like your usual route to work.
4. 460-70% Frequency: Use Frequentemente or Muitas vezes (Often/Many times). This is for your regular hobbies.
5. 540-50% Frequency: Use Às vezes (Sometimes). This is the "maybe yes, maybe no" zone. It’s very flexible and can even start a sentence.
6. 610-20% Frequency: Use Raramente (Rarely). For things you almost never do, like eating broccoli if you're five years old.
7. 70% Frequency: Use Nunca or Jamais (Never). This is the hard stop. Jamais is just a more dramatic, "telenovela" version of nunca.

You should reach for these words whenever you are describing your daily life. If you are in a job interview and they ask about your work ethic, you’ll say Eu geralmente trabalho bem em equipe (I usually work well in a team). If you are on a first date and want to sound interesting (or just honest), you might say Eu raramente cozinho, mas sou ótimo a pedir delivery (I rarely cook, but I'm great at ordering delivery). They are essential for setting expectations. Use them when you want to emphasize a habit or a lack thereof. They help you move beyond simple facts and into the world of storytelling. Use sempre to show dedication and nunca to set boundaries. They are the building blocks of your "daily schedule" talk.

Don't use these adverbs for one-time events that are happening right now. If you are currently eating an apple, you don't need sempre. Just say Eu estou comendo uma maçã. Adding sempre there would mean you are in a permanent state of apple-consumption, which might be a bit much for your friends to handle. Also, avoid stacking too many of them together. You don't need to say "I usually always sometimes go." Pick one that fits the vibe and stick with it. These words are about the "big picture" of your life, not the micro-seconds. If an action is a one-off fluke, like winning the lottery, you wouldn't use a frequency adverb unless you're incredibly lucky and win frequentemente (in which case, please share the secret).

The biggest trap for English speakers is the position of nunca. In English, we say "I never go." In Portuguese, you can say Eu nunca vou, but you can also hear Eu não vou nunca. This "double negative" is perfectly fine in Portuguese! It doesn't mean you *do* go; it just adds extra drama. Another mistake is putting the adverb between two verbs that are working together. If you say Eu quero sempre viajar, it’s better than Eu sempre quero viajar, but both are okay. The main thing is to avoid putting it at the very end of the sentence like a forgotten grocery bag, unless it's a specific expression like de vez em quando (once in a while). Also, remember that às vezes has an "s" at the end of both words. Writing à vez is a one-way ticket to grammar jail.

Don't confuse frequency adverbs with time expressions. Sempre (Always) is an adverb. Todos os dias (Every day) is a time expression. They mean similar things, but they sit in different parts of the sentence. Adverbs are short and punchy. Time expressions are usually longer and often go at the end. For example: Eu sempre corro vs Eu corro todos os dias. You can even use both if you really want to be clear: Eu sempre corro todos os dias (though that’s a bit repetitive). Also, watch out for muito vs muitas vezes. Muito means "a lot" (intensity), while muitas vezes means "many times" (frequency). You can like pizza muito, but you eat it muitas vezes.