Word of the Day: Often
The word “often” is an adverb that is used for situations that happen frequently compared to other, similar situations. Synonyms for “often” are usually, many times, and a lot.
- She’s goes there often. (She goes there a lot.)
- He often wears sunglasses. (He usually wears sunglasses.)
- I often drive through Wisconsin. (I have driven through Wisconsin many times.)
The use of this word is dependent on the person who uses it, or it’s dependent on the situation.
- Tony is often late for work. (He’s late six or seven times per month. That’s a lot!)
- We often eat at the diner down the street. (We eat there two or three times per week.)
- I often visit New York on business. (I go there three or four times per year.)
- He often raises his hand in class. (He’s a good student and he participates in classroom discussion every day.)
When “often” is used with negative verbs, it regularly goes to the end of the sentence:
- She doesn’t go there often.
- He doesn’t wear sunglasses often.
- I don’t drive through Wisconsin often.
- I don’t often drive through Wisconsin. (Some people put “often” between the helping verb and the main verb. This is okay.)
The adverbs “too” and “very” are used with “often.”
- He sends text messages way too often. (The situation is bad.)
- We’re able to see our friends very often. (This situation is good.)
Essential English Dictionary
Visit the Popular English Words Beginning with O page to see the list of all words starting with letter O. For seeing the HiCafe dictionary, visit the Popular English Words with Meaning page.
