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Lesson 77 of 240

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Always, often, never in English

Danny is at the Blue Plate again, sure the jukebox will play any day now. Dee never believes that story.

Murray says the old machine clicks over once in a while. Ana talks about her train and how often she comes.

By the end, you'll say always, often, rarely, never, and once in a while. You'll also say you do something less than before.

By the end of this lesson

Say always, often, rarely, never, and once in a while.

  • I always take the Blue Line.I take that train every time, with no change.
  • I often come here.I come to this place a lot.
  • I rarely ___.I almost never do this.
  • I never ___.I do not do this at any time.
  • I come once in a while.I come only now and then.
  • Not as often as before.I do it less than I used to.

Scene — danny watches the jukebox

Same corner diner on Larch Street. Danny is at the counter with a coffee, looking at the quiet jukebox by the door.

Dee holds the coffee pot. Murray sits on two stools with a coffee he has not finished. Ana hangs her tote on a stool. Button B7 stays blank.

Danny watches the quiet jukebox from the counter while Dee holds the coffee pot and Murray sits across a pair of stools beside unfinished coffee.

Learn — always, often, never

Six short lines cover always, often, rarely, never, and once in a while.

You'll also say you do a thing less than you did before.

  1. Ana rests beside a diner stool with a hanging tote and looks through the window toward an elevated train.

    I always take the Blue Line.

    I take that train every time, with no change.

    When to use it: Say this when you take that train every time.

    Always goes before take. Keep always as one piece.

    Say it: The stress is on al in always.

  2. Danny sits comfortably at the diner counter with coffee while keeping attention on the jukebox near the entrance.

    I often come here.

    I come to this place a lot.

    When to use it: Say this when you come to a place a lot.

    Often goes before come. Keep often as one piece.

    Say it: The t in often is often quiet.

  3. Murray looks down at unfinished coffee while remaining seated across a pair of diner stools.

    I rarely ___.

    I almost never do this.

    When to use it: Use this when you almost never do something.

    Say the thing you almost never do after rarely.

    Say it: The stress is on rare.

  4. Dee holds the coffee pot above the counter beside an empty stool without pouring.

    I never ___.

    I do not do this at any time.

    When to use it: Use this when you do not do a thing at any time.

    Say the thing you do not do after never.

  5. Ana hangs the tote on a diner stool while pausing beside the counter.

    I come once in a while.

    I come only now and then.

    When to use it: Say this when you come only now and then.

    Learn once in a while as one piece for now and then.

    Say it: Once and in can link.

  6. Danny watches the quiet jukebox beside the diner door without reaching toward its controls.

    Not as often as before.

    I do it less than I used to.

    When to use it: Say this when you do a thing less than you used to.

    This compares now with the past. Keep often in the middle.

Story — any day now

Watch Danny talk about the jukebox. Dee will not believe it, and Ana talks about the train.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Danny sits at the counter and looks at the quiet jukebox.
  2. DannyB7 will play any day now.He thinks the jukebox will play very soon.
  3. DeeYou always say that, hon.She says he repeats this a lot.
  4. AnaHow often does that happen?How many times does it happen?
  5. MurrayWell, it clicks over once in a while.The machine does this only now and then.
  6. DeeI never believe it.She does not believe that story at any time.
  7. AnaI never believe it? The jukebox?She repeats Dee's words and asks if it means the machine.
  8. DeeThe story, hon. Not the jukebox.She means the story, not the machine.
  9. AnaI rarely believe it, then.She almost never believes that story.
  10. Dee tips the coffee pot. Danny turns toward Ana.
  11. DannyYou came on the L?He asks if you took the train.
  12. AnaI always take the Blue Line.I take that train every time, with no change.
  13. MurrayThe Blue Line is close by.The train is only a short walk away.
  14. DeeFirst time here, hon?She asks if this is a new visit.
  15. AnaI often come here.I come to this place a lot.
  16. DannyCome by the truck.He wants you to visit his food truck.
  17. AnaI come once in a while. Not as often as before.She comes only now and then, and less than she used to.

Practice — how often

Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay small, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    I always take the Blue Line.Drop the Simple English here
    I often come here.Drop the Simple English here
    I come once in a while.Drop the Simple English here
    Not as often as before.Drop the Simple English here
    I never ___.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What does it mean?

    I rarely ___.

  4. What do you say?

    Dee asks if this is your first time at the Blue Plate. You come a lot.

  5. Fill the gap

    I come only now and then.

    I come ____.

  6. Build the line

    I do it less than I used to.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. What do you say?

    Complete I never ___. You do not believe the diner story at any time.

  8. Swap the word

    You take that train every time, with no change.

    I ____ take the Blue Line.

  9. What do you say?

    The jukebox just clicked. You want to know how many times this happens.

  10. True or false?

    This means the train is a short walk away.

Say it — say how often

Now you're Ana at the counter. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. DeeYou took the L, hon?She asks if you came on the train.
  2. Ana (you)Tell her you take that train every time.

    I always take the Blue Line.

    I take that train every time, with no change.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
I always take the Blue Line.I take that train every time, with no change.
I often come here.I come to this place a lot.
I rarely ___.I almost never do this.
I never ___.I do not do this at any time.
I come once in a while.I come only now and then.
Not as often as before.I do it less than I used to.
Next: lesson 78This one or that one

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A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps always and never ready for the diner.

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