Ready to talk about how often things happen? This short lesson focuses on common frequency phrases you can use right away. Have fun — you’ll practice hearing, reading, and saying each phrase aloud.
Level A2: In this CEFR-aligned lesson you will learn useful frequency frames like “めったに___ません” and “ほとんど毎日___ます” to say how often things happen. We'll practice asking frequency (どのくらいの頻度で起こりますか) and answering with everyday routines (毎朝, 毎晩, 週末など). Expect short listening, practice quizzes, and speaking prompts.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Use set phrases to say how often actions happen (e.g., めったに___ません。いつも___ます。).
Ask and answer frequency questions (どのくらいの頻度で起こりますか。毎日ではないです。).
Practice pronunciation by repeating polite, everyday sentences (A2 level).
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
めったに___ません。
Mettani ___ masen.
I rarely ___.
Meaning: I rarely ___.
When to use: Use this frame to say you hardly ever do something. Put the verb stem (ます形の前の形) in the blank and keep the negative ません.
Tip: Do not use めったに with an affirmative verb (e.g., めったに行きます is incorrect).
めったに行きません。
Mettani ikimasen.
I rarely go.
めったにテレビを見ません。
Mettani terebi o mimasen.
I rarely watch TV.
いつも___ます。
Itsumo ___masu.
I ___ all the time.
Meaning: I ___ all the time.
When to use: Use いつも before a verb stem to say something happens very frequently or as a habit.
Tip: Avoid pairing いつも with a negative when you mean high frequency (e.g., いつも行きません would mean 'I never/usually don't go').
いつも朝ごはんを食べます。
Itsumo asagohan o tabemasu.
I always eat breakfast.
いつも時間どおりに来ます。
Itsumo jikan dōri ni kimasu.
I always arrive on time.
どのくらいの頻度で起こりますか。
Dono kurai no hindo de okorimasu ka.
How often does it happen?
Meaning: How often does it happen?
When to use: Use this polite question to ask about the frequency of events, problems, or situations.
この問題はどのくらいの頻度で起こりますか。
Kono mondai wa dono kurai no hindo de okorimasu ka.
How often does this problem happen?
イベントはどのくらいの頻度でありますか。
Ibento wa dono kurai no hindo de arimasu ka.
How often are the events held?
毎日___ますか。
Mainichi ___masu ka.
Do you ___ every day?
Meaning: Do you ___ every day?
When to use: Ask whether someone does an action daily. Put the verb stem before ますか。
毎日勉強しますか。
Mainichi benkyō shimasu ka.
Do you study every day?
毎日ジョギングしますか。
Mainichi jogingu shimasu ka.
Do you jog every day?
ほとんど毎日___ます。
Hotondo mainichi ___masu.
I ___ most days.
Meaning: I ___ most days.
When to use: Use ほとんど毎日 before a verb stem to say you do something on most days (close to 'almost every day').
ほとんど毎日メールをチェックします。
Hotondo mainichi mēru o chekku shimasu.
I check email most days.
ほとんど毎日自転車で通勤します。
Hotondo mainichi jitensha de tsūkin shimasu.
I commute by bike most days.
毎朝___ます。
Maiasa ___masu.
I ___ every morning.
Meaning: I ___ every morning.
When to use: Use 毎朝 before the verb stem to describe a routine that happens each morning.
毎朝コーヒーを飲みます。
Maiasa kōhī o nomimasu.
I drink coffee every morning.
毎朝犬を散歩します。
Maiasa inu o sanpo shimasu.
I walk the dog every morning.
毎晩___ます。
Maiban ___masu.
I ___ every evening.
Meaning: I ___ every evening.
When to use: Use 毎晩 before the verb stem to describe something you do each evening or night.
毎晩本を読みます。
Maiban hon o yomimasu.
I read a book every evening.
毎晩テレビを少し見ます。
Maiban terebi o sukoshi mimasu.
I watch some TV every evening.
週末は___ます。
Shūmatsu wa ___masu.
I ___ on weekends.
Meaning: I ___ on weekends.
When to use: Use 週末は as the topic to say what you usually do on weekends, then add the verb stem and ます。
週末はよく友達と会います。
Shūmatsu wa yoku tomodachi to aimasu.
I often meet friends on weekends.
週末は家で休みます。
Shūmatsu wa ie de yasumimasu.
I rest at home on weekends.
たまに___ます。
Tama ni ___masu.
I ___ once in a while.
Meaning: I ___ once in a while.
When to use: Use たまに before a verb stem to say you do something occasionally.
たまに映画を見ます。
Tama ni eiga o mimasu.
I watch movies occasionally.
たまに外で晩ごはんを食べます。
Tama ni soto de bangohan o tabemasu.
I sometimes eat dinner out.
2週間に1回、___ます。
Nishūkan ni ikkai, ___masu.
I ___ every two weeks.
Meaning: I ___ every two weeks.
When to use: Use this frame to say something happens at two-week intervals. Put the verb stem before ます。
2週間に1回、掃除します。
Nishūkan ni ikkai, sōji shimasu.
I clean every two weeks.
2週間に1回、友達と会います。
Nishūkan ni ikkai, tomodachi to aimasu.
I meet friends every two weeks.
前ほどではないです。
Mae hodo de wa nai desu.
Not as often as before.
Meaning: Not as often as before.
When to use: Say this when something happens less frequently now than it did in the past.
最近は前ほどではないです。
Saikin wa mae hodo de wa nai desu.
Lately it's not as often as before.
運動は前ほどではないです。
Undō wa mae hodo de wa nai desu.
I don't exercise as often as before.
毎日ではないです。
Mainichi de wa nai desu.
Not every day.
Meaning: Not every day.
When to use: Use this to say you do something regularly but not daily — a polite way to say 'not every day.'
週に数回やりますが、毎日ではないです。
Shū ni sūkai yarimasu ga, mainichi de wa nai desu.
I do it a few times a week, but not every day.
料理はしますが、毎日ではないです。
Ryōri wa shimasu ga, mainichi de wa nai desu.
I cook, but not every day.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Anna asks about how often David goes to the community center.
What are Anna and David talking about?
Anna
どのくらいの頻度で行きますか。
Dono kurai no hindo de ikimasu ka.
How often do you go?
David
前はもっと行っていましたが、今は前ほどではないです。
Mae wa motto itte imashita ga, ima wa mae hodo de wa nai desu.
I used to go more, but now not as often as before.
Anna
毎日ではないですか。それとも週末は行きますか。
Mainichi de wa nai desu ka. Soretomo shūmatsu wa ikimasu ka.
Not every day? Or do you go on weekends?
David
週末はたまに行きます。平日はめったに行きません。
Shūmatsu wa tama ni ikimasu. Heijitsu wa mettani ikimasen.
I go on weekends sometimes. I rarely go on weekdays.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which sentence means 'I rarely watch TV'?
How do you ask 'How often does it happen?'
Which phrase means 'I do it most days'?
If you want to say 'Not as often as before,' which is correct?
I sometimes go out on weekends.
週末は___ます。友達と出かけることが多いです。
Shūmatsu wa ___masu. Tomodachi to dekakeru koto ga ōi desu.
Do you go to the gym every day?
ジムには___ますか。運動は続けたいです。
Jimu ni wa ___masu ka. Undō wa tsuzuketai desu.
How often do you hold that meeting? (I want to join.)
そのミーティングはどのくらいの頻度で___ますか。参加したいです。
Sono mītingu wa dono kurai no hindo de ___masu ka. Sanka shitai desu.
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
