Lesson 25: いつも・よく・とても・あまり〜ません

N5 · Lesson 25 · 18 min — Frequency adverbs say how often you do something. Degree adverbs say how much. あまり and ぜんぜん always take a negative.

You can already say "drink coffee," "delicious," and "not expensive." Now add adverbs to say how often you do things and how much! Your sentences will sound like real conversation. Remember just one rule: あまり and ぜんぜん must be followed by a negative. Let's start with the comic!

After this lesson, you can:

• Use いつも・よく・ときどき to say "always, often, sometimes"
• Use あまり・ぜんぜん＋negative to say "not very" and "not at all"
• Use とても・すこし・ちょっと to say "very" and "a little"

Does Rin "always" drink coffee?

A morning coffee shop. Rin says he "always" drinks coffee... really? (にがい = bitter; ミルク = milk)

いつも・よく・ときどき; とても・ちょっと. あまり and ぜんぜん must be followed by a negative!

Adverbs for "how often" and "how much"

• いつも (itsumo): always, all the time
• よく (yoku): often, a lot
• ときどき (tokidoki): sometimes, once in a while
• あまり (amari): not very ~ (with negative)
• ぜんぜん (zenzen): not at all ~ (with negative)
• とても (totemo): very, really
• すこし (sukoshi): a little, slightly
• ちょっと (chotto): a bit, a little
• にがい (nigai): bitter
• からい (karai): spicy

Grammar 1 / 2: Frequency

A frequency adverb goes after は and before the verb phrase: わたしは よく コーヒーを 飲のみます = I often drink coffee.

• Position: after は, before the verb phrase: わたしは いつも 7時しちじに 起おきます (I always get up at seven). The adverb can also go after 〜を (コーヒーを よく 飲のみます), but for now just remember "after は."
• From most to least: いつも (always) ＞ よく (often) ＞ ときどき (sometimes). 毎日まいにち means "every day" and is about each single day. いつも means "always, as a rule" and describes a habit.
• あまり・ぜんぜん＋negative: あまり〜ません = not very ~; ぜんぜん〜ません = not at all ~. When you can't understand, say: すみません、ぜんぜん わかりません。

• わたしは いつも 7時しちじに 起おきます。 — I always get up at seven.
• リンさんは よく コンビニに 行いきます。 — Rin often goes to the convenience store.
• わたしは ときどき 映画えいがを 見みます。 — I sometimes watch movies.
• 先生せんせいは あまり コーヒーを 飲のみません。 — Sensei doesn't drink coffee much.
• 日曜日にちようびは ぜんぜん 勉強べんきょうしません。 — I don't study at all on Sundays.
• すみません、ぜんぜん わかりません。 — Excuse me, I don't understand at all.

Grammar 2 / 2: Degree

A degree adverb goes before the adjective: とても おいしいです = very delicious; あまり 高たかくないです = not very expensive.

• Position: before the adjective: な-adjectives work the same way: とても 静しずかです (very quiet).
• とても means "very": おいしいです alone already means "It's delicious." Add とても only when you really want to stress "very, really."
• すこし and ちょっと: Both mean "a little." ちょっと is more casual and often softens something not-so-good: ちょっと 高たかいです (It's a bit expensive). So don't use ちょっと to praise; to say something is tasty, use とても おいしいです. Both also work with verbs: 日本語にほんごが すこし／ちょっと わかります (I understand a little Japanese).
• あまり・ぜんぜん＋negative adjective: Use the negative forms from Lesson 23: あまり 高たかくないです (not very expensive), ぜんぜん にがくないです (not bitter at all), あまり にぎやかじゃありません (not very lively).

• この 町まちは とても 静しずかです。 — This town is very quiet.
• この カレーは すこし からいです。 — This curry is a little spicy.
• 日本語にほんごが すこし わかります。 — I understand a little Japanese.
• この 店みせは あまり 高たかくないです。 — This shop is not very expensive.
• この コーヒーは ぜんぜん にがくないです。 — This coffee is not bitter at all.
• この 駅えきは あまり にぎやかじゃありません。 — This station is not very lively.