How long – how often

For – since

We use for to say how long
How long have you been waiting? Oh not long. Just for a few minutes.
They lived in Spain for nearly ten years.
We use since to say when something started.
I’ve worked here for nine years – I’ve worked here since 2004

From...to/until

From ...to/until are used to say when something starts and finishes:
The lessons are from Monday to Thursday.
We will be away from the 13th to the 20th of September.

How often

The most common adverbials of frequency are: always, never, normally, occasionally, often, rarely, seldom, sometimes, and usually.

We usually put adverbials of frequency in front of the main verb:
I often spend the weekends at home.
I have never had so much fun.
But they usually come after the verb to be:
He was always tired after work.
She was never late.

A lot

The adverbial a lot means 'often' or 'frequently'. It is placed at the end of the clause.
We go to the cinema a lot.
But it is before another time adverbial.
We go to the cinema a lot at the weekend.

Much

We use much with a negative to mean 'not often'.
We don't go out much during the week.

How often – ever

We use how often or ever to ask about questions of frecuency. How often comes at the beginning of the clause.
How often do you go out?
Ever comes before the main verb.
Do you ever work late?
Have you ever been to Japan?

For longer frequency phrases we usually use them at the end of a clause.
We go to the cinema twice a week.
She goes to her yoga classes every day.

Lesson by Tristan, teacher at EC Malta English school

Now choose the correct adverbial/preposition for the following:

• 1. I’ve been trying to call you _ the last two hours.
  
  until
  for
  since
  
  
• 2. He goes out to the pub _ .
  
  a lot
  often
  usually
  
  
• 3. The night bus works _ .
  
  for eleven to four in the morning
  from eleven to four in the morning
  for eleven since four in the morning
  
  
• 4. I haven’t seen her _ three months.
  
  for
  since
  from
  
  
• 5. Sarah is _ very punctual. Something must have happened to her.
  
  ever
  usually
  sometimes
  
  
• 6. Have you _ seen a hurricane?
  
  ever
  usually
  often
  
  
• 7. How _ do you go to the gym?
  
  long
  usually
  often
  
  
• 8. We seem to eat at Italian restaurants _ .
  
  often
  rarely
  a lot