Adverbs of frequency (parfois, rarement)

How often you work out

To talk about your fitness routine, you will use adverbs of frequency like souvent (often), toujours (always), régulièrement (regularly), and rarement (rarely).

In English, these adverbs often sit before the verb (I always go). In French, the rule is strict: place the adverb immediately after the conjugated verb.

The workout always starts early in the morning.
L'entraînement commence toujours tôt le matin.
He rarely goes to the gym on weekends.
Il va rarement à la salle de sport le week-end.

Starting with sometimes

The adverb parfois (sometimes) is a bit more flexible. You can put it after the verb like the others:

I sometimes work out with my brother.
Je m'entraîne parfois avec mon frère.

But it is also very common to place it at the very beginning of a sentence to set the context:

Sometimes, I am tired and I have no energy.
Parfois, je suis fatigué et je n'ai pas d'énergie.

Fitness goals

Whether you are going to the gym to lift weights (soulever des poids) or simply exercising to stay in shape (rester en forme), the adverb placement rule remains exactly the same.

She rarely lifts weights.
Elle soulève rarement des poids.
I always exercise to stay in shape.
Je fais toujours du sport pour rester en forme.

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