Adverbs of Frequency
To describe how often you do something, use an adverb of frequency. The most common ones are:
- alltaf (always)
- oft (often)
- stundum (sometimes)
- sjaldan (rarely)
- aldrei (never)
In Icelandic main clauses, the conjugated verb is usually in the second position. The adverb of frequency goes immediately after this conjugated verb.
| We often listen to the radio. | Við hlustum oft á útvarpið. |
| Grandfather rarely listens to the radio. | Afi hlustar sjaldan á útvarpið. |
When using verbs that require a preposition, like hlusta á (listen to) and horfa á (watch), the frequency adverb still goes directly after the verb, before the preposition.
| We often watch the show. | Við horfum oft á þáttinn. |
Using Helper Verbs
If a sentence uses a helper verb (such as geta / can), the helper verb is the one that gets conjugated. The adverb of frequency goes immediately after it, separating the helper verb from the main action verb.
| We can often watch the series together. | Við getum oft horft á seríuna saman. |
| I can never find the channel. | Ég get aldrei fundið rásina. |
Talking About Media Habits
You can practice this word order with modern media vocabulary, such as áskriftin (the subscription) or rásin (the channel). No matter the subject or the verb, the rule remains the same: the adverb directly follows the conjugated verb.
| I always pay for the subscription. | Ég borga alltaf fyrir áskriftina. |
| The influencer always uses the channel. | Áhrifavaldurinn notar alltaf rásina. |
Whether you are discussing what áhrifavaldurinn (the influencer) creates or how fylgjandinn (the follower) interacts with efnið (the content), keep the frequency adverb locked in right after the conjugated verb.
| The follower sometimes shares the content. | Fylgjandinn deilir stundum efninu. |
| The influencer never makes a documentary. | Áhrifavaldurinn gerir aldrei heimildarmynd. |