Rarely

Definition

Rarely is an adverb that describes how often something happens, specifically indicating that an event or action occurs infrequently or seldom. This term helps convey the frequency of an occurrence in a clear and concise manner, and it can also provide emphasis on how unusual or uncommon an action is within a given context.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Rarely can be used in both positive and negative constructions, such as 'I rarely go out' or 'She rarely eats junk food.'
2. When used with the simple present tense, rarely typically follows the subject and precedes the main verb, e.g., 'He rarely studies.'
3. Rarely can also appear in question forms to emphasize unexpectedness, like 'Do you rarely see him at the gym?'
4. In written English, using rarely can enhance descriptive writing by providing readers with a sense of the rarity of actions or events.
5. It’s often paired with time expressions to clarify the infrequency, such as 'rarely ever' or 'rarely once a month.'

Review Questions

• How does the use of 'rarely' affect the tone of a sentence compared to using 'often'?
  • 'Rarely' creates a tone that emphasizes infrequency and suggests that the action is not common. For example, saying 'He rarely visits his grandparents' implies a lack of connection or interaction, while saying 'He often visits his grandparents' suggests regularity and engagement. This difference in frequency can influence how the reader perceives the relationship or situation being described.
• Discuss the grammatical placement of 'rarely' in relation to verbs in a sentence. How does this affect sentence structure?
  • 'Rarely' typically appears after the subject and before the main verb in a sentence. For example, in 'She rarely watches television,' the placement is crucial for maintaining proper grammatical structure. This positioning helps clarify that the action of watching television does not happen frequently, thereby guiding the reader's understanding of frequency and emphasizing its rarity.
• Evaluate how using 'rarely' might change the interpretation of a narrative. What implications does this have for characterization?
  • Using 'rarely' in a narrative can significantly impact character development and plot progression. When a character is described as doing something rarely, it highlights their unique traits or choices, suggesting depth and complexity. For instance, if a character rarely expresses emotions, it might indicate emotional struggles or guardedness. This choice of adverb shapes readers’ perceptions and can foreshadow developments or conflicts within the storyline.

Related terms

seldom: An adverb similar to rarely, meaning not often; it emphasizes infrequency in occurrences.

occasionally: An adverb that indicates something happens from time to time, more frequently than rarely but less than often.

frequently: An adverb used to describe something that happens often or regularly, which contrasts with the meaning of rarely.