Do you drink beer often?

Question

I wonder if this question is better in this way: "do you drink beer often?" or "do you often drink beer?"

The rules about grammar say that the adverb goes before the main verb, but you see....

Can someone answer this?

Yes ;-) - remcleaney, Oct 5, 2011

Answer 1

Both are correct and commonly used. If you listen to both phrases spoken, you will hear a slight rising of the voice on the last word, thus giving the proper emphasis.

"Do you drink beer often?"

This emphasizes "often."

"Do you often drink beer?"

This emphasizes "beer."

This is the perfect explanation. - lorenzo9, Oct 5, 2011

Eso es. - annierats, Oct 5, 2011

The second version emphasizes beer, as opposed to say, whisky, or even coca-cola. - annierats, Oct 5, 2011

Very nice explanation, Julius. - Izanoni1, Oct 7, 2011

Answer 2

Hi Nila,

Both sentences are grammatically correct. However, the first choice sounds more natural.

One note, I'm not sure if there is any sort of grammatical rule to this, but the second choice would be more natural when following it up with a certain place or situation in which the person is drinking beer.

For instance:

Do you often drink beer at this bar?

Do you often drink beer on the weekends?

Do you often drink beer with your friends?

So, if you are just asking the question, the first choice will do. If you are following it up with a certain set of circumstances, I would choose the second.

AT the weekend, not ON the weekend, apart from that, a perfect summary. - annierats, Oct 5, 2011

ON in the U S A I think Annie - on Christmas too. - ian-hill, Oct 5, 2011

I've heard "on", too, and not just from American peoples... - SonrisaDelSol, Oct 5, 2011

Wow. Great examples, Nikki! They are a perfect addendum to what Julian said regarding emphasis. Here we see that the emphasis falls on the qualifying statements "at this bar," "on the weekends," etc. - Izanoni1, Oct 7, 2011

Graci Ira. "Qualifying statements" or clauses....that was what I was looking for. Thanks for the follow up. :) - Nicole-B, Oct 7, 2011

Answer 3

Hi Nila

do you drink beer often?

do you often drink beer?

how often do you drink beer?

Often is one of the adverbs that can be used in different places in a sentence.

Why do you drink beer at all? Is it because of the mosquitos in your room? - annierats, Oct 5, 2011

je je - ian-hill, Oct 5, 2011

Jajajaja! - --Mariana--, Oct 7, 2011

Answer 4

I would say that the first option is more commonly used, but the second option is correct. Native speakers often do not follow the rules of grammar in everyday speech.

grammar - 0074b507, Oct 5, 2011

Answer 5

The rules about grammar say that the adverb goes before the main verb

The rules of grammar say you can put adverbs (or adverbial phrases) in lots of places. This is probably the loosest part of English grammar.

Answer 6

Actually, I was expecting some type of grammatical rules or something like this but grammar is not always the answer. For that reason, I have found some problem to accept one answer. Anyway, it is clear that both sentences are correct depending on the context.

Thank you for your answers.

You should accept JC's answer: it is perfect. - lorenzo9, Oct 7, 2011