Always

Alwayscan mean ‘on every occasion’, ‘forever’ or ‘very frequently’. In thesemeanings we use it with simple tense forms:

Shealwaysbrings me flowers when she comes to visit.

I willalwayslove you.

Kenneth hasalwaysbeen called Kenny by his family.

We can usealwayswith continuous verb forms to refer to regular events or states, especially ones which are problematic or which we do not like or want:

She’salways complainingabout her job. Why doesn’t she get a new one?

Teenagers werealways causingtrouble at the shopping centre, stealing things, breaking windows, that sort of thing.

The kids arealways askingfor sweets, but they’re not good for them.

We most commonly usealwaysin mid position, between the subject and main verb, after the modal verb or first auxiliary verb, or after main verbbe:

He always wearsa hat.(between subject and main verb)

I’ve always wantedan open-top sports car.(after first auxiliary verb)

I envy you. You’ll alwaysbe happy!(after the modal verb)

She’s alwayslate for class.(after main verbbe)

We don’t usealwaysat the beginning of a statement or question:

Shealwayscooks wonderful meals.

Not:Always she cooks wonderful meals.

Do youalwaysgo camping for your summer holidays?

Not:Always do you go camping…

Weoften usealwayswithcanandcouldto talk aboutpossible solutions to problems:

If the hotels are all full, youcan alwaysstay with us.

If I needed it, Icould alwaysborrow money from my father.

We useas alwaysto talk about one event which is seen as typical:

As always, she made us feel very welcome in her home.

[at the end of an email, thanking someone for a visit]

It was nice,as always, to see you last week.

When we talk about things which will be permanent, we normally usefor good, or, more formally,for ever(sometimes written asforever). We do not normally sayfor always:

She just wants to work in Australia for a year. She doesn’t want to move therefor good.

I will remember this momentfor ever.(more formal)

All the timealso means ‘very often’ or ‘continually’ and is commonly used to referto things that people do not like or do not want to happen. We don’t useall the timein mid position:

My guitar tutor criticises meall the time. She thinks I’m lazy.

Not:My guitar tutor all the time criticises me.

We have this kind of problemall the time.

We don’t useall the timebefore a command (imperative):

Alwaystake extra care when driving near a school.

Not:All the time take extra care…