Often

Pronunciation: /ˈɔfən/

Definitions of often

adverb frequently; many times; on many occasions

Example Sentences

A1 I often go to the park with my friends.

A2 She often forgets to bring her umbrella when it rains.

B1 Students often have to study late at night before exams.

B2 He often travels for work and rarely gets to spend time at home.

C1 The CEO often attends important meetings to make key decisions.

C2 Scientists often conduct experiments to test their hypotheses.

Examples of often in a Sentence

formal It is often observed that proper planning leads to successful outcomes.

informal I often forget to water the plants, so they don't grow well.

slang I'm often chillin' with my friends on the weekends.

figurative She often wears her heart on her sleeve, making her vulnerable to heartbreak.

Grammatical Forms of often

• past tense: oft
• plural: oftens
• comparative: more often
• superlative: most often
• present tense: often
• future tense: will often
• perfect tense: have often
• continuous tense: is often
• singular: often
• positive degree: often
• infinitive: to often
• gerund: oftening
• participle: oftened

Origin and Evolution of often

First Known Use: 1300 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'often' originated from the Old English word 'oft', which was derived from the Proto-Germanic word 'ufta'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the pronunciation and spelling of 'often' have changed slightly, but the meaning has remained consistent as a frequency adverb indicating a high frequency of occurrence.