would frequently be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would frequently be" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a habitual action or state in the past that occurred often. Example: "During the summer months, the park would frequently be filled with families enjoying picnics and outdoor activities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

I would frequently be in tears on the shop floor.

The Guardian - Money

Second children, however, would frequently be selected to be of the opposite sex to the first.

The Economist

Merchants, meanwhile, would frequently be asked to invest thousands of dollars and many hours to set up the system.

The New York Times

I would often protest the use of blindfold to my interrogators, and their response would frequently be to put me in solitary confinement.

The Guardian

Rather, the damage it does to the immune system opens an individual to other infections that would frequently be fought off by a healthy body.

The Economist

And his best comedy bits would frequently be posted on other sites — and passed around by fans — shortly after they appeared.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

We'd frequently be watching Withnail and I … The kitchen was basic – linoleum floor, a small Formica work surface, an old-fashioned gas hob.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"You walk about like you think you're it," I'd frequently be told by some scrunch-faced bruiser, typically for things like being spotted in Morrison's browsing the shelves of budget-sticker taramasalata.

Independent

She'd frequently been suicidal.

The Guardian

As England agreed to make a new ball available every 55 overs, this meant that the ball would more frequently be in a favourable state for fast bowling, since it would swing more.

Wikipedia

On the other hand, invertebrate cells would still encounter many viruses that harbor shRNA sequences, and consequently viral exo-siRNAs would more frequently be found in infected invertebrate cells [ 34].

BMC Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would frequently be" to describe recurring actions or states in hypothetical or past scenarios. It's particularly effective for illustrating patterns or habits that were common under certain conditions.

Common error

Avoid using "would frequently be" when a simple past tense construction is more appropriate and concise. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose. Instead of 'He would frequently be late', consider 'He was often late'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would frequently be" functions as a modal adverbial phrase, indicating a recurring action or state in the past or a potential occurrence under specific conditions. It combines the modal verb 'would' with the adverb 'frequently' and the verb 'be'. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

42%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would frequently be" is a grammatically correct and commonly used modal adverbial phrase to describe recurring actions or states in the past or potential scenarios. As supported by Ludwig, this phrase is versatile, appearing in contexts ranging from news and media to scientific research. It conveys habitual or predictable events, setting expectations or illustrating common patterns. Though versatile, remember that the simple past form can be used for conciseness. Semantically similar phrases such as "would often be" and "would commonly be" provide alternatives, depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would often be

Replaces 'frequently' with 'often', a synonym with a similar meaning but slightly less formal tone.

would regularly be

Substitutes 'frequently' with 'regularly', implying a consistent and predictable occurrence.

would commonly be

Replaces 'frequently' with 'commonly', suggesting widespread or typical instances.

would typically be

Uses 'typically' instead of 'frequently', highlighting standard or representative cases.

was frequently

Changes the structure to a simple past tense with 'was', suitable when the subject is singular.

were frequently

Changes the structure to a simple past tense with 'were', suitable when the subject is plural.

would generally be

Replaces 'frequently' with 'generally', indicating usual or overall experiences.

would usually be

Substitutes 'frequently' with 'usually', conveying a sense of customary or expected actions.

tended to be

Indicates a tendency or inclination, rather than a strict frequency.

was prone to be

Highlights a predisposition or likelihood, adding an element of potential or risk.

FAQs

How can I use "would frequently be" in a sentence?

Use "would frequently be" to describe actions or states that regularly occurred in the past or are expected under certain conditions. For instance, 'During the summer, the park "would frequently be" filled with families'.

What's the difference between "would frequently be" and "used to be"?

"Would frequently be" suggests a recurring action or state in the past with an emphasis on the habitual nature, while "used to be" simply indicates a past state or habit without necessarily emphasizing frequency. "Used to be" is more general.

Which is better, "would frequently be" or "was often"?

Both "would frequently be" and "was often" can express recurring past actions. "Would frequently be" often implies a conditional or hypothetical context, while "was often" is a more straightforward statement of past frequency.

Are there more formal alternatives to "would frequently be"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "would regularly be" or "would commonly be". These phrases maintain a similar meaning but elevate the formality of the language compared to ""would frequently be"".