Rates, Levels, Times and Places
Typically rates and frequencies can be written using two structures. The first uses a relative adverb (see above) after a preposition (in/at/with etc.) and the second uses a how + adverb form.
The diagrams show the frequency with which Americans ate at fast food restaurants.
The diagrams show how frequently/often Americans ate at fast food restaurants.
The diagrams show the rate at which new babies were born in three European countries.
The diagrams show how often new babies were born in three European countries.
The diagrams show the rate at which students found new jobs within one year of graduation.
The diagrams show how quickly students who graduated from university found new jobs
The table below shows variations in forms as well as some constructions that are common for types of descriptions.
| Topic | Relative adverb form | How + adverb form |
| age | to which (live) / at which (die) | how old |
| frequency | with which | how often / how frequently |
| speed | at which | how fast |
| time (specific) | at which / when | x |
| place | (in/at/on etc.) which / where | x |
| distance | x | how far |
| duration (time and distance) | x | how long |
Examples:
In southern Africa, the average age at which most children left home was three years younger than in northern Africa.
The diagram gives information about how old the average person is expected to live to in three American states.
The bar graph demonstrates the frequency with which most Americans ate international food.
The bar graph demonstrates how often men and women from an Australian town visited the dentist.
The bar graph illustrates the countries in which free healthcare is provided and how often the average person uses the healthcare system.
The table provides information about the rate at which water is absorbed into five different types of soil.
The table provides details about how quickly five pain-relieving medicines are absorbed by the body.
The bar graph illustrates how far migrating birds travel each month of the year.
The line graph illustrates how long the average patient waits for minor surgery in five different South American healthcare systems.
