seldom
Seldom is a formal or literary word. It is used to say that something does not happen very often.
position in clause
• If there is no auxiliary verb, seldom usually goes in front of the verb, unless the verb is be.
He seldom laughed.
It seldom rains there.
• Seldom goes after be.
She was seldom late for work.
• If there is an auxiliary verb, seldom goes after it.
These birds are seldom seen.
They can seldom agree on anything.
• If there is more than one auxiliary verb, seldom goes after the first one.
I have seldom been asked such difficult questions.
• In literary writing, seldom is sometimes put at the beginning of a sentence, followed by an auxiliary verb and the subject.
Seldom did he ask me questions about our finances.
Seldom can there have been such a happy couple.
‘hardly ever’
Seldom is not normally used in conversation. Instead people say hardly ever
It hardly ever rains there.
I've hardly ever been asked anything like that.