Is this good?

[blouen]

How often do you catch a cold?

[riverkid]

I do not catch a cold = I never catch a cold

I almost do not catch a cold
= I almost never catch a cold
= I almost always never catch a cold.

All three are odd but the meaning is there.

Justin,

We cannot and do not say in English,

#1. "I almost do not catch a cold"

'almost' can only modify 'never'. It cannot stand alone as in the sentence marked, #1, above.

I'd say that normally, when we discuss this issue of colds, we tend to use the plural,

I never catch colds.

I almost never catch colds.

I rarely/seldom catch colds.

I don't often catch colds.

[justinwschang]

Justin,

We cannot and do not say in English,

#1. "I almost do not catch a cold"

'almost' can only modify 'never'. It cannot stand alone as in the sentence marked, #1, above.

I'd say that normally, when we discuss this issue of colds, we tend to use the plural,

I never catch colds.

I almost never catch colds.

I rarely/seldom catch colds.

I don't often catch colds.

Agree. One would say "I hardly ever" or something similar.

As I said, all three are odd (though grammatically OK). Similarly with expressions like always never (contradicting), almost never (meaning hardly ever). Perhaps, "odd" is not strong enough a word.

[Great]

complex for me