Different kinds of adverbs go in different positions in a clause. Here are some general rules.
Note: in the following explanations, the word adverb is generally used both for one-word adverbs (e.g. here, often) and for longer adverb phrases (e.g. in this house, once every six weeks).
1) verb and object
We do not usually put adverbs between a verb and its object.
.. .adverb + verb + object
I often get headaches, (not I get often headaches.)
.. .verb + object + adverb
She speaks English well, (not She speaks well English,) But an adverb particle (see 19, 582) can go between a verb and a noun object. Could you switch off the light?
2) initial, mid- and end position
There are three normal positions for adverbs:
a) initial position (at the beginning of a clause)
Yesterday morning something very strange happened.
b) mid-position (with the verb)
I have never understood her
c) end position (at the end of a clause)
What are you doing tomorrow?
Many adverbs can go in all three of these positions, and some others can go in both mid- and end position. Longer adverb phrases cannot usually go in mid-position. Compare:
He quickly got dressed. He got dressed quickly. (Quickly can go in mid- or end position.)
He got dressed in a hurry, (not He in a hurry got dressed.) (In a hurry cannot go in mid-position.) However, a few very common short adverb phrases like at once can go in mid-position; and adverbs of degree like very, quite can be added to mid-position adverbs.
She at once realized her mistake.
I very much enjoy skiing.
We were quite often invited to parties at the weekends.
3) What goes where?
a) initial position
Connecting adverbs (which join a clause to what came before).
Time adverbs can also go here:
However, not everybody agreed, (connecting adverb) Tomorrow I've got a meeting in Cardiff, (time adverb)
Some negative adverbial expressions (e.g. under no circumstances) can go in
initial position with 'inverted' word order.
Under no circumstances are children allowed in the bar.
b) mid-position
Focusing adverbs (which emphasise one part of the clause); adverbs of certainty and completeness; adverbs of indefinite frequency; comment adverbs; some adverbs of manner.
She's done everything - she's even been a soldier, (focusing)
It will probably rain this evening, (certainty)
I've almost finished painting the house, (completeness)
My boss often travels to America, (indefinite frequency)
I stupidly forgot my keys, (comment)
She quickly got dressed, (manner)
c) end position
Adverbs of manner (how), place (where) and time (when) most often go in end position.
She brushed her hair slowly, (manner)
The children are playing upstairs, (place)
I phoned Alex this morning, (time)
4) adverbs: position (details)
a) connecting adverbs
These adverbs join a clause to what came before. Examples: however, then, next, besides, anyway Position: beginning of clause
Some of us want a new system; however, not everybody agrees.
I worked until five o 'clock. Then I went home.
Next, I want to say something about the future. Mid-position is often possible in a more formal style.
I then went home.
b) indefinite frequency
These adverbs say how often something happens.
Examples: always, ever, usually, normally, often, frequently, sometimes,
occasionally, rarely, seldom, never.
Position: mid-position (after auxiliary verbs and am / are / is I was/were; before
other verbs).
auxiliary verb + adverb
I have never seen a whale.
You can always come and stay with us if you want to.
Have you ever played American football?
am/are I is I was I were + adverb
My boss is often bad-tempered. I'm seldom late for walk.
adverb + other verb
We usually go to Scotland in August.
It sometimes gets very windy here. When there are two auxiliary verbs, these adverbs usually come after the first.
We have never been invited to one of their parties.
She must sometimes have wanted to run away. Usually, normally, often, frequently, sometimes and occasionally can also go at the beginning or end of a clause. Always, ever, rarely, seldom and never cannot normally go in these positions.
Sometimes I think I'd like to live somewhere else.
Usually I get up early.
but not Always I get up early; Never I get up early.
I go there occasionally.
I go there quite often, (but not I go there always) .
However, always and never can begin imperative clauses.
Always look in the mirror before starting to drive.
Never ask her about her marriage.
4) focusing adverbs
These adverbs 'point to' one part of a clause.
Examples: also, just, even, only, mainly, mostly, either, or, neither, nor. Position: mid-position. They can also go in other places in a clause, directly before the words they modify.
auxiliary verb + adverb
He's been everywhere - he's even been to Antarctica. We're only going for two days.
am / are / is / was / were + adverb
She's my teacher, but she's also my friend.
The people at the meeting were mainly scientists.
adverb + other verb
Your bicycle just needs some oil - that's all. She neither said thank-you nor looked at me.
adverb directly before word(s) modified
Only you could do a thing like that.
I feel really tired.
He always wears a coat, even in summer.
Too and as well are focusing adverbs that usually go in end position (see 45). Either goes in end position after not (see 364).
5) adverbs of certainty
We use these adverbs to say how sure we are of something. Examples: certainly, definitely, clearly, obviously, probably. Position: mid-position.
auxiliary verb + adverb
It will probably rain this evening. The train has obviously been delayed.
am I are I is I was I were + adverb
There is clearly something wrong. She is definitely older than him.
adverb + other verb
He probably thinks you don't like him. I certainly feel better today.
Perhaps her train is late.
Maybe I'm right and maybe I'm wrong.
6) adverbs of completeness
These adverbs say how completely something happens or is true. Examples: completely, practically, almost, nearly, quite, rather, partly, sort of, kind of, more or less, hardly, scarcely. Position: mid-position.
auxiliary verb + adverb / have completely forgotten your name. Sally can practically read.
am/are/is/was/were + adverb It was almost dark. The house is partly ready.
adverb + other verb I kind of hope she wins. It hardly matters.
7) adverbs of manner; comment adverbs
Adverbs of manner say how something happens or is done.
Examples: angrily, happily, fast, slowly, suddenly, well, badly, nicely, noisily,
quietly, hard, softly.
Position: most often at the end of a clause, especially if the adverb is important to the meaning of the verb and cannot be left out. Adverbs in -ly can go in mid-position if the adverb is not the main focus of the message.
end position
He drove off angrily. You speak English well. She read the letter slowly.
mid-position
She angrily tore up the letter. I slowly began to feel better again.
Mid-position is especially common with passive verbs. Her books are always well written.
Comment adverbs (which give the speaker's opinion of an action) most often go in mid-position. I stupidly forgot my keys.
8) adverbs of place
These adverbs say where something happens.
Examples: upstairs, around, here, to bed, in London, out of the window.
Position: at the end of a clause.
The children are playing upstairs. Come and sit here.
Don't throw orange peel out of the window.
She's sitting at the end of the garden. Initial position is also possible, especially in literary writing and if the adverb is not the main focus of the message.
At the end of the garden there was a very tall tree.
Adverbs of direction (movement) come before adverbs of position.
The children are running around upstairs. Here and there often begin clauses. Note the word order in Here/There is, Here comes and There goes.
Here/There + verb + subject
Here comes your bus. (not Here your bus comes.) There's Alice. There goes our train! Pronoun subjects come directly after here and there.
Here it comes, (not Here comes ik) There she is. (not There is she.)
9) adverbs of time and definite frequency
These adverbs say when or how often something happens.
Examples: today, afterwards, in June, last year, finally, before, eventually,
already, soon, still, last, daily, weekly, every year.
Position: mostly in end position; initial position is also common if the adverb
is not the main focus of the message. Some can go in mid-position (see
below). Adverbs of indefinite frequency (often, ever etc) go in mid-position.
I'm going to London today. I Today I'm going to London.
She has a new hair style every week. / Every week she has a new hair style.
Finally, eventually, already, soon and last can also go in mid-position; still and just only go in mid-position.
So you finally got here. When did you last see your father?
I've already paid the bill. I still love you.
We'll soon be home. She's just gone out.
10) emphasising adverbs
These adverbs modify particular words or expressions in a clause, and go just
before them.
Examples: very, extremely, terribly, just, almost, really, right.
I'llseeyou in the pub just before eight o'clock.
She walked right past me. We all thought she sang very well.
11) mid-position: detailed rules
Mid-position adverbs usually go after auxiliary verbs, after am/are/is/ was/were, and before other verbs.
She has never written to me. The discussion was mainly about money.
It certainly looks like rain. When there are two or more auxiliaries, the adverb usually goes after the first.
You have definitely been working too hard.
She would never have been promoted if she hadn't changed jobs. But other positions are possible, especially when the first part of the verb phrase is a modal auxiliary, used to or have to.
They sometimes must be bored, (or They must sometimes be bored.)
She could have easily been killed, (or She could easily have been killed.)
or We used to always go...)
When adverbs of completeness or manner go in mid-position, they are normally put after all auxiliary verbs.
/ will have completely finished by next June.
Do you think the repair has been properly done?
When I saw her, she was being well looked after.
This time next week I'll be happily working in my garden. When an auxiliary verb is used alone instead of a complete verb phrase (see 185), a mid-position adverb comes before it.
'Are you happy?' 'I certainly am.'
I don't trust politicians. I never have, and I never will.
12) mid-position adverbs with negative verbs
In negative sentences, adverbs generally come before not if they emphasise the negative; otherwise they come after. Compare:
/ certainly do not agree.
I do not often have headaches. Both positions are possible with some adverbs, often with a difference of meaning. Compare:
I don't really like her. (mild dislike)
I really don't like her. (strong dislike) When adverbs come before not, they may also come before the first auxiliary verb; they always come before do.
I probably will not be there, (or/ will probably not be there.)
He probably does not know, (not He does probably not know.) Only one position is possible before a contracted negative.
I probably won't be there.
13) mid-position adverbs with emphatic verbs
When we emphasise auxiliary verbs or am/are/is/was/were, we put most mid-position adverbs before them instead of after. Compare:
- She has certainly made him angry. She certainly HAS made him angry!
- I'm really sorry. I really AM sorry.
- 'Polite people always say thank-you.' 'Yes, well, I always DO say thank-you.'
14) mid-position in American English
In American English, mid-position adverbs are often put before auxiliary verbs and am I arelis /was /were, even when the verb is not emphasised. Compare:
He probably has arrived by now. (US normal, GB emphatic)
He has probably arrived by now. (GB normal) As an extreme example, here are four sentences in a journalistic style taken from an American newspaper article on crime in Britain. The most normal British equivalents are given in brackets.
- 'Britain long has been known as a land of law and order.'
(GB Britain has long been known...)
- '... the Labor Party often has criticized police actions.' (GB... the Labour Party has often criticised...)
- '...he ultimately was responsible for the treatment...' (GB ...he was ultimately responsible...)
15) end position: detailed rules
Some sentences are incomplete without adverb complements. For example, a sentence with put, go or last may not make sense unless one says where something is put, where somebody goes or how long something lasts. To say how well somebody does something, one is likely to need an adverb of manner. These 'essential complements' usually go in end position, and before other adverbs.
Put the butter in the refrigerator at once, (not ... at once in the refrigerator)
Let's go to bed early, (not ... early to bed.)
His speech lasted about three hours. You sang very well last night. Except for essential complements, adverbs in end position usually come in the order manner, place, time.
I worked hard yesterday.
She sang beautifully in the town hall last night.
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