Adverbs take a different
position in a sentence depending on a word they modify. There are usually three
possible adverbs positions in a sentence beginning of the sentence, middle,
or at the end of the sentence.
Adverbs that
modify a verb can go before the subject, between the subject
and verb, and after a verb. Adverbs appear at the start of a
sentence, usually followed by a comma. But in the middle or at the end of the
sentence may or may not take commas.
Usually, we go to the park on Sunday.
Sometimes I ride my bike to school.
He's usually here by
9.00.
She was absent yesterday.
Adverbs usually go in the front
position when modifying adjectives or another adverb.
She pushes the door very
quickly.
The paper was surprisingly
easy.
She ate his meal too
quickly.
Position of Adverb Based on Different Kinds
Where should we place an adverb in a
sentence? It largely depends on the types of adverb.
Position of Adverb of Manner
Adverbs of manner usually have three positions in a sentence. Before or after the main verb, they modify, after the auxiliary verb, or at the last of the sentence. For emphasis, we place the adverb of manner at the start of a sentence.
- The dog barks loudly.
- She studies quietly.
- The doctor treated her well.
- She carefully cleaned her glasses.
- We will gladly accept his invitation.
- He explained well all the matter.
- Happily, they were not injured.
- Slowly but correctly, he solved all the issues.
- They are anxiously waiting for our response.
- She danced beautifully.
The adverb can be placed either before the preposition or
after the object. When we have the following structure. verb + preposition
+ object.
- She looked at him suspiciously, or She looked suspiciously at him.
But the adverb goes before the preposition when the
object of the sentence contains several words.
- She looked suspiciously at every man who leave the house.
The adverbs badly and well are used as
either adverbs of degree or manner. When they are used as adverbs of manner,
they go after the verb in active voice, after the object, or in the passive
voice they before the past participle.
- She talked badly.
- She paid him badly.
- He was badly paid.
- The child read well.
- The school was well organized.
Position Adverb of Place
Adverbs of place usually appear in the end position in a
sentence.
- He was walking south.
- They found the bag under the bed.
The two adverbs of place here and there commonly
appear at the start of the sentence.
- Here is the watch they were telling us about.
- There's that cup she was looking for.
But they can immediately follow the main verb or at the
end position of the sentence.
- They have lived here for about nine years.
- I like it here.
- The college is only 20 kilometers from here.
When a sentence has no object, the
following adverbs expressing place usually go after the verb.
Everywhere, there, here, nowhere,
away, somewhere, etc.
- The man went away.
- Put it somewhere.
- The children go everywhere.
- The school is a one-hour drive away.
Position of Adverb of Time and Frequency
We usually place adverbs of time at
the end position in a sentence, but they go at the start of a sentence for the
emphasis.
- We visited her place yesterday.
OR yesterday we
visited her place.
- Tomorrow, we will go fishing.
The following adverb of time is usually
placed before the main verb of a sentence but after an auxiliary or model
verb.
Always, last, often, already, eventually, just,
seldom, never, recently, sometimes, frequently,
generally, usually, hardly, soon, rarely, normally,
etc.
- She frequently asks me questions.
- It is just a joke.
- He will soon arrive.
- They finally won the match.
- She hardly ate anything.
Adverbs such as daily, hourly,
monthly, yearly, weekly, etc., only go in the end position,
and time expressions such as every day, every week can go at the
beginning or at the end position in a sentence.
Examples
- Most people pay rent monthly.
- She takes medical examinations yearly.
- My channel gets two thousand visitors daily.
- Every day I am paid to use Facebook.
Adverbs of frequency come in two
positions, i.e., before the main verb but after the helping verb.
Normally, occasionally, sometimes,
usually, and quietly can be placed at the start or at the end
position in a sentence.
Examples
- The Soldiers line up quietly.
Adverbs of frequency can come between the
subject and the main verb.
- I always reach home late at night.
The following are adverbs of indefinite frequency;
they usually come in the mid position.
Seldom, hardly ever, rarely often,
regularly, never, and always
If the adverbs of frequency
modify verbs, we usually put them before the main verb in a sentence.
Examples
- I usually watch movies on Sunday night.
- He always leaves late for school in the morning.
- I seldom see him anymore.
- He regularly comes home after midnight.
- She doesn't often drink spirits.
- I rarely see my classmates now.
Position of Adverb of Degree
Adverbs of degree go before a word;
they modify an adjective, adverb, or a main verb and after
an auxiliary verb in the sentence.
Examples
- She really hates traveling by bus.
- He is slightly taller than me.
- She is pretty good at mathematics.
When a sentence has more than one
adverb of place, time, or manner, at the end of a sentence, they
usually go in the following order.
Manner + place + time
- She works hardly at her home all day long.
- We stayed together, there, yesterday.
The adverb very does not
modify a verb. E.g., we can't say very like or very played, but very much
can be used before some verbs.
The adverb very can go before
participle adjective, but very much cannot be used before it.
Extremely, very, etc., usually used
with gradable adjectives and absolutely, completely, etc., with
non-gradable adjectives.
The adverbs perhaps and maybe
often appear at the start of a sentence.
Examples
- Maybe I will meet him.
- Perhaps the essential issues have not been discussed.
If a sentence is negative, we put
the adverb before the negative word, i.e., not
- We usually do not open the shop on Sunday.