Grammar
Adverbs: position

1st Part
The formation of adverbs

2nd Part
The position of adverbs

Grammar in use

  • Topic : The position of adverbs
  • Skills : Grammar

Use

Where should the adverb be in a sentence?

Look at the following sentences: observe where the adverb is.
Now, I must leave.
I must leave now.
I often go to the theater.
I am always tired.
I have already told you that

The position of an adverb depends on the kind of adverb and on the element it modifies.

Modified ElementPosition of the AdverbKind of Adverb
Entire sentencebeginning or endPlace
Examples:
1) Stay there!
2) There you are.
———————————————————
Time
Examples:
1) Today, I’m happy.
2) I’m happy today.
———————————————————
Manner
Examples:
1) Slowly, she drove away.
2) She drove away, slowly.
———————————————————
Connection
Examples:
1) However, I am not satisfied.
2) I am not satisfied however.
———————————————————

Viewpoint
Examples:
1) Surely, I agree.
2) I agree, surely.
———————————————————
Interrogative
Examples:
1) When is the appointment?
2) I want to know when.
Verb
before the verb, but after the first auxiliary		Frequency
Examples:
1) I never lie.
2) You should never have lied.
———————————————————
Quantity
Examples:
1) I totally agree.
2) We have almost completed the project.
Verbafter ‘to be’
Frequency
Examples: It was never easy.
———————————————————
Quantity
Examples: It is completely empty.
Verbafter the verbWell, early, late, right, left…
Examples:
1) He paints well.
2) She arrived late.
Adjective, Adverbbefore the modified elementIntensity
Examples:
I am very happy.
They were terribly sorry.
She drives incredibly slowly.

These are guidelines, there can be exceptions.

Sometimes we can have two adverbs in a sentence. If there are an adverb of place and an adverb of time, the adverb of place comes first.
Example:
I went there yesterday.

Language Tips: also / too / as wellLanguage Tip on Adverbs: Different Positions for Different Meanings
They have similar meanings but are positioned differently:
– also: between the subject and the verb: I also ate a banana.
– too: after the modified element: I ate a banana too.
– as well: at the end of the sentence: I ate a banana as well.		For some adverbs, when the position changes, the meaning of the sentence changes as well.
Example:
‘even’ is used before the modified element:
Even Sue cried. = everybody cried, even Sue, who usually does not.
Sue even cried. = Sue was sad to the point that she cried.

Answer the following questions

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