3. Adverbs and their position in the sentence
Adverbs and adverb phrases: position
We can put adverbs and adverb phrases at the front, in the middle or at the end of a clause.
- The front position of the clause is the first item in the clause:
"Suddenly I felt afraid."
"Yesterday detectives arrested a man and a woman in connection with the murder."
- The end position of the clause is the last item in the clause:
"Why do you always have to eat so fast?"
- The mid position is between the subject and the main verb:
"Apples always taste best when you pick them straight off the tree."
- Where there is more than one verb, mid position means after the first auxiliary verb or after a modal verb:
"The government has occasionally been forced to change its mind." (after the first auxiliary verb)
"You can definitely never predict what will happen." (after a modal verb)
"We mightn't ever have met." (after the modal verb and before the auxiliary verb)
- In questions, mid position is between the subject and the main verb:
"Do you ever think about living there?"
- Adverbs usually come after the main verb be, except in emphatic clauses:
"She's always late for everything."
- When be is emphasised, the adverb comes before the verb:
"Why should I have gone to see Madonna? I never was a fan of hers." (emphatic)
| Type of adverb | Position | Example |
| Manner | They usually go in end position.
They sometimes go in mid position if the adverb is not the most important part of the clause or if the object is very long. |
She ate quickly.
She quickly ate her dinner and ran out. |
| Place | They usually go in end position.
They sometimes go in front position, especially in writing. |
Can you come over here?
We'll be at that table there. Here she sat. Outside, there was a small pond. |
| Time | They usually go in end position.
They sometimes go in front position especially if we want to emphasise the adverb. |
I'm flying to Edinburgh tomorrow.
Today, I'm going to clean the house. |
| Duration | They usually go in end position. | I'm not staying long. |
| Frequency | They usually go in mid position.
They sometimes go in front position. They can also go in end position. Always, ever and never do not usually go in front position. |
We often have friends to stay.
I usually get up late on weekends. I could never swim fast. Sometimes she wore a woollen hat. We don't see them very often. Not: Never I could swim fast. |
| Degree | Really, very, quite usually go in mid position.
A lot and a bit usually go in end position. |
I really like those pink flowers.
We go to Ireland a lot. I'd just like to change things a bit. |
| Certainty or Obligation | Some go in mid position: probably, possibly, certainly.
Others go in front position: maybe, perhaps or in end positions after a comma. |
It'll probably rain.
Maybe Nick will know the answer. Can I get you a drink, or something to eat, perhaps? |
| Viewpoint | They usually go outside the clause, often at the beginning.
They can sometimes go in mid position, especially in formal writing. |
Personally, I'd rather not go out.
This must, frankly, be the craziest idea anyone has ever had. |
| Evaluative | They usually go outside the clause, often at the beginning.
They can sometimes go in mid position. In informal speaking they can go in end position. |
Unfortunately, I forgot my swimming costume so I had to sit on the side and watch.
We have stupidly forgotten the tickets. They missed the bus, apparently. |
