adverb position (1): introduction
Different kinds of adverbs go in different positions in a
clause. Here are some general rules; for more details, see
22-25.
Note: in the following explanations, the word adverb is
generally used both for one-word adverbs like here,
often, and for longer adverb phrases like in this house,
once every six weeks.
1 verb and object: She speaks English well
We do not usually put adverbs between a verb and its
object.
adverb + verb + object
I often get headaches. (NOT r get often headaches.)
verb + object + adverb
She speaks English well. (NOT She speaks well English.)
But an adverb particle like on, off, out can go between a
verh and a noun object.
Could you switch off the light?
2 front, mid- and end position
There are three normal positions for adverbs:
a front position (at the beginning of a clause)
Yesterday morning something very strange happened.
b mid-position (with the verb - for exact details see 24)
My brother completely forgot my birthday.
I have never understood her.
c end position (at the end of a clause)
What are you doing tomorrow?
3 what goes where?
Connecting adverbs (which join a clause to what came
before) go in front position.
However, not everybody agreed.
Adverbs of indefinite frequency (e.g. always, often) and
adverbs of certainty usually go in mid-position.
My boss often travels to America.
I've definitely decided to change my job.
Adverbs of manner (how), place (where) and time (when)
most often go in end position.
She brushed her hair slowly.
The children are playing upstairs.
I phoned Alex this morning.
Time adverbs can also go in front position.
Tomorrow I've got a meeting in Cardiff.
22 adverb position (2): front
position
Adverbs that usually go in front position: connecting
adverbs (e.g. then, next);comment adverbs
(e.g.fortunately, surprisingly); maybe, perhaps.
Adverbs that can go in front position: some adverbs of
indefinite frequency (e.g. sometimes); adverbs of place;
adverbs of time.
1 connecting adverbs: then, next, ...
These adverbs join a clause to what came before.
Examples: then, next, besides, anyway, suddenly,
however.
I worked until five o'clock.
Then I went home.
Next, I want to say something about the future.
Suddenly the door opened.
Some of us want a new system.
However, not everybody agrees.
Other positions are possible.
I went home then. Not everybody, however, agrees.
2 comment adverbs: fortunately,
surprisingly, ...
Adverbs which give the speaker's opinion of an action
most often go in front position.
Fortunately, she has decided to help us.
Stupidly, I forgot my keys.
Mid-position is also possible.
3 indefinite frequency: usually, normally, ...
Usually, normally, often, frequently, sometimes and
occasionally can go in front position (but they are more
common in mid-position - see 24.)
Sometimes I think I'd like to live somewhere else.
Usually I get up early.
Always, ever, rarely, seldom and never cannot normally
go in front position.
I always/never get up early. (NOT Always/Never I get up
early.)
However, always and never can begin imperative clauses.
Always look in the mirror before starting to drive.
Never ask her about her marriage.
4 certainty: maybe, perhaps
Maybe and perhaps usually come at the beginning of a
clause.
Maybe I'm right and maybe I'm wrong.
Perhaps her train is late.
Other adverbs of certainty (e.g. probably, definitely,
certainly) usually go in mid-position.
Some of us want a new system. However, not everybody
agrees.
5 place: at the end of the garden, here,
there
Place adverbs most often go in end position, but front
position is possible, especially in literary writing and if
the adverb is not the main focus of the message. In this
case the verb often comes before the subject (see 303).
At the end of the garden stood a very tall tree.
On the grass sat an enormous frog.
Down came the rain.
Here and there often begin clauses. Note the word order
in Here/There is,
Here comes and There goes.
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 it.)
There she is. (NOT There is she.)
6 time: today, afterwards, in June, soon,
every week
Front position is common if the adverb is not the main
focus of the message.
Today I'm going to London. In June we went to
Cornwall.
Afterwards we sat round and talked. Soon everything will
be different.
End-position is also common; soon can go in mid-
position.
Time expressions beginning every can go in front
position.
Every week she has a new hairstyle.
But other expressions of definite frequency (e.g. daily,
weekly) normally go in end position.
For rarely, seldom, never, hardly and scarcely in front position before
verb + subject ('inversion'), see 302.7.
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