Page 189 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

P o s i t i o n o f a d v e r b s
Position
adverbs
of

There are three main positions for adverbs which modify a verb:
There are three main positions for adverbs which modify a verb:

Finally he could stand the noise no longer.
front position = before the subject • ¢ Finally he could stand the noise no longer.
front position = before the subject

usually plays
verb,
better than this.
the
and
between
subject
-
He
mid position
mid position ~ between the subject and verb, • ¢ He usually plays better than this.
after be
(see
10.00.
as a main verb
by
usually here
C)
or immediately
or immediately after be as a main verb (see C) • ¢ She's usually here by 10.00.
She's

the
=
I've
for
hours.
verb
after
been waiting
end position = after the verb
end position
• * I’ve been waiting for hours.

In
front position.
go
can
of
in
particular:
types
adverb
Most types of adverb can go in front position. In particular:
Most

of adverb function
type
example
type of adverb function example

e.g.
adverbs
has
yen
make
clear
immediately
The value of the
connecting
...to
connecting adverbs e.g. ...to make immediately clear • ¢ The value of the yen has
a result, similarly logical relation to the
fallen. As a result, Japan
the logical relation to the
as as a result, similarly the fallen. As a result, Japan
sentence
previous
previous sentence faces a crisis.
faces a crisis.

and place adverbs e.g.
show
been
last few days have
The
a contrast with,
..to
time
time and place adverbs e.g. ...to show a contrast with, • ¢ The last few days have been
in the kitchen on, a previous
tomorrow,
tomorrow, in the kitchen or expansion on, a previous hot. Tomorrow the weather
or expansion
hot. Tomorrow the weather
time or place
reference to to time or place
reference will be much cooler.
will be much cooler.

and
the
viewpoint
highlight
speaker's
She has just heard that her

• ¢ She has just heard that her
...to
comment and viewpoint
...to highlight the speaker's
comment
presumably,
e.g.
they
are
sister is ill. Presumably, she
to what
adverbs e.g. presumably,
sister is ill. Presumably, she
adverbs
attitude to what they are
attitude
financially
to
say
will want to go home.
financially
about
about to say
will want to go home.
in
e.g.
types
of indefinite frequency
go
adverbs
mid position:
adverb
of
following
usually
The following types of adverb usually go in mid position: adverbs of indefinite frequency e.g.
The
usually;
and focus adverbs e.g.
even:
never,
quite,
e.g.
just,
completely,
degree adverbs
always,
always, never, usually; degree adverbs e.g. completely, quite, and focus adverbs e.g. just, even:
sings when he's having a shower.
He
always
9 9 • + He always sings when he's having a shower.
I completely forgot her birthday, and I just don't know how to make it up to her.
• ¢ I completely forgot her birthday, and I just don't know how to make it up to her.
this position:
or place don't go
of time
in
Most adverbs of time or place don't go in this position:
Most adverbs
{not Jane in October had a baby.)
Jane had a baby in October,
• ¢ Jane had a baby in October. (not Jane in October had a baby.)
often do,
including
now,
a
soon,
few
already,
recently,
finally,
still:
However,
However, a few often do, including already, finally, now, recently, soon, still:
I finally met Roy at the conference in Madrid.
• ¢ I finally met Roy at the conference in Madrid.
used
are
in journalism,
in
often
other adverbs
position:
of time
mid
and in journalism, other adverbs of time are often used in mid position:
and
The government yesterday announced an
spending.
increase in education
• ¢ The government yesterday announced an increase in education spending.
already there:
it
or
if not is
we would put not,
after
In mid position, we put adverbs where we would put not, or after it if not is already there:
In mid position, we put adverbs where
{compare 'Sue isn't at home...')
Sue's never at home these days,
I don't fully understand.
• * Sue's never at home these days. (compare 'Sue isn't at home...') • ¢ I don't fully understand.
{compare 'It hasn't been seen...')
before,
It has seldom been seen here
• ¢ It has seldom been seen here before. {compare 'It hasn't been seen...') if there between the verb
Place, time, indefinite fequency acvetbs This is particularly common it in journalism: last: is adverb rN
object
an
adverb
complement
end position,
usually
we
put
after
an
or
is
one:
gin
oln end position, we usually put an adverb after an object or complement if there is one:
studied the problem
He
studied
{not He
briefly,
briefly the problem.)
• *
• © He studied the problem briefly. {not He studied briefly the problem.)
or complement
put
adverb
an
object
if an
often
then
is
very long,
we
However,
However, if an object or complement is very long, then we often put an adverb between the verb
its
object or complement.
and its object or complement. This is particularly common in journalism:
and
briefly the long-term solution to the problem.
We considered
• ¢ We considered briefly the long-term solution to the problem.
English
one adverb
the usual order in written
in end position,
When there is more than
When there is more than one adverb in end position, the usual order in written English is adverb
and then
time:
place,
(=
saying how something is done),
of manner
of manner (= saying how something is done), place, and then time:
(= manner + place)
In the accident she was thrown violently against the door.
• * In the accident she was thrown violently against the door. (= manner + place)
is
if one
much
is
adverb
longer than another then
usually placed
However, if one adverb is much longer than another then it is usually placed last:
However,
They left at 3.00 with a great deal of noise.
(= time + manner)
• ¢ They left at 3.00 with a great deal of noise. (= time + manner)
i
Place, time, ndefinite frequency adverbs = =>
Comment, viewpoint, focus adverbs = =
Degee advatbs
Degree adverbs = =
Comment, viewpoint, focus acvetbs