Page 189 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

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

There are three main positions for adverbs which modify a verb:
front position = before the subject • Finally he could stand the noise no longer.

mid position - between the subject and verb, • He usually plays better than this.
or immediately after be as a main verb (see C) • She's usually here by 10.00.
end position = after the verb • I've been waiting for hours.

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

type of adverb function example
connecting adverbs e.g. ...to make immediately clear • The value of the yen has
as a result, similarly the logical relation to the fallen. As a result, Japan
previous sentence faces a crisis.
time and place adverbs e.g. ...to show a contrast with, • The last few days have been
tomorrow, in the kitchen or expansion on, a previous hot. Tomorrow the weather
reference to time or place will be much cooler.

comment and viewpoint ...to highlight the speaker's • She has just heard that her
adverbs e.g. presumably, attitude to what they are sister is ill. Presumably, she
financially about to say will want to go home.

The following types of adverb usually go in mid position: adverbs of indefinite frequency e.g.
always, never, usually; degree adverbs e.g. completely, quite, and focus adverbs e.g. just, even:
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.
Most adverbs of time or place don't go in this position:
• Jane had a baby in October, {not Jane in October had a baby.)
However, a few often do, including already, finally, now, recently, soon, still:
• I finally met Roy at the conference in Madrid.
and in journalism, other adverbs of time are often used in mid position:
• The government yesterday announced an increase in education spending.
In mid position, we put adverbs where we would put not, or after it if not is already there:
• Sue's never at home these days, {compare 'Sue isn't at home...') • I don't fully understand.
• It has seldom been seen here before, {compare 'It hasn't been seen...')

oln end position, we usually put an adverb after an object or complement if there is one:
• • He studied the problem briefly, {not He studied briefly the problem.)
However, if an object or complement is very long, then we often put an adverb between the verb
and its object or complement. This is particularly common in journalism:
• We considered briefly the long-term solution to the problem.
When there is more than one adverb in end position, the usual order in written English is adverb
of manner (= saying how something is done), place, and then time:
• In the accident she was thrown violently against the door. (= manner + place)
However, if one adverb is much longer than another then it is usually placed last:
• They left at 3.00 with a great deal of noise. (= time + manner)

Place, time, ndefinite frequency adverbs = Degree adverbs = Comment, viewpoint, focus adverbs =
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