Page 21 - Basic English Usage

21 14

It will probably rain this evening. (certainty)
/'ve almost finished painting the house. (completeness)
My boss often travels to America. (indefinite frequency)
He quickly got dressed. (manner)
end-position
Adverbs of manner (how), place (where) and time (when) most often go
in end-position. (For details, see 14.9.)
She brushed her hair slowly. (manner)
The children are playing upstairs. (place)
| phoned Alex this morning. (time)

14 adverbs: position (details)

(Read section 13 before you read this.)

Connecting adverbs
These adverbs join a clause to what came before.
Examples: however, then, next, besides, anyway
Position: beginning of clause.
Some of us wanted to change the system; however, not everybody
agreed.
| worked without stopping until five o'clock. Then | went home.
Next, | want to say something about the future.

Indefinite frequency
These adverbs say how often something happens.
Examples: always, ever, usually, normally, often, frequently,
sometimes, occasionally, rarely, seldom, never
Position: — mid-position (after auxiliary verbs and am, are, is, was and
were: before other verbs).
auxiliary verb + adverb
| have never seen a whale.
You can always come and stay with us if you want to.
Have you ever played American football?

My boss is often bad-tempered.
/’m seldom late for work.

adverb + other verb
We usually go to Scotland in August.
it sometimes gets very windy here.