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Adverbs in sentences (lesson + exercise)
The position of adverbs in English:
Some adverbs are generally placed near the verb.
Their precise position depends on the structure of the verb.
Here are some of them:
Frequency adverbs | Other adverbs |
- often - always - never - sometimes - almost - mainly - usually - hardly ever - rarely / seldom | - also - just - only - even - nearly - hardly - really - probably - certainly - soon - last - still |
Note
● All / both /each follow the same rules
● Learn how to use still and yet
Still is for the past | Yet is for the future |
Still Vincent is still asleep Do you still live in Paris? Still … not Mary still doesn't know. | Have you had lunch yet? Note that yet is placed at the end of the sentence. Not … yet No, it is not time yet. |
When the verb is a single word, the adverb is before it.
She often writes lessons.
She probably wanted some information.
Always learn your lessons before doing your exercises.
Exception:
The adverb is placed after : "am" – "are" - "is" - "was" - "were".
I am always happy.
When the verb is formed with two words or more,
the adverb is usually placed after the first auxiliary like in French.
The students have certainly been warned.
Vincent and Sébastien are probably going to this pub.
In the interrogative form the adverb is placed after the subject.
Do you often go to
In the negative form, the position of the adverb changes according to the meaning:
Probably and certainly are always placed before the auxiliary + n't.
He doesn't often work. => He probably doesn't work.
Note:
Remember the words order with "not even".
Joan has not even confessed her error.
Particular cases :
The adverb may be placed before the auxiliary
to expand the idea expressed in the sentence.
I'm really working hard. => I really am working hard.
The position of adverbs : perhaps and maybe
Perhaps and maybe are usually placed at the beginning of a sentence.
Maybe is above all used in a familiar style.
Perhaps her train is late
Maybe Lucile is wrong.
The position of adverbs: very – much – well – a lot – at all-
We have just learnt that in English the verb is generally never split up from its direct object complement, that the adverb must be placed before or after the verb. But some adverbs in the following chapter have precise rules :
(Very) well – a lot – and generally – at all – are placed after the direct object complement. That is also the case for – very much-
Peter speaks English very well, but he doesn't know
She criticises her husband a lot and she likes shouting against him very much.
Note
Very much may also be placed before the verb.
I very much like tolearnenglish.com
It is compulsory when the complement is very long :
I very much like sleeping out on a warm summer night.
The position of adverbs and complements at the end of a sentence.
The adverbs or complements which are at the end of a sentence
say most of the time how, where, when something happened.
The words order should be :
'how' --- 'where' --- 'when'
Bridget sang very well at the club last night.
I'll go to the hospital tomorrow.
I must be in the operating theatre at seven.
Thanks to lucile83
for checking the lesson and creating the exercise.
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