02-03 - Adverbs and Adverb Phrases - Position - English Grammar Today - Cambridge Dictionary

5/29/2020 Adverbs and adverb phrases: position - English Grammar Today - Cambridge Dictionary
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from English Grammar Today
We can put adverbs and adverb phrases at the front, in the middle or at the end of a clause.
The front position of the clause is the first item in the clause:
Suddenly I felt afraid.

Yesterday detectives arrested a man and a woman in connection with the murder.
The end position of the clause is the last item in the clause:
Why do you always have to eat so fast?
The mid position is between the subject and the main verb:
Apples always taste best when you pick them straight off the tree.
Where there is more than one verb, mid position means after the first auxiliary verb or after a modal
verb:
The government has occasionally been forced to change its mind. (after the first auxiliary verb)
You can definitely never predict what will happen. (after a modal verb)
We mightn’t ever have met. (after the modal verb and before the auxiliary verb)
In questions, mid position is between the subject and the main verb:
Do you ever think about living there?
Adverbs usually come after the main verb be, except in emphatic clauses:
She’s always late for everything.
When be is emphasised,
This website theFor
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morecomes beforeplease
information, the verb:
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Accept and hide this message 
Why should I have gone to see Madonna? I never was a fan of hers. (emphatic)
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Adverb phrases
Be as a main verb
Types of adverbs and their positions

Different types of adverbs go in different places.
type position example
They usually go in end position.

She ate quickly.
manner They sometimes go in mid position if the adverb
She quickly ate her dinner and
is not the most important part of the clause or if
ran out.
the object is very long.
Can you come over here?
They usually go in end position. We’ll be at that table there.

place They sometimes go in front position, especially Here she sat.
in writing. Outside, there was a small
pond.
I’m flying to Edinburgh

They usually go in end position.
tomorrow.
time They sometimes go in front position especially if
Today, I’m going to clean the
we want to emphasise the adverb.
house.
duration They usually go in end position. I’m not staying long.
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type position example  
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We often have friends to stay.
I usually get up late on

They usually go in mid position.
weekends.
They sometimes go in front position.
I could never swim fast.
frequency They can also go in end position.
Sometimes she wore a woollen
Always, ever and never do not usually go in hat.
front position.
We don’t see them very often.
Not: Never I could swim fast.
I really like those pink flowers.

Really, very, quite usually go in mid position. We go to Ireland a lot.
degree
A lot and a bit usually go in end position. I’d just like to change things a
bit.
He simply walked out without

focusing They usually go in mid position.
saying a word.
It’ll probably rain.

Some go in mid position: probably, possibly,
certainty certainly. Maybe Nick will know the
or answer.
obligation Others go in front position: maybe, perhaps or in
end positions after a comma. Can I get you a drink, or
something to eat, perhaps?
Personally, I’d rather not go

They usually go outside the clause, often at the
out.
beginning.
viewpoint This must, frankly, be the
They can sometimes go in mid position,
craziest idea anyone has ever
especially in formal writing.
had.
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type position example  
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Unfortunately, I forgot my
swimming costume so I had to
They usually go outside the clause, often at the
sit on the side and watch.
beginning.
evaluative We have stupidly forgotten the
They can sometimes go in mid position.
tickets.
In informal speaking they can go in end position.
They missed the bus,
apparently.
Manner, place and time

Adverbs of manner, place and time usually come in end position:
He played brilliantly.
If the verb has an object, the adverb comes after the object:
[verb] [object] [adverb]

We made a decision quickly then left.
When there is more than one of the three types of adverb together, they usually go in the order:
manner, place, time:
[manner] [time]
You start off slowly in the beginning.
Not: You start off in the beginning slowly.
[manner] [place] [time]
James played brilliantly in the match on Saturday. (preferred to James played brilliantly on
Saturday in the match.)
Warning:
We don’t put adverbs between the verb and the object:
[verb] [object] [adverb]

She plays the piano really well. I’ve heard her.
Not: She plays really well the piano.
I don’t watch the TV very often.

Evaluative and viewpoint

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Adverbs indicating the attitude and point of view of the speaker or writer usually go at the beginning.
These adverbs are called sentence adverbs because they refer to the whole sentence or utterance:
Actually, I think the meeting is on Wednesday, not Thursday.

Contents
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Position with here and there
Warning:
If the subject is a pronoun (it/he/she/you etc.), it comes directly after the adverbs here and
there. If the subject is a noun, it comes directly after the verb:
Here she is.
Not: Here is she.
There it goes.
Not: There goes it.
Here comes the bus.
Not: Here the bus comes.
See also:
Adverbs: types
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5/29/2020 Adverbs and adverb phrases: position - English Grammar Today - Cambridge Dictionary

Adverbs and adverb phrases: position  

from English Grammar Today

Suddenly I felt afraid.

Why do you always have to eat so fast?

Do you ever think about living there?

She’s always late for everything.

Types of adverbs and their positions

type position example

They usually go in end position.

Can you come over here?

They usually go in end position. We’ll be at that table there.

I’m flying to Edinburgh

duration They usually go in end position. I’m not staying long.

We often have friends to stay.

I usually get up late on

Not: Never I could swim fast.

I really like those pink flowers.

He simply walked out without

It’ll probably rain.

Personally, I’d rather not go

Manner, place and time

[verb] [object] [adverb]

[verb] [object] [adverb]

Not: She plays really well the piano.

I don’t watch the TV very often.

Evaluative and viewpoint

Actually, I think the meeting is on Wednesday, not Thursday.

Position with here and there

Here she is.

Not: Here is she.

Here comes the bus.

Not: Here the bus comes.

04 Adverbs and adverb phrases: position

05 At, on and in (place)

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