ADVERBS IN ENGLISH

The placement of adverbs

The first thing we are going to do is classify the types of adverbs there are and where
each of them is placed. Attention: in Spanish we have much more freedom when
placing adverbs, in English we have to follow these rules.

Afterwards, and so that it fits well, we are going to do some exercises.

You'll see how in the end everything becomes very clear.

1.- Adverb of manner

Examples:

-carefully- carefully
-honestly- sincerely
-quickly- quickly
-silently- silently
-happily- happily
-quietly-
-well
-badly- bad

We put it after the verb:

-She eats badly . She eats badly.

But beware! If the phrase has a complement, it necessarily goes after it. Never
between the verb and the complement.

Example:

- He eats the orange (complement: the orange) quickly . He eats the orange quickly.

Note: The previous rule varies if the complement is preceded by a preposition, since
then the adverb can be placed before the preposition or after the complement.

Examples:
 -She looks for her keys desperately . She looks for the keys desperately.
-She looks desperately for her keys. She desperately searches for her keys.

If the object is a sentence, the adverb is usually placed before the verb:

-He carefully looks after all the children that live with him. He takes care of all the
children who live with him.

2.- Adverbs of place

Examples:
-down -down
-up- up
-everywhere- anywhere
-nowhere- nowhere
-here- here
-there- there
-somewhere- somewhere
-away
-inside
-upstairs- up

We place them after the verb (if it does not have an complement. If you have it, we
follow the rule that we have set above)

Example:

-She went abroad. She went abroad .

Example with complement:

-She sent his son abroad. He sent his son abroad.

If the complement is preceded by a preposition, it is also placed after said

complement:

-He went with his wife abroad . He went abroad with his wife.

3.- Adverbs of time

Examples:
-soon- soon
-lately- lately
-today- today
-tomorrow- tomorrow
-yesterday- yesterday
-now- now
-afterwards- after
-recently- recently
-yet- still, still, already
-still- still, still

These can be put at the beginning or end of the sentence:

- Yesterday I played football

-I played football yesterday.

4.- Adverbs of frequency

Examples:

-always- always
-never- never
-often- frequently
-frequently- frequently
-twice- twice
-seldom- rarely
- eleven- once
-sometimes- sometimes
-usually- generally

Here we have to learn a very important rule that we will never forget.

We know that the verb "to be" is a special verb, that's why:

a) With simple verbs:

a.1) Verb "to be": after the verb:

-I am always at home. I'm always at home.

a.2) Other verbs: in front of the verb:

-I never answer the phone. I never answer the phone.

b) With phrasal verbs: after the auxiliary :

-He has often traveled to France. He has traveled frequently to France.

c) With interrogative sentences: auxiliary+subject+adverb

-Do you play football often ? Do you often play soccer?

d) With negative sentences: after the auxiliary:

-We haven't ever danced Rock & Roll. We have never danced Rock & Roll.

5.- Sentence adverbs

Have you heard of these adverbs? You can, and most likely you have used them
without knowing that they are called that. They clarify the complete meaning of the
sentence. They express the opinion of the issuer.
Examples:
evidently, probably, apparently, clearly, certainly, naturally, luckily, officially...

General rule: they can go at the beginning or at the end of the sentence (sometimes
some of them can also go in intermediate positions).

- Obviously your computer is one of the most expensive on the market. Obviously
your computer is one of the most expensive on the market.
-Your computer is one of the most expensive in the market, evidently . Your computer
is one of the most expensive on the market, obviously.
- Naturally we can do whatever you want. Naturally we can do anything you want.
-We can do whatever you want, naturally. We can do whatever you want, naturally.

6.- Adverbs of degree

Examples:

-much- much
-very- very
-quite- enough
-pretty- pretty
-nearly- almost
-rather- quite
-completely-
-rarely- rarely
-entirely- totally
-almost- almost
-extremely- extremely

These are placed in front of the verb, adverb or adjective they modify.

If the verb is compound, it is placed after the auxiliary.

Examples:

-He is completely crazy. He is completely crazy.

-She plays golf quite well . She plays golf quite well.
-He almost died from cancer. He almost died of cancer.
-This couple has completely ended their relationship. This couple has ended their
relationship completely.