UNIT 2 Placing of adverbs

1. In general, the adverbs must be so placed in the sentence that the reader (listener) will have no hesitation in deciding which word the adverb modifies. Hence, the adverb should be placed as near as possible to that word. (Cf.: The teacher only pointed out one mistake and The teacher pointed out only one mistake; I am quite sure he is clever and I am sure he is quite clever).

Still another general tendency is that adverbs usually precede or follow the verb: We often talked about it. He turned hastily.

Yet different adverbs may be placed differently, and here are some tendencies and rules for the different types of adverbs which, however, should be used as a guide, not a firm set of rules, as adverb position is often changed to show emphasis.

 

2. In a sentence adverbs are usually placed in:

1) a midsentence position as are the majority of adverbs of manner, frequency, degree and time (He slowly opened the door. I don’t really like fish. I often go there. Have you ever seen him? I have not yet read the letter. I’ve just finished the painting).

2) initial or any other position as:

a) sentence adverbs ( Probably she will never come. She will probably never come. I’ll see you later, probably ) and

b) some adverbs of frequency as sometimes, usually, normally, frequently, generally, occasionally, finally (I sometimes go there. Sometimes I go there. I go there sometimes );

3) final position as some adverbs of:

a) time ( before, lately, recently, soon, yet ) (I have not seen him lately. The mail has not come yet ),

b) degree (I sleep little/much, I danced a lot, I don’t love him anymore ),

c) manner (I must get money somehow ),

d) place (He painted that picture here ) and the adverbs often, too and either (‘также, тоже’) (Do you come here often? I’ll be there too. I don’t like it either );

4) both in the final and initial positions as some adverbs of time such as tomorrow, yesterday, today (I’ll see him today. Today I’ll see him).

3. Midsentence adverbs, in their turn, may premodify, postmodify the word they are related to or be used between a helping (or modal) verb and a main verb.

Midsentence adverbs that premodify:

1) a verb:

a) some adverbs of frequency ( ever, always, seldom, rarely, hardly ever, never ) and the adverb of degree just in the meaning of “просто”: He always comes early. I just have to go there.

b) the adverb still: I still love him. The letter still hasn’t come.

NOTE: I can still play the piano. She is still at school)

2) an adjective:

a) “view point” sentence adverbs: It is theoretically sound.

b) intensifying adverbs: That was a very funny film.

Midsentence adverbs that are used between a helping ( or modal) verb and a main verb:

a) adverbs of frequency: She doesn’t always eat breakfast. You must never get off the moving tram, and

b) the adverbs of time just in the meaning of “только что” and the adverb already: He has just left. He has already come.

 

Midsentence adverbs that postmodify verb/adjective:

a) the adverbs of frequency after the verb to be: He is always here.

b) the adverbs of manner after an intransitive verb: He walked slowly to the bar. (If a verb is transitive, the adverb is used either before the verb or after the object: He slowly answered the question or He answered the question slowly. )

c) the adverb enough: high enough; to work enough.

d) intensifying adverbs in phrasal verbs: They left him well behind.

 

4. Adverbs together usually follow the order: Manner, Place, Time: It rained hard there yesterday. But when in pairs, Place usually precedes Manner: She arrived here angrily.

 

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