LoginAdverb Placement and Order
Discover the rules for placing and ordering adverbs like 'quickly', 'often', and 'beautifully'. Detailed explanations and a quiz to test your knowledge.
Adverb Placement
Adverbs can be placed in various positions in a sentence, depending on the type of adverb, the intended meaning, and the structure of the sentence.
Adverbs: Possible Positions
Adverbs can appear in the initial, middle, or end position:
The initial position is before the subject.
The middle or central position is between the subject and the main verb, or between the auxiliary (if there is one) and the main verb.
The final position is after the main verb (if there is no complement), or after the complement(s) of the verb.
Yesterday, we hiked in the mountains.
Initial position
She has never visited London.
Middle position (with auxiliary)
She sings beautifully.
End position (no complement).
The preferred position for an adverb depends on what it is modifying. Adverbs can modify a single element or the whole clause. If an adverb is modifying a particular verb phrase, it is most likely to appear in the middle or end position. If the adverb is modifying the whole clause, it will probably appear in the initial position.
Only she loves chocolate.
Here, the adverb modifies the whole sentence to show that she is the only person who loves chocolate.
She only loves chocolate.
Here, the adverb modifies the verb rather than the whole sentece to show that chocotalte is the only thing she loves.
Adverbs can also modify adjectives or other adverbs, in which case they mainly appear right before the adjective or adverb.
The test was extremely hard.
She ran incredibly fast.
In the following section, we will review the common positions of adverbs based on their type.
Adverb Placement: Initial Position
Conjunctive Adverbs
Conjunctive adverbs that show a connection with the previous sentences or provide context for a sentence are normally placed at the beginning of the sentence. For example:
Next, put the turkey in the oven for 45 minutes.
Undoubtedly, people have become more interested in social media.
Unfortunately, we couldn't finish the project on time.
Adverbs of Time and Frequency
Adverbs of time and adverbs of frequency can be placed in various positions in a sentence. Adverbs of time, in particular, are the most flexible of all adverbs in terms of placement, as they can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. Take a look at the examples:
Tomorrow, my uncle is going to London.
Usually, I play football in the park with my friends.
Adverbs of Viewpoint and Comment
Adverbs of viewpoint and comment typically come in the initial position to show the speaker's attitude toward the statement made in the sentence.
Fortunately, we arrived at the station on time.
Surprisingly, no one objected to the proposal.
Adverb Placement: Middle Position
Adverbs of frequency, adverbs of probability, and adverbs of manner can all be used in the middle position.
She often works at the weekend.
She has probably gone home.
I carefully opened the lid.
Adverb Placement: End Position
The following types of adverbs are typically placed at the end of a sentence or phrase:
I have my first math class today.
Stop shouting now.
What are you doing here?
She visited him in hospital.
Adverbs of Manner can also come in the end position
Just try and talk to her nicely.
Traffic flowed smoothly.
Adverbs: Order
If we want to use more than one adverb to modify the same word or clause, we should put them in a specific order. This is called the order of adverbs or the royal order of adverbs and it is as follows:
Adverbs of Manner
Adverbs of Place
Adverbs of Frequency
Adverbs of Time
Adverbs of Purpose
It is usually uncommon to use all five categories of adverbs in a single sentence, but sometimes we might use two or three adverbs. Take a look at the example:
She walked slowly (manner) down the alley (place) every evening (frequency) at 7 o'clock (time) to walk her dog (purpose).
Review
Adverbs are words that modify adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs. They express a relation of place, time, etc.
Adverbs order in a sentence is important especially when there are more than one of them in one sentence.
Manner | Place | Frequency | Time | Purpose |
We can classify adverbs into four groups based on what they modify and consider their placement in relation to this feature:
adverbs modifying verbs | They ran fast to get to the bus. |
adverbs modifying adjectives (intensifiers) | It is really hot in here. |
adverbs modifying another adverb (intensifiers) | The restaurant is almost always full of people. |
adverbs modifying entire sentences (sentence adverbs) | Actually, he is right. |
Quiz:
In which sentence is the adverb correctly placed in the middle position?
She quickly has finished her assignment.
They are arguing always about politics.
The project unexpectedly has been completed.
He has thoroughly reviewed the documents.
Sort the words to make a correct sentence.
Match each incomplete sentence with the correct ending.
Fill the blanks with the appropriate adverbs based on position.
, the negotiations concluded without further conflict.
The board
approves the new policy.
The artist painted the mural
.
, we finalize the report.
The cybersecurity system is
impenetrable.
Which sentence follows the correct adverb order?
They practice diligently at the studio twice weekly.
They practice at the studio diligently twice weekly.
They practice twice weekly diligently at the studio
They practice twice weekly at the studio diligently.
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