Position of adverbs and adverb phrases

Position of adverbs – Grammar chart

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Initial position, mid position and final position

Adverbs and adverb phrases can be placed in three positions: initial position, mid position, or final position.

Initial position: at the beginning of the sentence.

• Sometimes I feel a bit lost. 
• Yesterday I went to the library. 

Final position: at the end of the sentence.

• She arrived very late. 
• We have to move quickly. 

Mid position

This is the position where most adverbs are placed. It is before the main verb.

• I often call him to know how he is.
• They don’t always answer the phone.

After the verb be (when it is the main verb).

• They are often late. 

After the auxiliary verb or the first auxiliary verb (when there are two or more auxiliary verbs)

• You must never do that again. 
• I have often been tempted to tell her I love her. 

Types of adverbs and their position

Adverbs of frequency (=how often)

Adverbs of frequency usually go in mid position. However, a few of them (sometimes, usually, and normally) can also go in initial position.

Mid position

• I usually work on Saturdays
• She’s hardly ever late
• You should always knock at the door.

Initial position: sometimes, usually, normally

• Sometimes, he can be very stubborn. 

Adverbs of manner (=how)

Adverbs of manner can be used in any of the three positions; however, their most common position is the final position.

Final position

• I don’t understand you when you speak quickly.
• She can dance salsa marvellously.

Mid position
Adverbs of manner are used in this position mainly in literary style, although they normally go in this position with passive verb forms.

• He carefully took the flower and put it in the jar. (=literary)
• The driver was injured seriously.
• The driver was seriously injured.

Some adverbs of manner cannot be placed in mid position: well, badly, hard, fast.

Initial position
Adverbs of manner are used in this position only in literary style.

• Carefully, she opened the box.

Adverbs of time (=when)

Final position
We normally place adverbs of time in final position.

• They’ll be here soon.
• It rained a lot yesterday.

Initial position
We can also use adverbs of time in initial position. We place them in this position for emphasis or to structure a text (as connecting devices).

• Two days after their wedding, they slip up.
• Last week, she arrived late every day.

Comment adverbs

Viewpoint or comment adverbs, e.g. obviously, luckily, unfortunately, honestly, etc., are normally placed in initial position.

• Unfortunately, we arrived half an hour late.
• Ideally, we should leave at 10.00.

Adverbs of degree (=how much)

Almost, hardly, nearly, quite, rather, scarcely, etc. 

Most degree adverbs usually go in mid position.

• We were nearly hit by a car in the street. 
• I would rather stay here if you don’t mind. 

Very, extremely, incredibly, absolutely, etc. 

They are placed before the adjective or adverb they modify.

• We’re incredibly tired.
• It’s absolutely impossible to do it right. 

Much, a lot, a bit
They are normally used after the verb they complement.

• Britons drink a lot. 
• He doesn’t talk much. 

A little
It’s normally placed before the adjective or adverb they modify.

• I’m a little tired. 

Manner, place and time

When we have to use different adverbs in final position, their order is usually manner, place and time.

• They met by chance in England in 1999. 

Note that when there is a verb of movement, the order is place, manner and time.

• He goes to school by car every day. 

Verb and object

Verbs and objects can never be separated. We cannot place any adverbs between them.

• I like a lot pizza.
• I like pizza a lot.
• He speaks very well English.
• He speaks English very well.