Position of adverbs

Filed in English Grammar

Adverbs should be placed as near as possible to the verbs they modify. When the verb has no object, place the adverb immediately after it.

• They played (verb) well (adverb).
• She worked (verb) hard (adverb).
• He spoke (verb) fluently (adverb).
• They danced (verb) merrily (adverb).

When the verb has an object, place the adverb immediately after the object.

• He gave (verb) his reply immediately (adverb).
• He drew (verb) the picture nicely (adverb).
• She sang (verb) a song sweetly (adverb).
• They offered (verb) their help willingly (adverb).
• She suffered (verb) the pain bravely (adverb).
• She accepted (verb) the offer reluctantly (adverb).

Adverbs of time and frequency are placed before the verb. Examples are: seldom, always, often, before, never etc.

• She seldom (adverb) writes (verb) to me.
• They never (adverb) visit (verb) us.
• We always (adverb) try (verb) to help them.

When the sentence consists of an auxiliary verb and a principal verb, the adverb is placed between the two. If there are two auxiliaries, the adverb is placed between them.

• I have always wanted to become famous. (auxiliary verb + adverb + main verb)
• I should never have thought it possible. (first auxiliary verb + adverb + second auxiliary verb + main verb)
• He was greatly praised for his contribution to the field.

An adverb is placed before an adjective or another adverb which it modifies.

• She is very (adverb) beautiful (adjective).
• You are absolutely (adverb) right(adjective).
• He is a rather (adverb) careless (adjective)fellow.

Note that the adverb enough comes after the adjective which it modifies.

• He was foolish (adjective) enough (adverb) to trust her.
• She is not old (adjective)enough (adverb) to become a grand mother.

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