Adverb placement

Definition:

Adverb placement refers to the position in a sentence that an adverb takes.

When we look at adverb placement, we can see 3 positions in the sentence or clause.

3 positions:

at the beginning (initial / front position)
in the middle, normally before the verb or after the auxiliary (mid position)
at the end (end position)

Initial Position

Patern	Example
`Adverb + S + Verb`	Sometimes we go the beach at the weekend.
`Adverb + S + AV + Verb`	Fortunately, we had caught our bus in time.
`Adverb + S + AV + AV + Verb`	However, the price will have changed.
`Adverb + S + is/am/are/was/were + Object`	Occasionnaly, she is at the park.

MP - Mid-Position

Patern	Example
`S + Adverb + Verb`	We sometimes go to the beach at the weekend.
`S + AV + Adverb + Verb`	I will always remember your kindness.
`S + AV + Adverb + AV + Verb`	I should never had told you my secret.
`S + is/am/are/was/were + Adverb`	She is seldom on time to work.

EP - End Position

Patern	Example
`S + Verb + Adverb`	He brushes his teeth every day.
`S + AV + Verb + Adverb`	I have finished it already.
`S + AV + AV + Verb + Adverb`	I will have studied every day by the time I graduate from Langports.
`S + is/am/are/was/were + Complement + Adverb`	She is nice to me every day. (all the time, quite often)

Adverbs of Frequency

We normally use the Mid-Position.

I can always understand his English.
They have never been to Tahiti.
She sometimes goes to the movies.

always can never be used in the front or end position.

Always she dows her homework.
She does her homework always.
She always does her homework.

However, when we use the imperative mood, we can begin a sentence or clause with always.

Always wash your hands begore eating.
Always study hard!

Adverbs of Definite Frequency (Time)

It indicates when or how often.

Examples: yesterdy, soon, today, monthly, finally, in May, every year.

We normally use the End Position.

Susie is going to Byron Bay today.
The company pays their taxes monthly.
Janelle works hard every day.

Theses adverbs can also be used in the mid position: already, soon, finally, eventually.

Jose has already finished his assignment.
Shw will soon graduate university.
The finnaly decided toi get married.

These adverbs can be used only in the mid position:

Nadine still likes eating chocolate.
Anna just left her office.

Special Rules for STILL & YET

These markers have the same meaning in the following sentences:

She has not arrived yet.
She still has not arrived.

We can also use "yet" in the mid-position, but we must use "yet to + inf".

She has yet to arrive.
Matt is yet to make a decision.

It has exaclty the same meaning as, "She has not arrived yet."

Still

If we use a negative sentence, "still" must come directly after the subject:

He is still not here.
He still is not here.

Adverbs of Certainty

Adverbs of cerainty show how certain of sure we are of something: definitely, certainly, probably, clearly, obviously.

I can probably come to your house at 6pm.
They will definitely be late!
The boss certainly likes you!
Mark is definitely taller than me.

These adverbs must be used in the front position: maybe, perhaps.

Maybe, we will call by his house on they way home.
Perhaps, I will tell him about the proprosal.

Adverbs of Manner

They show how something is done or how something happens: slowly, quickly, badly, fast, terribly, hard, angrily.

We normally use the end position.

The teacher spoke to him slowly.
Megan likes to drive her car fast.
Sam quickly ate her dinner.

Adverbs of manner which are used to give the speaker's opinion of an action or occurence often go in the mid position:

I stupidly left my wallet at home!
She angrily left the room!

Adverbs of Place

Adverbs of Place show ehere something happens: here, there, somewhere, nowhere, at home, around, outside.

We normally use the end position.

Stere is studying upstairs.
Can you please come here?
At the airport, I ran into Chris.

Adverbs of Focus

Adverbs of Focus are used to point to or focus on one part of a clause: also, even, just, only, really, too, nor, neither.

We normally use the mid position.

We have only been here for thwo day.
She has just left.
Lucas just signed up for the class.
Rachel never told her about the meeting.

Adverbs of Completeness

The Adverbs of Completeness show how completely something occurs of how completely something is true: almost, nearly, quite, rather, prctically, entirely, hardly, more or less.