osition of Adverbs

Adverb of Manner
(e.g.: slowly, carefully, awfully)

These adverbs are put behind the direct object (or behind the verb if there's no direct object).

subject verb(s) direct object adverb

He drove the car carefully.

He drove carefully.

Exercise on adverbs of manner

Adverbs of Place
(e.g.: here, there, behind, above)

Like adverbs of manner, these adverbs are put behind the direct object or the verb.

subject verb(s) direct object adverb

I didn't see him here.

He stayed behind.

Exercise on adverbs of place

Adverbs of Time
(e.g.: recently, now, then, yesterday)

Adverbs of time are usually put at the end of the sentence.

subject verb(s) indirect object direct object time

I will tell you the story tomorrow.

If you don't want to put emphasis on the time, you can also put the adverb of time at the beginning of the
sentence.

time subject verb(s) indirect object direct object

Tomorrow I will tell you the story.

Exercise on adverbs of time

Adverbs of Frequency
(e.g.: always, never, seldom, usually)

Adverbs of frequency are put directly before the main verb. If 'be' is the main verb and there is no
auxiliary verb, adverbs of frequency are put behind 'be'. Is there an auxiliary verb, however, adverbs of
frequency are put before 'be'.

subject auxiliary/be adverb main verb object, place or time

I often go swimming in the evenings.

He doesn't always play tennis.

We are usually here in summer.

I have never been abroad.

Exercise on adverbs of frequency

Position of adverbs
Summary - Adverbs
The comparison of adverbs
The position of adverbs in sentences
Adverbs of frequency
Adverbs and adjectives have the same form
Adverbs, where the basis is not the adjective
Adverbs - two forms
Exercises: Adverbs
The position of adverbs in sentences
We can put adverbs in different positions in sentences. There are three main positions but also a lot of
exceptions.
In English we never put an adverb between the verb and the object.

We often play handball. - CORRECT We play often handball. - WRONG

The three main positions of adverbs in English sentences

1) Adverb at the beginning of a sentence
Unfortunately, we could not see Mount Snowdon.
2) Adverb in the middle of a sentence
The children often ride their bikes.
3) Adverb at the end of a sentence
Andy reads a comic every afternoon.

More than one adverb at the end of a sentence

If there are more adverbs at the end of a sentence, the word order is normally:
Manner - Place - Time
Peter sang the song happily in the bathroom yesterday evening.

Position af adverbs
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1) Our friends must write a test.
Our friends must also write a test.
2) I was joking.
I was only joking.
3) Did you enjoy the flight?
Did you both enjoy the flight?
4) Mary watches TV.
Mary hardly ever watches TV.
5) He drives his car.
He drives his car carefully.
6) The children play football.
The children play football in the garden.
7) We went to the cinema.
We went to the cinema yesterday.
8) John fell off the bike.
John almost fell off the bike.
9) Her boyfriend will buy her some flowers.
Her boyfriend will probably buy her some flowers.
10) My uncle is moving to Stockholm soon.
My uncle is definitely moving to Stockholm soon.

Repeat exercise

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