Position of adverbs in sentences

1. Function of adverbs

Summary: Adverb has the following main functions: Modify verbs Modify adjectives Modifies another adverb Besides, Adverb There are also functions: Modify the whole sentence Modify other types of words: noun phrases, prepositional phrases, pronouns, and determiners

In English, Adverb Has the ability to modify many other words!

It can be used to modify many different types of words as follows:

1.1. Modify verbs

• He spoke loudly.
  → Adverb loudly modifies verbsspoke.
• He quickly finished his lunch.
  → Adverb quickly modifies verbs finshed.
• He had quickly eaten the pizza before I noticed.
  → Adverb quickly modifies verbs had eaten.

He spoke loudly.

1.2. Modify adjectives

• It was an extremely bad match. match.
  → Adverb extremely modifies adjectives bad.
• It's a reasonably cheap restaurant, and the food was extremely good.
  → Adverb reasonably modifies adjectives cheap and adverbs extremely modifies adjectives good.

It's a reasonably cheap restaurant, and the food was extremely good.

1.3. Modifies another adverb

• The handball team played extremely badly last Wednesday.

→ Adverb extremely modifies adverbs badly and adverbs badly modifies verbs played.

• He did the work completely well.

→ Adverb completely modifies adverbs well and adverbs well modifies verbs did.

He did the work completely well.

1.4 Modify the whole sentence

In the case of modifying an entire sentence, the adverb is usually of the type of adverb that evaluates or gives the speaker's opinion.

• Unfortunately, we could not see the Eiffel Tower.
• They missed the bus, apparently.
• This must, frankly, be the craziest idea anyone has ever had.
• Personally, I'd rather not go out tonight.

They missed the bus, apparently.

1.5. Modifies some other types of words

Adverbs are also sometimes used to modify other types of words such as noun phrases and prepositional phrases. pronouns, determiners.

• Even camels need to drink.
  → Adverb even modifies a noun phrase camels. In this case, the noun phrase consists only of the noun. camels.
• I bought only the fruit.
  → Adverb only modifies a noun phrase the fruit. In this case, the noun phrase includes the noun fruit and qualifier the.
• The amusement park opens only in the summer.
  → Adverb only modifies the prepositional phrase in the summer
• You can't blame anyone else; you alone made the decision.
  → Adverb alone modifies a pronoun you
• He lost almost all his money.
  → Adverb almost modifies the determiner all

⚠️ Attention:

AdverbIn general, there are many such functions, but we also need to note that not any adverb can fully perform all of the above functions. Normally, each adverb can only perform certain functions. As you learn English, you will gradually learn which adverbs perform which functions.

2. The position of the adverb in the sentence

Summary In the case of modifying verbs, adverbs can stand in the following positions in the sentence, depending on the adverb: After the verb Before the verb Before the subject And adverbs modify the remaining types of words: Usually stands right before the word it modifies With a few exceptions

2.1. Where an adverb modifies a verb

In the case of modifying verbs, adverbs can stand in the following positions in the sentence, depending on the adverb:

• After the verb, and if the verb has an object, it comes after the object
• Before the verb, and if the verb has an auxiliary verb, then stand between the verb and the auxiliary verb
• Before the subject

For example:

Regarding the position "after the verb":

• She went to the movies alone last week.
• They used to live there.
• I will go to work today.
• We don't see them often.

For example:

Regarding the position "before the verb":

• I nearly fell down from the tree.

• He usually goes to school by bus.

• I simply want to make a right choice.

• Things are slowly getting better.

  Attention: slowly stand before getting but comes after the auxiliary verbare.

• I'm so glad to finally see you.

  Attention: finally stand before see but be hind to.

For example:

About the position "after the verb":

• Yesterday, he met his long lost daughter.
• Sometimes, she wears the boots.
• Personally, hate that color.
• Unfortunately, the manager was sick.

2.2. Cases where adverbs modify other word classes

When an adverb modifies an adjective, adverb, noun phrase, prepositional phrase, pronoun, or determiner, the adverb usually comes before the word it modifies.

• Adjective modifier: The film was surprisingly good.
• Modifies adverb:  He drives really fast.
• Modifies a noun phrase:  He's just a 5-year-old boy.
• Modifies a prepositional phrase:  It's always cold here, even in the summer.
• Modifiers for pronouns: Only you can do it.

• Modifiers for determiners:  He lost almost all his money.

In some exceptions, the adverb comes after:

• This house isn't big enough for us.
• You can't blame anyone else; you alone made the decision.

3. Identify adverbs in sentences

Summaryturn off: Most adverbs end in endings- ly. However, there are some exceptions. Besides, no word has the same ending - ly is also an adverb, so we should be careful to avoid confusion.

Most adverbs end in -ing. -ly, because they are created by attaching the suffix -ly to the end of an adjective:

• dangerous → dangerously
• careless→ carelessly
• nice → nicely
• horrible → horribly

• easy → easily

Dean drives carelessly. He often texts while driving

However, there are still some exceptions, such as the forms of adjectives and adverbs being the same, or completely different:

• fast → fast
• good → well

More specifically, an adjective can give rise to an adverb tag -ly and irregular adverbs, with the meanings of two different adverbs:

• hard
  • hard
  • hardly
• high
  • high
  • highly

• late
  • late
  • lately

Besides, no word has the same ending -ly is also an adverb, so we should be careful:

• Adjectives ending in -ly: friendly, silly, lonely, ugly
• Nouns ending in -ly: ally, assembly, bully, melancholy
• Verbs ending in -ly: apply, rely, supply

4. Use adjectives or adverbs

In English, there are two types of words that are often used to modify other types of words, those are adverbs and adjectives.

So difference What is between them?

• Adjective is to describe more about a person or thing.
• Meanwhile, Adverb describe the way someone does something.

For example:

• Adjective: John is a careful driver. → John is a careful driver. → This sentence talking about John- that he is a careful driver.
• Adverb: John drives carefully.→ John drives carefully. → This sentence talk about the way John drives - is to be careful, not to run recklessly.

5. Use adjectives or adverbs after linking verbs

Linking verbs are verbs used to express the state of the subject instead of expressing an action.

Normally, to express the state of the subject, we use the verb "to be".

For example:

• Adam is a 30-year-old man. → Adam = 30-year-old man → Adam is a 30-year-old man.
• Jenny was scared of thunder. → Jenny = scared → Jenny is afraid of thunder.

In addition to the verb "to be", we can also use other linking verbs to express the state of the subject.

For example:

• You seem happy. → You = happy 

• She sounded more confident than she felt. → She = more confident
• My father became a high school teacher at 22. → My father = high school teacher