| A |
Some adverbs (for example, always, also, probably) go with the verb in the middle of a sentence:
- Helen always drives to work.
- We were feeling very tired and we were also hungry.
- The concert will probably be cancelled.
|
| B |
If the verb is one word (drives/fell/cooked etc.), the adverb goes before the verb:
| |
adverb |
verb |
|
| Helen |
always |
drives |
to work. |
| I |
almost |
fell |
as I was going down the stairs. |
- I cleaned the house and also cooked the dinner. (not cooked also)
- Lucy hardly ever watches television and rarely reads newspapers.
- 'Shall I give you my address?' 'No, I already have it.'
Note that these adverbs (always/often/also etc.) go before have to ... :
- Joe never phones me. I always have to phone him. (not I have always to phone)
But adverbs go after am/is/are/was/were:
- We were feeling very tired and we were also hungry.
- Why are you always late? You're never on time.
- The traffic isn't usually as bad as it was this morning.
|
| C |
If the verb is two or more words (for example, can remember / doesn't eat / will be cancelled), the adverb usually goes after the first verb (can/doesn't/will etc.):
| |
verb 1 |
adverb |
verb 2 |
|
| I |
can |
never |
remember |
her name. |
| Clare |
doesn't |
often |
eat |
meat. |
| |
Are you |
definitely |
going |
away next week? |
| The concert |
will |
probably |
be |
cancelled. |
- You've always been very kind to me.
- Jack can't cook. He can't even boil an egg.
- Do you still work for the same company?
- The house was only built a year ago and it's already falling down.
Note that probably goes before a negative (isn't/won't etc.). So we say:
- I probably won't see you. or I will probably not see you. (not I won't probably)
|
| D |
We also use all and both in these positions:
- We all felt ill after the meal. (not we felt all ill)
- My parents are both teachers. (not my parents both are teachers)
- Sarah and Jane have both applied for the job.
- We are all going out tonight.
|
| E |
Sometimes we use is/will/did etc. instead of repeating part of a sentence (see Unit 51):
- Tom says he isn't clever, but I think he is. (= he is clever)
When we do this, we put always/never etc. before the verb:
- He always says he won't be late, but he always is. (= he is always late)
- I've never done it and I never will. (= I will never do it)
|
