Grammar
Adverb placement: where to put often, already, and carefully
You may know every word in a sentence and still make it sound unusual by moving one small word. Compare I often check my calendar with I check often my calendar. The first sentence follows the usual pattern in English.
Place common adverbs in a natural position by checking the main verb, be, an auxiliary verb, and the meaning of the adverb.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
I have already checked it carefully. /aɪ həv ɔːlˈredi tʃekt ɪt ˈkeəfəli/
The short answer
Put an adverb of frequency such as often or never before an ordinary main verb, but after be. Put a manner adverb such as carefully after the verb and its object. With an auxiliary verb, place many time and frequency adverbs after the first auxiliary.
Maya often reads the instructions carefully before she starts.
Why it works: Often comes before the main verb reads. Carefully comes after the object because it describes how Maya reads the instructions.
5 more examples
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Leo often takes the bus to work.
Often comes before the ordinary main verb takes.
Not this:Leo takes the bus to work
often. What changes: This position is possible when the speaker stresses frequency, but the middle position is more neutral for a general routine. -
The bus is usually full by eight o'clock.
Usually follows be.
Not this:The bus
usually fillsby eight o'clock. What changes: Usually moves before fills because fills is an ordinary main verb. -
I have already checked the address.
Already sits after the first auxiliary, have, in this verb group.
Not this:I
already checkedthe address. What changes: With the simple past, already usually comes before the main verb checked. -
Please place the glass carefully on the shelf.
Carefully follows the object because it describes how the glass should be placed.
Not this:Please
carefully placethe glass on the shelf. What changes: This can sound formal or deliberately emphatic. The later position is more usual in everyday instructions. -
They will probably arrive after lunch.
Probably comes after the auxiliary will and before the main verb arrive.
Not this:
Probably, they will arrive after lunch. What changes: At the beginning, probably comments on the whole statement and receives more emphasis.
Read the full guide
Start by finding the verb group. Is the main verb be, an ordinary verb such as work, or a verb group such as have finished? Then ask what the adverb adds. Frequency adverbs have a common middle position. Manner adverbs usually stay later in the clause because they describe how an action happens.
Find the verb before you move the adverb
Do not choose an adverb position by looking at the adverb alone. First find the verb or verb group. An ordinary main verb needs one pattern, be needs another, and a verb group with have, will, or can has a middle position after the first auxiliary.
Nora often writes short notes. Nora is often busy. Nora has often written short notes.
Put frequency adverbs before ordinary verbs
Always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, and never normally go before an ordinary main verb. This middle position works well for routines, habits, and repeated events.
We rarely order dessert on weekdays.
We order dessert rarely is possible, but it is less neutral and puts stronger attention on rarely.
Put them after be
When be is the main verb, put a frequency adverb after it. This includes present and past forms such as am, is, are, was, and were.
The café is usually open until six.
Do not use the ordinary-verb order here. The café usually is open can appear in a contrast, but is usually open is the normal choice.
Use the middle of a verb group
With an auxiliary verb, many adverbs go after the first auxiliary and before the next verb. This is common with have, will, can, should, and be in continuous forms.
The team has already chosen a date. We will probably need more chairs. She is still waiting outside.
Has chosen already can occur in speech, but has already chosen is the usual written and neutral order.
Keep manner adverbs near the end
Manner adverbs answer how an action happens. Carefully, quietly, slowly, and clearly usually come after the verb and after its object. This order keeps the action and the thing affected together.
The nurse explained the instructions clearly.
Please close the door quietly.
Move an adverb only for emphasis
Starting with an adverb can be useful when the adverb comments on the whole sentence: Fortunately, nobody was hurt. Probably, the answer is in the folder. This position gives the adverb more attention, so do not use it when you only want a neutral statement.
Choose the natural neutral sentence: I carefully read the contract, or I read the contract carefully.
I read the contract carefully is the safer neutral choice because carefully describes the action after its object. The first version can be used for special emphasis.
Before you go
Remember this
Find the verb first. Put often and never before an ordinary main verb, after be, and usually after the first auxiliary. Put carefully and other manner adverbs later, especially after an object. Use a different position only when you have a reason to change the emphasis.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Adverb placement: where to put often, already, and carefully"
Where does often go in an English sentence?
Often usually comes before an ordinary main verb, as in Leo often takes the bus to work. It comes after be, as in The bus is usually full by eight o'clock. Find the verb pattern before choosing its position.
Leo often takes the bus to work.
Why does usually go after be?
Be has a different usual pattern from ordinary main verbs. Put the frequency adverb after be: The bus is usually full by eight o'clock. With an ordinary verb, put it before the verb: The bus usually fills by eight o'clock.
Leo takes the bus to work often.
Where should already go with have?
Already usually goes after the first auxiliary and before the next verb. Say I have already checked the address. With a simple past verb, it normally comes before the main verb: I already checked the address.
The bus is usually full by eight o'clock.
Should carefully come before or after the object?
For a neutral everyday sentence, put carefully after the object when it describes how the action happens: Please place the glass carefully on the shelf. Carefully place the glass is possible but sounds more formal or emphatic.
The bus usually fills by eight o'clock.
Can an adverb go at the beginning of a sentence?
Yes. Beginning with an adverb gives it more emphasis or lets it comment on the whole statement. Probably, they will arrive after lunch focuses attention on the speaker's estimate more than the middle position does.
I have already checked the address.