Grammar
Adverb position: put adverbs in natural places
Compare these sentences: I usually take the train. I am usually on the train by eight. Usually moves because the verb structure changes.
Place common adverbs in natural positions with main verbs, be, auxiliary verbs, and complete clauses.
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
They will probably arrive tomorrow. /ðeɪ wɪl ˈprɒbəbli əˈraɪv təˈmɒrəʊ/
The short answer
Put frequency adverbs before most main verbs and after be. Put manner adverbs after the action, often after its object. With an auxiliary or modal verb, many mid-position adverbs come after the first auxiliary or modal.
The team has already checked the figures.
Why it works: Already comes after has and before the past participle checked.
6 more examples
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Mina usually checks her calendar before lunch.
Usually comes before the main verb checks because it describes a regular action.
Not this:Mina
is usuallyfree before lunch. What changes: With be, the frequency adverb comes after the verb: is usually. -
The designer explained the changes clearly.
Clearly describes how the designer explained the changes, so it follows the verb and object.
Not this:The designer
clearly explainedthe changes. What changes: Clearly can also come before the main verb when the speaker emphasizes that the explanation was clear. -
We have already sent the revised invoice.
Already comes after have, the first auxiliary verb, and before sent.
Not this:We
sent the revised invoice yesterday. What changes: Yesterday is a time expression, so it naturally comes at the end of this clause. -
The guests will probably arrive after six.
Probably comes after the modal will and before the base verb arrive.
Not this:
Probably, the guests will arrive after six. What changes: At the beginning, probably comments on the whole statement and is followed by a comma. -
Yesterday, the committee reached a decision.
An opening time expression can set the time for the whole sentence.
Not this:The committee reached a decision
yesterday. What changes: The same time expression can come at the end when the time is an added detail. -
Only Hana answered the first question.
Only before Hana says that Hana was the one person who answered.
Not this:Hana
only answeredthe first question. What changes: Only before answered says that answering was Hana's limited action; the sentence does not say who else answered.
Read the full guide
Find the verb group before you place the adverb. In I often work late, often comes before the main verb work. In I am often busy, it comes after am. In I have often worked late, it comes after the first auxiliary have. This small check prevents many word-order mistakes.
Find the verb group first
Before choosing a position, identify the verb structure. A simple main verb has one place pattern. Be has another. A modal or an auxiliary creates a verb group, and many adverbs go after its first verb. This gives you a reliable starting point.
They have recently moved to a new office.
Recently comes after have, the first auxiliary, and before moved.
Where does often go in 'She has ___ visited the museum'?
Put often after has: She has often visited the museum.
Place frequency adverbs in the middle
Always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, and never describe how often something happens. Put them before a simple main verb: I often cook at home. Put them after be: The café is always busy. This position is often called mid position because it is inside the clause.
Our manager never arrives late.
Never comes before the main verb arrives.
Our manager is never late.
With is, never comes after the verb.
Put manner adverbs near the action
Manner adverbs explain how an action happens. Carefully, quietly, quickly, and politely often come after the verb and its object. This keeps the action and the thing affected by it together before you add the detail about how it happened.
Please read the safety instructions carefully.
Carefully follows read the safety instructions because it describes the way the reading happens.
Choose the natural order: 'She packed carefully her bag' or 'She packed her bag carefully'?
Use She packed her bag carefully. The object her bag normally stays next to packed.
Use time and place at the edge of a clause
Time and place expressions often come after the main information: We met at the library yesterday. You can move a time expression to the beginning when it helps set the scene: Yesterday, we met at the library. Keep the rest of the clause in its normal order.
The workshop starts in Room 4 at nine.
The place and time details come after the main clause The workshop starts.
At nine, the workshop starts in Room 4.
At nine moves to the beginning to make the time the first detail the listener hears.
Put probably and already after the first helper verb
Probably, already, just, and often use a middle position with modal and auxiliary verbs. Put the adverb after the first helper verb: will probably finish, has already started, and can easily change. Do not separate a modal from the main verb with an object.
The train will probably leave on time.
Probably follows will and comes before leave.
Complete the sentence: 'They have ___ completed the form.'
Use already: They have already completed the form.
Check the focus of only
Only limits the word or idea close to it. Move it carefully, because a different position can change the message. Read the sentence aloud and ask what is limited: a person, an action, a time, or an amount.
Only the director approved the budget.
Only limits the director, so no other person approved the budget.
The director only approved the budget.
Only limits approved, so approval was the director's action; the sentence does not say whether anyone else approved.
Before you go
Remember this
Check the verb group first. Put frequency adverbs before a main verb and after be. Put mid-position adverbs after the first auxiliary or modal. Put manner adverbs after the verb or object, and place many time and place expressions at the end or at the beginning of the clause. Take extra care with only because its position can change the meaning.
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 position: put adverbs in natural places"
Where do frequency adverbs go in English?
Put frequency adverbs such as always, usually, often, and never before most main verbs. Put them after be: The shop is often busy. With an auxiliary verb, they usually come after the first auxiliary, as in She has often traveled for work.
Mina usually checks her calendar before lunch.
Where do manner adverbs go?
Manner adverbs such as carefully, politely, and quickly often come after the verb and its object. Say Please read the message carefully. This keeps the verb and object together before the adverb explains how the action happened.
Mina is usually free before lunch.
Can a time adverb come at the beginning of a sentence?
Yes. A time expression can come first when you want to set the time for the whole statement, usually followed by a comma. It can also come at the end as an added detail. Both positions are common when the meaning remains clear.
The designer explained the changes clearly.
Where does probably go with will?
Probably usually comes after will and before the main verb: The package will probably arrive tomorrow. It can also begin a sentence when it comments on the whole statement, but the middle position is a useful default pattern.
The designer clearly explained the changes.
Why does the position of only matter?
Only limits the word or idea near it, so moving it can change the message. Before a noun, it can limit the person or thing. Before a verb, it can limit the action. Put only next to the part you want to restrict.
We have already sent the revised invoice.