Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or the whole sentence, expressing degree, frequency, manner, time, or scope. Chinese adverbs usually do not function as the predicate or as the subject on their own. In a sentence, adverbs mainly serve to modify and limit.

In modern Mandarin declarative sentences, adverbs typically come after the subject and before the predicate verb. When an adverb modifies a verb, it generally does not insert other elements between the subject and the verb. When an adverb modifies an adjective, it is usually placed before the adjective.

When adverbs modify verbs, the common order is 'Subject + Adverb + Verb'. Objects and other elements usually follow the verb. When multiple adverbial components occur in sequence, the order can be adjusted according to meaning and common collocations, but the adverb generally stays close to the verb it modifies.

When adverbs modify adjectives, the usual structure is 'Adverb + Adjective'. This usage is common for expressing degree, such as 'very tall', 'too small', 'not far'. This order is stable in both spoken and written language.

‘Bu’ and ‘Mei’ are the most common negation adverbs, typically placed before the verb or adjective. The basic structure is 'Subject + negation adverb + verb (or adjective)'. 'Bu' is used for general negation, while 'Mei' is used for past or completed negation.

Time adverbs are often placed between the subject and the verb, or at the beginning of the sentence as time adverbials. Placing after the subject sounds more natural in conversation, while placing at the sentence start emphasizes time information. Both positions are grammatical, but the pragmatic focus differs.

Frequency adverbs such as 'often', 'always', and 'sometimes' are usually placed after the subject and before the verb. They modify how often an action occurs; placing them near the verb makes the meaning clearer. When there is an object, frequency adverbs generally should not be inserted between the verb and its object.

Manner adverbs can be single words or 'de' phrase; they are usually placed before the verb, or used as an adverbial phrase before the predicate. When the phrase is used as an adverbial, a common structure is 'Subject + (time) + (manner) + verb + others'. The 'de' phrase expressing manner is placed close to the verb.

When two adverbs can be used together, common orders are 'degree adverb + frequency adverb' or 'range adverb + other adverbs', with the modified word generally at the end. It is generally best to avoid placing multiple adverbs far from the word they modify, or the sentence may sound awkward. When combining, pay attention to semantic compatibility.

Some adverbs or adverbial phrases can modify the entire sentence, expressing the speaker's attitude or evaluation. They are often placed at the beginning of the sentence or before the subject. When placed at the beginning, a comma may follow to emphasize tone. Placing before the subject balances natural flow and information structure.