Adverbs in English typically modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or whole sentences, and their placement can affect meaning and emphasis. This guide shows common positions for different kinds of adverbs with short examples.
Types of Adverbs
Adverbs can indicate time, manner, place, frequency, degree, or purpose, and each type tends to appear in certain positions relative to the verb or sentence. Understanding the category helps predict natural placement.
Time Adverbs
Time adverbs tell when something happens and usually go at the beginning or end of a sentence; placing them mid-sentence can change emphasis. Adverbs like yesterday, soon, and last week fit this pattern.
Saldrá pronto.
Manner Adverbs
Manner adverbs describe how an action is done and normally follow the verb or verb phrase. Adverbs ending in -ly often appear right after the verb they modify.
Place Adverbs
Place adverbs indicate where an action occurs and typically come at the end of the sentence; they can also start the sentence for emphasis. Adverbs like here, there, and outside are examples.
Frequency Adverbs
Frequency adverbs show how often something happens and usually appear before the main verb but after to be. Adverbs like always, often, sometimes, and never follow this rule.
Degree Adverbs
Degree adverbs modify adjectives, other adverbs, or sometimes verbs to show intensity, and they usually come immediately before the word they modify. Adverbs like very, quite, too, and almost belong to this group.
Sentence Adverbs
Sentence adverbs comment on the whole sentence and often appear at the beginning or after a pause; they can be separated by commas. Adverbs like fortunately, however, and actually function this way.
Summary
Adverb placement depends on the adverb’s type and the emphasis you want; time and place adverbs often go at the sentence edges, manner adverbs follow the verb, frequency adverbs sit before the main verb (or after to be), and degree adverbs come before adjectives or other adverbs.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025