Adverb Placement

Adverbs can describe manner, time, place, frequency, degree, and more. Each type tends to appear in certain positions relative to the verb, subject, and object.

Adverbs of manner tell us how something is done and typically follow the verb or come at the end of the sentence for emphasis. They can also be placed before an auxiliary verb in some cases.

Adverbs of time tell us when something happened and often appear at the beginning or end of a sentence. Placing them at the start can set the scene, while placing them at the end can make the timing feel like an afterthought.

Adverbs of place tell us where something happened and usually come after the main verb or at the end of the sentence. They can modify an action or, when placed upfront, can highlight the location.

Frequency adverbs tell us how often something occurs and typically appear before the main verb. With auxiliary verbs, they sit between the auxiliary and the main verb. They rarely come at the very beginning or end.

Degree adverbs modify the intensity of an adjective, adverb, or sometimes a verb. They usually appear immediately before the word they modify. Placing them elsewhere can sound odd or change the meaning.

Some adverbs like only, even, just, and also are very sensitive to placement and can change the sentence meaning depending on where they sit. They often need to be next to the word they modify.

Adverb placement follows general patterns based on the adverb type, but moving an adverb can change emphasis or meaning. Pay attention to whether the adverb modifies the verb, an adjective, or the whole sentence, and place it accordingly.