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Does Position Matter?

By Gururaj B.S. and Prabhat N.R.

In this issue of Grammar Dose, we will discuss the position of adverbs in English sentences. This is one of the complicated points of grammar. We hope our article will set you thinking about questions of adverb usage. As always, we want to hear from you. If you have any suggestions towards the betterment of the Grammar Dose column, please write to us.

Adverbs have three positions in English sentences:

1. At the beginning

Yesterday we got an e-mail message from one of our readers.

2. Before the verb or as part of the verb phrase

I have never been interviewed by company X.

3. At the end

We like Grammar Dose very much.

Note that you cannot use all adverbs in all of these positions. They are governed by the characteristics of the adverb you are using in your sentence.

At the beginning

Only some adverbs are used at the beginning of a sentence.

• Most adverbs of definite time can occupy the initial position in the sentence.

In July, we had an employment fair.

• Certain adverbs of indefinite frequency can be used at the beginning of a sentence.

Sometimes, we get e-mail messages from our readers.

• Certain adverbs of place can be used at the beginning of a sentence in prose or descriptive style of writing.

Here comes yet another article from the authors of Grammar Dose.

• Certain viewpoint adverbs can be used in the initial position in the sentence.

Honestly, grammar is a fascinating subject.

Before the verb

Some adverbs are used in the attributive position. Take a look at this sentence: We often face this problem.

Adverbs used before action verbs can also be used after a linking verb in the sentence.

• In a compound verb phrase, the adverb is usually used after the first auxiliary verb.

We have always liked Grammar Dose.

• Adverbs of place cannot be used before the verb. They are usually used at the end of a sentence.

He is waiting outside.

• Adverbs of definite time are not used before the verb. They are used either at the beginning of a sentence or at the end of a sentence.

I read Grammar Dose yesterday.

Yesterday, I read Grammar Dose.

• Adverbs of definite frequency are not used before the verb. They are usually used at the end of a sentence.

We have STC learning sessions monthly.

At the end

Here is the order of adverbs and adverbials used at the end of a sentence.

1. Adverbs of manner

2. Adverbs of place

3. Adverbs of time

Consider these examples:

They came here yesterday.

I sang well at the concert yesterday.

In the first example, “here,” an adverb of place appears before “yesterday,” which is an adverb of time. In the second example, the three adverbs appear in the following order:

• Adverb of manner - “well” is an adverb of manner.

• Adverb of place - “at the concert” is a prepositional phrase that functions as an adverb of place.

• Adverb of time - “yesterday” is an adverb of time.

Here are a couple of important points to remember:

• Adverbs of degree, such as fairly, hardly, almost, and so on, are not used at the end of a sentence.

• Perhaps and surely are not used at the end of a sentence.

Please send your questions and suggestions to Gururaj B.S. and Prabhat N.R.