Mastering English Word Order: Adverbs with Verbs

In English, word order is very important. So today you’ll learn how to use English adverbs and verbs properly.

Let’s get started…

Adverbs in the Middle of a Sentence

Some English adverbs usually appear in the middle of a sentence. These are such adverbs as always, also, probably.

For example:

•         Nancy always drinks coffee in the morning.
•         We were feeling exhausted and we were also hungry.
•         The concert will probably be cancelled.

If the verb is only one word, the adverb usually precedes it.

•         I cleaned the house and also cooked dinner.
•         Kate hardly ever watches TV and rarely reads newspapers.
•         Shall I give you my phone number? No, I already have it.

Note that these adverbs (always, often, also, etc.) come before the modal verb have to:

•         Andy never phones me. I always have to phone him.

But when a form of the verb to be is used in a sentence (am, is, are, was, were), the adverb comes after it:

•         Why are you always late? You are never on time.
•         The traffic isn’t usually as bad as it was this morning.

When a verbal action consists of two or more words—such as “can remember,” “doesn’t drink,” or “will be cancelled”—the adverb should be placed after the first word.

•         He doesn’t often eat meat.
•         Clare can probably remember all the numbers on that list.
•         The concert will be cancelled.

However, in negative sentences, the adverb probably comes before the negative verb or between the verb and the word not.

For example:

•         I probably won’t come here again.
•         She is probably not going to the party.

The Adverbs All and Both

These two adverbs follow similar rules – if a form of to be is used in the sentence, both and all come after it.

When a verbal action consists of multiple words, the additional words will follow the first word in the verbal phrase.

For example:

•         We all felt ill after the meal.
•         My parents are both teachers.
•         We are all going out this evening.
•         Jim and Tammy have both applied for the job.

Sometimes an auxiliary verb such as is, will, did, can be used instead of repeating the entire phrase.

For example:

•         She always says she won’t be late, but she still is.
•         I’ve never done it and I never will.

Usually, the adverb comes before the verb in sentences of this type.

That’s all.

Enjoy learning English!