Adverbs of place, time and manner
Adverbs referring to the place, time and manner of an event are placed most naturally in final position. This is equivalent to ‘immediately after the verb’. When there is a direct object, however, the adverb must be placed after the object, as in 1 and 2:
1 I didn’t expect you so early.
2 We caught the bus easily. Not *We caught easily the bus.
This is because in English, unlike some languages, an object is not separated from the verb which selects it, even by adjuncts of degree:
I like apples very much. Not *I like very much apples.
The only exception to this is when the direct object is exceptionally long and so requires end-focus.
Indefinite time adverbs such as sometimes, eventually, immediately, finally, recently, previously, can be placed in final, pre-verbal or initial position. Again separation of verb–object is excluded:
(a) He stopped the machine immediately.
(b) He immediately stopped the machine.
(c) Immediately, he stopped the machine.
(d) *He stopped immediately the machine.
Of these, (a) is the normal unmarked position, (b) focuses on the process stop, and (c) on the whole of the clause. By contrast, (d) is unacceptable.
Certain adverbs of frequency – always, never, seldom, hardly ever, often, rarely, sometimes, usually – do not normally occur in initial position; instead they are placed between Subject and Predicator or between operator and main verb.
They always spend their holidays abroad. (*Always they spend . . . )
We have never been to Africa. (*Never, we have . . . )
Lawyers often love to tell you about how good they are.
The adverbs of negative import – never, seldom, rarely, hardly ever – are occasionally fronted and followed by Subject–operator inversion for purposes of emphasis, though this structure is formal in style or emphatic:
Rarely does one find such kindness nowadays.
Never in my life have I heard such crazy ideas!
The adverbs still, yet, already express certain time relationships which are described briefly and illustrated in the table with question-and-answer structures which show their contrasting meanings.
The examples given of these three adverbs show that their scope of meaning extends to the process or the whole predicate, and for this reason they normally occur in mid- or end-position.
Finally we may observe the similarity of meaning of still and yet in a be + to-infinitive structure, and as concessive connectives:
He’ll make a champion of you yet/still.
A cure for chronic bronchitis is still/yet to be found. It was a hard climb. Still, it was worth it. (concessive)
He’s rather uncommunicative, yet everyone seems to like him. (concessive)
Spatial adverbs such as abroad, across, back, everywhere, downstairs, inside, uphill, forwards, sideways, expressing position and direction, are normally placed after the Predicator or in end-position: Push it forwards; turn it sideways.
Adverbs of manner
The unmarked position for adverbs of manner is at the end of the clause, as in He speaks English fluently, not *He speaks fluently English. If the Object is long, and the adverb is a single word, the Od may be placed at the end, as in He speaks fluently several European and oriental languages. If the adverb is modified or complemented, it may still occupy end-position, according to the principles of end-focus and end-weight even if the Od is also long:
He speaks English fluently.
He speaks several European and oriental languages as well as Arabic very fluently indeed.
Adverbs in -ly include many of manner: carefully, easily, correctly, cheaply, politely, peacefully, urgently, and also some emotive ones: angrily, gladly, desperately. Both can also occur as adjuncts in mid-position, before the lexical verb. Together such combinations constitute a useful pattern, as they lend force to what immediately follows:
We sincerely hope you enjoyed your stay with us.
I have been seriously thinking of changing my job. I will gladly help you if you need me.
