An adverb is an independent part of speech that denotes a sign of an object, a sign of an action or a sign of a sign. There is a voluminous classification system for adverbs - about a dozen of their types in Russian and a little less in English, which greatly complicates their study. It is especially difficult when trying not to get confused in the order of words in English sentences.
The fact is that the structure of English grammar is based on the correct order of words in a sentence. You constantly have to think about how to arrange the subject, predicate and auxiliary verb or verbs if this is a difficult time. Because of this, the place of adverbs in an English sentence is determined at random, and it is considered to be something like a secret knowledge for true masters, inaccessible to mere mortals. Although, if you figure it out, everything is much simpler.
General rule
If we do not go into the details of the classification of adverbs, but try to derive an independent general rule, it turns out thatthat the place of adverbs in a sentence in English can be described as follows: putting it at the end of a sentence, the speaker will be right in nine out of ten cases. The fact is that many types of adverbs, in addition to other places in a sentence, can take a place at the end. Here are some examples of what this looks like in practice:
- I am going to visit my best friend tomorrow! - Tomorrow I'm going to pay a visit to my best friend! (this sentence uses the adverb of time tomorrow - "tomorrow").
- We meet together and discuss our professions and achievements sometimes. - Sometimes we get together and discuss our professions and achievements. (here the adverb of frequency sometimes is used - "sometimes").
In both examples given in Russian, the adverb is at the beginning of the sentence, but those who are at least slightly familiar with the structure of English grammar know that such inconsistencies occur all the time. If you try to include adverbs in sentences the way a Russian speaker would in Russian, it can be a terrible mess.
If this basic rule - putting an adverb at the end of a sentence - is enough for a beginner, then it will not be enough for an advanced English lover. Therefore, it's time to figure out how to arrange separate groups of adverbs in a sentence.
Adverbs of manner
They are called signs of action. These adverbs describe how, in what manner and with what characteristictraits perform one or another action: "sit quietly", "laugh out loud", "talk quickly" and so on. In sentences in English, the place of adverbs of mode of action is determined somewhat conditionally: most often they are located between the auxiliary and the main verb, but they can also be located at the end of the sentence. Here are some examples:
- He was greatly respected by his family, friends and everyone who had success to know him. - He was very respected by his family, friends and everyone who was lucky enough to meet him. (The adverb grately - "very" - stands here between the auxiliary and the main verb).
- I will not prevent you, I will just sit here and listen to you quietly. - I won't interfere, I'll just sit quietly and listen to you. (The adverb quetly - "quietly" - is at the end of the sentence).
As the examples show, there are two whole places in a sentence for adverbs of manner. The appropriateness of using one or another adverb in a sentence in one of these places is decided individually.
Adverbs of measure and degree
These adverbs describe the extent to which an event affects a person, object or phenomenon: partially, completely, absolutely, totally, entirely, to some extent, and so on. These adverbs are placed before the word of which they are a sign. Sometimes they refer to the verb:
I was absoutely convinced that he was right. - I was absolutely convinced that he was right
Kadjective:
This woman is completly wonderful: kind, cute, polite and very lovely. - This woman is just amazing: kind, sweet, polite and very cheerful
And to another adverb:
Since I arrived here, I have observed, that people speak very fast. - Since I arrived here, I have noticed that people here speak very quickly
But they are never placed at the beginning of a sentence, and very rarely at the end. However, they are quite easy to deal with, because their place in the sentence is very similar to how Russian speakers arrange adverbs.
Adverbs of frequency
The place of adverbs of frequency in an English sentence is determined as follows: before the main verb, but after the auxiliary. These adverbs indicate the frequency of certain actions: always, sometimes, regularly, rarely, from time to time, and so on.
- I was always appreciated by my friends. - My friends have always thought highly of me.
- She seldom visits me, because she lives very far. - She rarely visits me because she lives far away.
If the meaning of the adverb needs to be highlighted, underlined, or if it is the answer to a question, it can be put at the end of the sentence.
- The most sad thing is that we meet very rarely. - The saddest thing is that we meet very rarely.
- We don't really know each other, but I meet her in the office sometimes. - We don't really know each other, but I sometimes meet her at the office.
The adverb sometimes can also be placed at the beginning of a sentence:
Sometimes I go to the movie theatre, but it is less interesting for me than to enjoy my free time quietly with an improving book. - Sometimes I go to the cinema, but it's not as interesting for me as enjoying my free time quietly reading my favorite book
Adverbs of place and time
It is easy to guess that this category of adverbs indicates the place and time at which the action took place: yesterday, today, tomorrow, nearby, nearby, far, and so on. In a sentence, they are most often located at the end:
I will have an important meeting tomorrow. - I have an important meeting tomorrow
The place of the adverb of time in an English sentence can also be at the beginning of a sentence:
Yesterday my friend invited me to the museum, but I refused to go, because I was tired. - Yesterday my friend invited me to the museum, but I refused to go because I was very tired
Short one-syllable adverbs of place and time, such as soon - "soon", then - "later", now - "now", and others like that, can be placed between the auxiliary and the main verb.
I am now going to buy a ticket and fly away from here! - Right now I'm going to buy a ticket and fly away from here to hell
If it is necessary to include several adverbs at once in a sentence, and one of them is place, and the other is time, the adverb of place will go first in order.
I will probably walk nearbytomorrow. - Tomorrow I might take a walk nearby
Adverbs common to the whole sentence
Sometimes the place of adverbs in an English sentence is determined by how significant this adverb is for the speaker, what shade they are trying to give it. Some adverbs, expressing, for example, the probability or the author's assessment of what is happening, are usually placed at the beginning or at the end of sentences. For example:
- Unfortunately, I will not be able to come. - Unfortunately, I won't be able to come.
- I will meet her tomorrow at the bus station, probably. - Maybe I'll meet her tomorrow at the bus stop.
In the first case, unfortunately - "unfortunately" - expresses the author's assessment of what is happening. In the second case, probably - "possibly" - indicates the likelihood of an event. Both adverbs do not refer to any particular member of the sentence, but to the whole sentence. Therefore, for them, the place of adverbs in an English sentence is its end or beginning.
