Position of Adverbs in English

Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or even entire sentences. They often describe how, when, where, or to what extent something happens. Understanding the position of adverbs in English is key to speaking and writing English clearly and naturally.

🔹 Types of Adverbs

Before learning their positions, it’s useful to know the most common categories of adverbs:

• Adverbs of Manner (how): quickly, slowly, well, badly

• Adverbs of Time (when): now, later, yesterday, always

• Adverbs of Frequency (how often): always, usually, often, never

• Adverbs of Place (where): here, there, everywhere

• Adverbs of Degree (how much): very, quite, almost, too

🧩 General Rules for the Position of Adverbs in English

Adverbs can appear in three main positions in a sentence:

1. Front Position – at the beginning of the sentence

Used mostly for time or linking adverbs.

Examples:

• Usually, I wake up early.

• Fortunately, he was not hurt.

2. Mid Position – before the main verb or after the auxiliary verb

Common for adverbs of frequency and degree.

Examples:

• She often goes to the gym.

• They have already finished their homework.

• I really like this movie.

🔸 If there is an auxiliary verb (like have, be, will), the adverb goes after the auxiliary and before the main verb.
🔸 With the verb to be as a main verb, the adverb usually comes after it:

• He is always late.

3. End Position – at the end of the sentence

Common for adverbs of manner, place, and time.

Examples:

• She danced beautifully.

• They arrived yesterday.

• He looked around carefully.

🛑 Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ✅ He often eats out.

• ❌ He eats out often. (Possible, but less common depending on the adverb.)

• ✅ She quickly ran to school.

• ❌ She ran quickly to school. (Not wrong, but “quickly ran” is more natural in speech.)

• ✅ I am usually tired in the morning.

• ❌ I usually am tired… (Less natural)

📝 Practice Sentences – Where Should the Adverb Go?

1. I watch TV in the morning. (never)

2. They have eaten lunch. (already)

3. She opened the box. (carefully)

4. We went hiking. (yesterday)

5. He is late for work. (rarely)

Answers:

1. I never watch TV in the morning.

2. They have already eaten lunch.

3. She carefully opened the box.

4. Yesterday, we went hiking./We went thinking yesterday.

5. He is rarely late for work.

🎯 Final Tips

• Learn the typical placement for different types of adverbs.

• Remember: Frequency → mid position; Manner/Place/Time → usually end or front position.

• When in doubt, read or listen to native speakers and observe how adverbs are placed in real-life usage.

• Practice writing your own sentences using different adverbs in each of the three positions.

Mastering adverb placement will make your English sound more natural, fluent, and professional!