The position of an adverb in sentences

Article navigation:

ADVERB'S PLACE IN A SENTENCE

ADVERB’S PLACE IN A SENTENCE

Adverbs may appear in three different places in a sentence: 

 Suddenly, I saw a car in front of me.
I often go to school by bus.
I have never been to Greece.
I don’t sleep well.

AT THE BEGINNING OF A SENTENCE

At the beginning of a sentence, there usually stand adverbs of probability or adverb “suddenly”: 

Apparently, he didn’t know the answer.
Suddenly, I realized I had seen him somewhere before.

There may appear adverbs of time (interchangeably with the last part in a sentence):

Eventually, it was all over.
It was all over, eventually.

IN THE MIDDLE OF A SENTENCE 

If the object is a more extended-expression, then adverb of manner (directly describing a verb) will appear in the middle, before a verb to keep clarity.
In the middle of a sentence may also appear adverbs of frequency as always, often, never, sometimes, usually:

Betty always wears the same shoes.
I usually spend my holidays somewhere in France.

These adverbs may be used at the beginning or at the end of a sentence to emphasize:

I sometimes feel blue.
I feel blue sometimes. Longer adverbial phrases are put usually at the end of a sentence.

I go to the cinema at least once a week.

Adverbs of degree may also appear in the middle of a sentence.
Adverbs modifying an adjective always will stand before it.
Adverbs modifying a verb must be put before the main verb in a sentence.

The streets were almost empty.
I almost fell over.

AT THE END OF A SENTENCE

Adverbs of place, time and manner will appear at the end of a sentence. 

She’s talking to her husband now.
The children are playing outside.
I speak English quite well.