Explanations and Extra Activities
Here’s a guide to the 6 types of adverbs in English, including placement rules, examples, and all exceptions.
1. Adverbs of Manner (How?)
Definition: These adverbs describe how an action happens.
Common Adverbs of Manner:
quickly, slowly, carefully, badly, well, loudly, quietly, happily, sadly, easily
Placement:
✅ After the main verb (if there’s no object)
✅ After the object (if there is one)
✅ Before the main verb (less common, used for emphasis or in literary/formal writing)
Examples:
✔ She speaks clearly. (after the verb)
✔ He drives the car carefully. (after the object)
✔ He carefully placed the vase on the shelf. (before the verb, for emphasis)
Exceptions:
- If the object is very long, the adverb is placed before the verb to avoid confusion.
- ✔ He carefully placed the fragile glass vase, which he bought in Italy last year, on the shelf.
- “Well” is always placed after the verb.
- ✔ He sings well. (NOT ❌ He well sings.)
2. Adverbs of Place (Where?)
Definition: These adverbs tell us where something happens.
Common Adverbs of Place:
here, there, everywhere, somewhere, nowhere, inside, outside, nearby, above, below
Placement:
✅ After the main verb (if there’s no object)
✅ After the object (if there is one)
✅ At the beginning of a sentence (for emphasis)
Examples:
✔ She looked everywhere. (after the verb)
✔ He put the book on the table. (after the object)
✔ Here comes the bus! (beginning for emphasis)
Exceptions:
- “Here” and “there” come before the verb when using verbs of movement (come, go, arrive).
- ✔ Here comes the train!
- ✔ There goes your chance!
3. Adverbs of Time (When?)
Definition: These adverbs tell us when something happens.
Common Adverbs of Time:
today, tomorrow, now, then, soon, later, already, yet, still, recently
Placement:
✅ At the beginning or end of a sentence
✅ Before the main verb (for short adverbs like “already”, “still”, “yet”)
Examples:
✔ Now, let’s start the lesson. (beginning)
✔ I saw her yesterday. (end)
✔ She has already finished her homework. (before the main verb)
✔ He hasn’t arrived yet. (end of negative sentences)
Exceptions:
- “Still” is placed before the main verb but after auxiliary verbs.
- ✔ She still doesn’t understand.
- ✔ He is still working.
4. Adverbs of Frequency (How often?)
Definition: These adverbs tell us how often something happens.
Common Adverbs of Frequency:
always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never, occasionally, frequently
Placement:
✅ Before the main verb
✅ After the verb “to be” (am, is, are, was, were)
✅ Between the auxiliary verb and main verb
Examples:
✔ She always wakes up early. (before the main verb)
✔ He never forgets my birthday. (before the main verb)
✔ They are usually happy. (after “to be”)
✔ We have often visited that museum. (between auxiliary and main verb)
Exceptions:
- “Sometimes” and “usually” can also be placed at the beginning or end of a sentence.
- ✔ Sometimes, I eat breakfast late.
- ✔ I eat breakfast late sometimes.
- “Never” is not used in negative sentences because it already has a negative meaning.
- ❌ He doesn’t never go there. (Incorrect)
- ✔ He never goes there. (Correct)
5. Adverbs of Degree (How much?)
Definition: These adverbs tell us the intensity or degree of something.
Common Adverbs of Degree:
very, too, quite, almost, enough, extremely, just, fairly, absolutely, completely
Placement:
✅ Before adjectives and adverbs
✅ Before main verbs
✅ “Enough” comes after adjectives and adverbs
Examples:
✔ She is very tired. (before adjective)
✔ This coffee is too hot. (before adjective)
✔ He speaks quite fluently. (before adverb)
✔ She is not fast enough. (after adverb)
Exceptions:
- “Enough” comes before nouns but after adjectives/adverbs.
- ✔ I have enough money. (before noun)
- ✔ He isn’t strong enough. (after adjective)
6. Adverbs of Certainty (How sure?)
Definition: These adverbs tell us how sure we are about something.
Common Adverbs of Certainty:
definitely, probably, certainly, surely, undoubtedly, maybe, perhaps, possibly
Placement:
✅ Before the main verb
✅ After auxiliary verbs in positive sentences
✅ Before auxiliary verbs in negative sentences
✅ “Maybe” and “perhaps” go at the beginning of a sentence
Examples:
✔ She definitely knows the answer. (before the main verb)
✔ They probably will come. (after auxiliary verb in positive sentence)
✔ They probably won’t come. (before auxiliary verb in negative sentence)
✔ Maybe, he forgot his keys. (beginning)
✔ Perhaps, we should call them. (beginning)
Exceptions:
- “Maybe” and “perhaps” cannot be used in the middle of a sentence.
- ❌ He maybe forgot his keys. (Incorrect)
- ✔ Maybe, he forgot his keys. (Correct)
- In negative sentences, certainty adverbs go before the auxiliary verb.
- ✔ He probably won’t come.
Summary Table of Adverb Placement Rules:
| Adverb Type | Usual Placement | Examples | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manner (How?) | After the verb or object | She speaks clearly. | Before verb if object is long: He carefully placed the vase. |
| Place (Where?) | After the verb or object | They are waiting outside. | At beginning for emphasis: Here comes the train! |
| Time (When?) | Beginning or end of sentence | I saw her yesterday. | “Still,” “already,” and “yet” go before the main verb. |
| Frequency (How often?) | Before the verb | She always wakes up early. | “Sometimes” can go at the start or end. |
| Degree (How much?) | Before adjective/adverb | She is very tired. | “Enough” goes after adjectives/adverbs. |
| Certainty (How sure?) | Before the verb, after auxiliary | She definitely knows. | In negatives, before the auxiliary: He probably won’t come. |
Extra Practice!
Adverb Placement Quiz 1
Choose the correct sentence in each pair.
1. Adverbs of Manner (How?)
a) She drives carefully the car.
b) She drives the car carefully.
2. Adverbs of Place (Where?)
a) He put the keys on the table.
b) He put on the table the keys.
3. Adverbs of Time (When?)
a) We met yesterday our teacher.
b) We met our teacher yesterday.
4. Adverbs of Frequency (How often?)
a) They usually go to the gym on Mondays.
b) They go usually to the gym on Mondays.
5. Adverbs of Degree (How much?)
a) She is enough tall to reach the shelf.
b) She is tall enough to reach the shelf.
6. Adverbs of Certainty (How sure?)
a) He will probably come to the party.
b) He probably will come to the party.
7. Negative Sentence – Adverbs of Certainty
a) She definitely won’t be late.
b) She won’t definitely be late.
8. Adverbs of Frequency with “To Be”
a) He is always late.
b) He always is late.
9. Adverbs of Time in Negative Sentences
a) He hasn’t finished his work yet.
b) He hasn’t yet finished his work.
10. Adverbs of Place at the Beginning
a) Here comes the train!
b) Comes here the train!
Answers
- b) She drives the car carefully.
- a) He put the keys on the table.
- b) We met our teacher yesterday.
- a) They usually go to the gym on Mondays.
- b) She is tall enough to reach the shelf.
- a) He will probably come to the party.
- a) She definitely won’t be late.
- a) He is always late.
- a) He hasn’t finished his work yet.
- a) Here comes the train!
Adverb Placement Quiz 2
Choose the correct sentence in each pair.
1. Adverbs of Manner (How?)
a) She spoke clearly the instructions.
b) She spoke the instructions clearly.
2. Adverbs of Place (Where?)
a) The children are playing outside.
b) The children are outside playing.
3. Adverbs of Time (When?)
a) I will call you later.
b) I later will call you.
4. Adverbs of Frequency (How often?)
a) We sometimes eat dinner late.
b) We eat sometimes dinner late.
5. Adverbs of Degree (How much?)
a) He is completely exhausted.
b) He completely is exhausted.
6. Adverbs of Certainty (How sure?)
a) They probably have finished the project.
b) They have probably finished the project.
7. Negative Sentence – Adverbs of Certainty
a) She hasn’t certainly heard the news yet.
b) She certainly hasn’t heard the news yet.
8. Adverbs of Frequency with “To Be”
a) They are hardly ever late.
b) They hardly ever are late.
9. Adverbs of Degree Before Adjectives
a) This movie is too boring.
b) This movie too is boring.
10. Adverbs of Time at the End
a) I saw her in the park yesterday.
b) I saw her yesterday in the park.
Answers
- b) She spoke the instructions clearly.
- a) The children are playing outside.
- a) I will call you later.
- a) We sometimes eat dinner late.
- a) He is completely exhausted.
- b) They have probably finished the project.
- b) She certainly hasn’t heard the news yet.
- a) They are hardly ever late.
- a) This movie is too boring.
- a) I saw her in the park yesterday.
Adverb Placement Quiz 3
Choose the correct sentence in each pair.
1. Adverbs of Manner (How?)
a) He drives carefully his car.
b) He drives his car carefully.
2. Adverbs of Place (Where?)
a) She left her keys somewhere.
b) She somewhere left her keys.
3. Adverbs of Time (When?)
a) We will meet tomorrow at 5 PM.
b) We tomorrow will meet at 5 PM.
4. Adverbs of Frequency (How often?)
a) She always is on time.
b) She is always on time.
5. Adverbs of Degree (How much?)
a) I nearly missed my flight.
b) I missed nearly my flight.
6. Adverbs of Certainty (How sure?)
a) They definitely will enjoy the concert.
b) They will definitely enjoy the concert.
7. Negative Sentence – Adverbs of Certainty
a) He probably hasn’t seen the email yet.
b) He hasn’t probably seen the email yet.
8. Adverbs of Frequency with “To Be”
a) We are usually busy on weekends.
b) We usually are busy on weekends.
9. Adverbs of Degree Before Adjectives
a) She is quite tired after work.
b) She quite is tired after work.
10. Adverbs of Time at the End
a) I finished my project last night.
b) I last night finished my project.
Answers
- b) He drives his car carefully.
- a) She left her keys somewhere.
- a) We will meet tomorrow at 5 PM.
- b) She is always on time.
- a) I nearly missed my flight.
- b) They will definitely enjoy the concert.
- a) He probably hasn’t seen the email yet.
- a) We are usually busy on weekends.
- a) She is quite tired after work.
- a) I finished my project last night.
Adverb Placement Quiz 4
Choose the correct sentence in each pair.
1. Adverbs of Manner (How?)
a) She sings beautifully the song.
b) She sings the song beautifully.
2. Adverbs of Place (Where?)
a) He looked everywhere for his keys.
b) He everywhere looked for his keys.
3. Adverbs of Time (When?)
a) We will go to the beach soon.
b) We soon will go to the beach.
4. Adverbs of Frequency (How often?)
a) They rarely go to the movies.
b) They go rarely to the movies.
5. Adverbs of Degree (How much?)
a) She is too tired to continue.
b) She too is tired to continue.
6. Adverbs of Certainty (How sure?)
a) I will certainly call you later.
b) I certainly will call you later.
7. Negative Sentence – Adverbs of Certainty
a) They probably won’t be at the party.
b) They won’t probably be at the party.
8. Adverbs of Frequency with “To Be”
a) He is never late for work.
b) He never is late for work.
9. Adverbs of Degree Before Adjectives
a) This book is completely fascinating.
b) This book completely is fascinating.
10. Adverbs of Time at the End
a) She arrived at the station early.
b) She early arrived at the station.
Answers
- b) She sings the song beautifully.
- a) He looked everywhere for his keys.
- a) We will go to the beach soon.
- a) They rarely go to the movies.
- a) She is too tired to continue.
- a) I will certainly call you later.
- a) They probably won’t be at the party.
- a) He is never late for work.
- a) This book is completely fascinating.
- a) She arrived at the station early.
Great job! Keep practicing to master adverb placement! 🚀📚