📄️ Introduction
The term adverb is used for a wide variety of words with different kinds of use: for example frankly, now, very, right, regularly. Their general function is to modify (add meaning to) sentences, clauses or various parts of clauses (but not nouns).
📄️ Adverbs of manner and adjectives
Adverbs of manner with verbs: He sang badly.
📄️ Adverbs or adjectives: confusing cases
Adjectives ending in -ly: friendly, lively
📄️ Adverb particles: up, down, back, away, etc
Adverb particles and prepositions
📄️ Position of adverbials: introduction
Different kinds of adverbials typically go in different positions in a clause. The very simple explanations below show the commonest patterns; entries (see here) give some more detail. However, this is a very complicated area of grammar, and it is impossible to give reliable rules that apply all the time to all adverbials.
📄️ Connecting and comment adverbials
Examples of connecting adverbials: then, next, after that, besides, anyway, suddenly, however, as a result, on the other handThese words and expressions show how a clause connects with what came before. Naturally, they generally go in front position.
📄️ Indefinite frequency, certainty and completeness
Adverbials in this group most often go in mid-position (before a one-part verb and after an auxiliary verb – for more exact details, (see here).
📄️ Focusing adverbials
These adverbials ‘point to’ one part of a clause.
📄️ Mid-position: details
What exactly is mid-position?
📄️ Manner, place and time
Adverbials of manner, place and time usually go in end position, often in that order.
📄️ Adverbials modifying adverbials: *terribly sorry*; *right past me*
very, extremely, terribly, just (meaning ‘exactly’ or ‘a short time’), almost, really, right