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Mid-position: details

What exactly is mid-position?​

Mid-position adverbials usually go before one-word verbs (e.g. play, won). If a verb has more than one part (e.g. has written, was trying), they normally go after the auxiliary. And they go after am/are/is/was/were.

Before one-word verbs​

  • I always play tennis on Saturdays. (not I play always tennis …)
  • It certainly looks like rain.
  • We nearly won the match.

After auxiliary verbs​

  • She has never written to me. (not usually She never has written to me.)
  • He was definitely trying to get into the house.
  • The train will probably be late.
  • You can almost see the sea from here.

After am/are/is/was/were​

  • She was always kind to me. (not usually She always was kind to me.)
  • It is probably too late now.
  • I am obviously not welcome here.

When there are two or more auxiliaries, the adverbial usually goes after the first.

  • You have definitely been working too hard.
  • She would never have been promoted if she hadn’t changed jobs.

When an auxiliary verb is used alone instead of a complete verb phrase (see here), a mid-position adverbial comes before it.

  • ‘Are you working?’ ‘I certainly am.’
  • I don’t trust politicians. I never have, and I never will.

Mid-position (details): adverbials with negative verbs​

In negative sentences, adverbials generally come before not if they emphasise the negative; otherwise they come after. Compare:

  • I certainly do not agree.
  • I do not often have headaches.

Both positions are possible with some adverbials, often with a difference of meaning. Compare:

  • I don’t really like her. (mild dislike)
  • I really don’t like her. (strong dislike)

When adverbials come before not, they may also come before the first auxiliary verb; they always come before do.

  • I probably will not be there. (or I will probably not be there.)
  • He probably does not know. (not He does probably not know.)

Only one position is possible before a contracted negative.

  • I probably won’t be there.

Mid-position (details): adverbials with emphatic verbs​

When we emphasise auxiliary verbs or am/are/is/was/were, we put most mid-position adverbials before them instead of after. Compare:

  • She has certainly made him angry.
    She certainly HAS made him angry!
  • Polite people always say thank-you.
    Yes, well, I always DO say thank-you.
  • I’m really sorry.
    I really AM sorry.

Mid-position (details): American English​

In American English (see here), mid-position adverbials are often put before auxiliary verbs and am/are/is/was/were, even when the verb is not emphasised, especially in an informal style. Compare:

  • He has probably arrived by now. (normal in both AmE and BrE)
  • He probably has arrived by now. (also normal in AmE; emphatic in BrE)

As an extreme example, here are four sentences in a journalistic style taken from an American newspaper article on crime in Britain. The most normal British equivalents are given in brackets.

  • ‘Britain long has been known as a land of law and order.’ (BrE Britain has long been known …)
  • ‘… but it probably will lead to a vote …’ (BrE … but it will probably lead …)
  • ‘… the Labor Party often has criticized police actions.’ (BrE … the Labour Party has often criticised …)
  • ‘… he ultimately was responsible for the treatment …’ (BrE … he was ultimately responsible …)