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Unit 110. Word order 2: adverbs with the verb




Unit 110; Part A


galka.jpgSome adverbs (for example, always, also, probably) go with the verb in the middle of a sentence:

       Helen always drives to work.
       We were feeling very tired and we were also hungry.
       The concert will probably be cancelled.

Unit 110; Part B


galka.jpgStudy these rules for the position of adverbs in the middle of a sentence. (They are only general rules, so there are exceptions.)
  1. If the verb is one word (drives/fell/cooked etc.), the adverb usually goes before the verb:


    Helen  
    I
     
    adverb      
    always
    almost

    verb       
    drives
    fell


    to work.
    as I was going down the stairs
    .

           I cleaned the house and also cooked the dinner.  (not cooked also)
           Lucy hardly ever watches television and rarely reads newspapers.
           'Shall I give you my address?'    'No, I already have it.'


    Note that these adverbs
    (always/often/also etc.) go before have to ... :
           Joe never phones me. I always have to phone him.  (not I have always to phone)

  2. But adverbs go after am/is/are/was/were:
           We were feeling very tired and we were also hungry.
           Why are you always late? You're never on time.
           The traffic isn't usually as bad as it was this morning.

  3. If the verb is two or more words (for example, can remember / doesn't eat / will be cancelled), the adverb usually goes after the first verb (can/doesn't/will etc.):



    Clare 

    The concert  

    verb 1
    can
    doesn't
    Are
    you
    will

    adverb
    never
    often
    definitely
    probably

    verb 2
    remember
    eat
    going
    be


    her name.
    meat.
    away next week?
    cancelled.


           You have always been very kind to me.
           Jack can't cook. He can't even boil an egg.
           Do you still work for the same company?
           The house was only built a year ago and it's already falling down.


    Note that probably goes before a negative
    (isn't/won't etc.). So we say:
           I probably won't see you.    or   I will probably not see you.  (not I won't probably)

Unit 110; Part C


galka.jpgWe also use all and both in these positions:

       We all felt ill after the meal.  (not we felt all ill)
       My parents are both teachers. 
(not my parents both are teachers)
       Sarah and Jane have both applied for the job.
       We are all going out this evening.

Unit 110; Part D


galka.jpgSometimes we use is/will/did etc. instead of repeating part of a sentence (see Unit 51). Note the position of always/never etc. in these sentences:

       He always says he won't be late, but he always is(= he is always late)
       I've never done it and I never will.
  (= I will never do it)

We normally put always/never
etc. before the verb in sentences like these.



Exercises

flag.jpgAre the underlined words in the right position or not? Correct the sentences where necessary.
Key.3    I usually have ...
4    OK
5    Steve hardly ever gets angry.
6    ... and I also went to the bank.
7    Jane always has to hurry ...
8    We were all tired, so ...
9    OK

1    Helen drives always to work.
2    I cleaned the house and also cooked the dinner.
3    I have usually a shower in the morning.       
4    We soon found the solution to the problem.       
5    Steve gets hardly ever angry.       
6    I did some shopping and I went also to the bank   
7    Jane has always to hurry in the morning.       
8    We all were tired, so we all fell asleep.       
9    She always says she'll phone me, but she never does.   
 Helen always drives to work. 
 OK                                        

__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________

flag.jpgRewrite the sentences to include the word in brackets.
Key.2    a   We were all on holiday in Spain.
      b   We were all staying at the same hotel.
      с   We all enjoyed ourselves.
3    Catherine is always very generous.
4    I don't usually have to work on Saturdays.
5    Do you always watch TV in the evenings?
6    ... he is also learning Italian.
7    a   The new hotel is probably very expensive.
      b   It probably costs a lot to stay there.
8    a   I can probably help you.
      b   I probably can't help you.


1    Clare doesn't eat meat.
      (often) ____________________________
2    a   We were on holiday in Spain.
      (all) _______________________________
     b  We were staying at the same hotel.
      (all) _______________________________
      с   We enjoyed ourselves.
      (all) _______________________________
3    Catherine is very generous.
      (always) ___________________________
4    I don't have to work on Saturdays.
      (usually) ___________________________
5    Do you watch TV in the evenings?
      (always) ____________________________
6    Martin is learning French, and he is learning Italian.
      (also) Martin is learning French and he _______________________________
7    a   The new hotel is very expensive.
      (probably) _______________________________
     b   It costs a lot to stay there.
      (probably) _______________________________
8    a   I can help you.
      (probably) _______________________________
     b   I can't help you.
      (probably) _______________________________

flag.jpgComplete the sentences. Use the words in brackets in the correct order.
Key.2    usually take
3    am usually
4    has probably gone
5    were both born
6    can also sing
7    often sleeps
8    have never spoken
9    always have to wait
10  can only read
11  will probably be leaving
12  probably won't be
13  is hardly ever
14  are still living
15  would never have met
16  always am


1    I     can never remember     her name.  (remember/never/can)
2    I _______________________ sugar in coffee.  (take / usually)
3    I _______________________ hungry when I get home from work.  (am / usually)
4    A: Where's Joe?
     B: He _______________________ home early.  (gone / has / probably)
5    Mark and Diane _______________________ in Manchester.  (both / were / born)
6    Liz is a good pianist. She _______________________ very well.  (sing / also / can)
7    Our cat _______________________ under the bed.  (often / sleeps)
8    They live in the same street as me, but I _______________________ to them. (never / have / spoken)
9    We _______________________ a long time for the bus.  (have / always / to wait)
10  My eyesight isn't very good. I _______________________ with glasses. (read / can / only)
11  I _______________________ early tomorrow.  (probably / leaving / will / be)
12  I'm afraid I _______________________ able to come to the party. (probably / be / won't)
13  It's difficult to contact Sue. She _______________________ at home when I phone her.  (is/ hardly ever)
14  We _______________________ in the same place. We haven't moved. (still / are/ living)
15  If we hadn't taken the same train, we _______________________ each other. (never / met / would / have)
16  A: Are you tired?
    B: Yes, I _______________________ at this time of day.  (am / always)


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