Unit 110. Word order 2: adverbs with the verb

Unit 110; Part A

Some 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

Study these rules for the position of adverbs in the middle of a sentence. (They are only general rules, so there are exceptions.)

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)
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.
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.):

I
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

We 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

Sometimes 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

1 Are the underlined words in the right position or not?

Are the underlined words in the right position or not? Correct the sentences where necessary.

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
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________

2 Rewrite the sentences to include the word in brackets.

Rewrite the sentences to include the word in brackets.

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) _______________________________

3 Use the words in brackets in the correct order.

Complete the sentences. Use the words in brackets in the correct order.

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)

Unit 109 Unit 110 Unit 111