Position of Adverbs of frequency and degree
Position of Adverbs of frequency
Adverbs of frequency answer the question ‘How often?’
E.g., always, never, often, rarely, usually, generally and certain other adverbs like almost, already, hardly, nearly, just, quite.
Concept 1
They are normally put in mid position (there are a few exceptions though, that we will study later).
There are two possible kinds of mid-positions:
if the verb consists of only one word, then they come between the subject and the verb.
Subject + Adverb of frequency + Verb
Her husband never cooks. (husband – subject; cooks – one word verb)if there is more than one word in the verb, then they are put after the first word.
Subject + Helping verb + Adverb of frequency + Main Verb
She has never seen a bear. (She – subject; has – helping verb; seen – main verb)
Concept 2
These adverbs are usually put before a helping verb when it is stressed.
Subject + Adverb of frequency + Helping verb (stressed) + Main Verb
When will you complete your homework? - I already have completed it. (have - stressed)
Concept 3
If the verb is single verb ‘be’ (i.e. is/am/are/was), these adverbs are placed after the verb (so whether ‘be’ is used as helping verb or main verb, adverb of frequency will come after it).
Subject + be + Adverb of frequency
He is always at gym on Saturdays. (He – subject; is – verb)
These adverbs are usually put before the single verb ‘be’, when it is stressed.
Subject + Adverb of frequency + be (stressed) + Main Verb
I usually am busy on Tuesdays. (am - stressed)
When a helping verb is used alone in short responses, it is stressed and therefore the adverb of frequency comes before it.
Do you watch Breaking Bad? - Yes, I sometimes do. (do - stressed)
Concept 4
These helping verbs prefer the adverb of frequency in front of them:
- have to
- used to
Subject + Adverb of frequency + used to/have to + $V_1$
I often have to go to sleep hungry.
He always used to taunt me.
Hardly/Scarcely/Barely/Never/Seldom are negative words. So, we can’t use another negative word with them.
Hardly we do not know him. (incorrect)
Hardly do we know him. (correct)
You will notice that:
An Adverbs of frequency comes at the position of ‘not’
She is never late. (She is not late.)
He hardly plays now. (He does not play now.)
He often has to proof read. (He did not have to proof read.)If ‘not’ is already present, an adverb of frequency comes after not.
He has not ever done it.
Mutual order of Adverbs of place, frequency and time
If there are adverbs of place, frequency and time in a sentence, then we use them in this order:
Subject + Verb ….. + Adverb of (place + frequency + time)
Meenakshi comes here every other day now-a-days.
(here – adverb of place; every other day – adverb of frequency; now-a-days – adverb of time)
Position of Adverbs of degree
Adverbs of degree – give information about the extent or degree of something.
E.g. extremely, really, almost, completely, fairly, quite, rather, slightly, too, totally, very (much).
Concept 1
They are used before adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs. Note that they come just before an adjective or another adverb.
He really hates travelling by bus. (really – adverb of degree; hates - verb)
She is extremely happy. (extremely - adverb of degree; happy - adjective)
He’s almost always late. (almost - adverb of degree; always – adverb of frequency)
Concept 2
If there is more than one word in the verb, then adverbs of degree are put after the first word (just as is the case with adverbs of frequency).
Pattern: Subject + Helping verb + Adverb of degree + Main Verb
She will completely destroy me. (will – helping verb; destroy – main verb)
Concept 3
If the verb is single verb ‘be’ (i.e. is/am/are/was), these adverbs are placed after the verb (so whether ‘be’ is used as helping verb or main verb, adverb of degree will come after it, just as is the case with adverbs of frequency).
Pattern: Subject + be + Adverb of degree
He is really into this gig. (He – subject; is – verb)
Extra Books and Tools
If you prefer to learn via books, or want some good English Grammar books for reference purposes, you may read this article which enlists some of the books recommended by us.