Page 57 - IELTS Preparation Grammar and Vocab

Adverbs and adjectives 7

Position of adverbs

There are three main positions in a clause for adverbs:
front position (before the subject):
Normally, I write for about six hours a day.
mid position (between the subject and verb, immediately after be as a main verb, or after the first or
second auxiliary verb):
I usually start work by about 8.00. I'm generally up at about 7.00. I had never been to Norway before.
If my books hadn't been successful, I would happily have stayed in teaching or! would have happily
stayed..
end position (after the verb; either immediately after it or later in the clause):
He writes simply.
Many adverbs can go in any of these positions, depending on the context or style of writing
Gradually, they grow into real people. or They gradually grow .... or They grow gradually....

Some adverbs tend to appear in particular positions:
Always, never; adverbs of indefinite frequency (hardly ever, often, rarely, regularly, seldom); and degree
adverbs (almost, hardly, nearly, quite, rather, scarcely) are usually put in mid position:
I rarely have a clear idea. I always know how a book is going to end.
Constantly, continually, regularly; absolutely, completely, entirely, greatly, perfectly are usually put either in
mid or end position, but not in front position:
I greatly admire William Boyd. or! admire William Boyd greatly. (not Greatlyq-affmife ...)
Adverbs of place are usually put in end position:
I work upstairs. (not 44pstairs-Eweick. I I-Eipstaifs-werk.)
Adverbs of definite time and frequency are usually put in end position:
I finished my previous book last January. (not 14ast-lanveryfinished ...)
Adverbs of time or frequency consisting of more than one word (e.g. as a rule, from time to time, every so
often) are usually put either in front or end position, but not mid position:
As a rule, I prefer finding information from books. (not 4-as-a-rulaarefer ...)
We avoid putting an adverb between a main verb and a direct object, or following an -ing form or to-infinitive
I still speak Swedish quite welt (not 1-still-speak-qtrite-well-SwedisIL)
I started writing professionally. (not l-stafted-prefessionally-writing)
Id like to go back again. (not CoLfike-te-ge-ageln- l-lock)
In end position we usually put adverbs of place before adverbs of time:
I hadn't been to Norway before. (not I hadn't been before to Norway.)

Ffl Quite, rather; already, yet, still; even, only; really
Quite, rather
The usual position for quite is before alan and an adjective, where it means 'moderately':
Elsa is quite a dominant figure
Less often, quite is used between alan and an adjective, where it means 'completely':
It's a quite remarkable story.

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