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Unit 110 · Adjectives and adverbs

Word order 2: adverbs with the verb

Study

A

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

›

Emily always drives to work.

›

We were feeling very tired and we were also hungry.

›

The meeting will probably be cancelled.

If the verb is one word (drives/cooked etc.), the adverb goes before the verb:

adverb verb
Emily always drives to work.
I almost fell as I was going down the stairs.
›

I cleaned the house and also cooked the dinner. (not cooked also)

›

Laura hardly ever watches television and rarely reads newspapers.

›

'Shall I give you my address?' 'No, I already have it.'

Note that these adverbs (always/usually/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. (not also were)

›

You're always late. You're never on time.

›

The traffic isn't usually as bad as it was this morning.

B

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

verb 1 adverb verb 2
I can never remember her name.
Clare doesn't usually drive to work.
Are you definitely going away next week?
The meeting will probably be cancelled.
›

You've 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'll probably not see you. (but not I won't probably)

C

We also use all and both with the verb in the middle of a sentence:

›

We all felt ill after the meal. (not felt all ill)

›

My parents are both teachers.

›

Sarah and Jane have both applied for the job.

›

My friends are all going out tonight.

D

Sometimes we use is/will/did etc. instead of repeating part of a sentence (see Unit 51):

›

Tom says he isn't clever, but I think he is. (= he is clever)

When we do this, we put always/never etc. before the verb:

›

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)

Exercises (3)

0/3 exercises checked
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110.1

Is the word order OK or not? Correct the sentences where necessary.

  1. 1
    Helen drives always to work. example
  2. 2
    I cleaned the house and also cooked the dinner. example
  3. 3
    I have usually a shower in the morning.
  4. 4
    I'm usually hungry when I get home from work.
  5. 5
    Steve gets hardly ever angry.
  6. 6
    I called him and I sent also an email.
  7. 7
    You don't listen! I have always to repeat things.
  8. 8
    I never have worked in a factory.
  9. 9
    I never have enough time. I'm always busy.
  10. 10
    When I arrived, my friends already were there.
110.2

Rewrite the sentences to include the word in brackets.

  1. 1
    Clare doesn't drive to work. (usually) example
  2. 2
    Katherine is very generous. (always)
  3. 3
    I don't have to work on Sundays. (usually)
  4. 4
    Do you watch TV in the evenings? (always)
  5. 5
    Martin is learning Spanish, and he is learning Japanese. (also)
  6. 6
    a We were on holiday in Spain. (all)
  7. 7
    b We were staying at the same hotel. (all)
  8. 8
    c We had a great time. (all)
  9. 9
    a The new hotel is expensive. (probably)
  10. 10
    b It costs a lot to stay there. (probably)
  11. 11
    a I can help you. (probably)
  12. 12
    b I can't help you. (probably)
110.3

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

  1. 1
    What's her name again?
    I (remember / I / never / can) it.example
  2. 2
    Our cat (usually / sleeps) under the bed.
  3. 3
    There are plenty of hotels here. (usually / it / easy / is) to find a place to stay.
  4. 4
    Mark and Amy (both / were / born) in Manchester.
  5. 5
    Lisa is a good pianist. (sing / she / also / can) very well.
  6. 6
    How do you go to work? (usually / you / do / go) by bus?
  7. 7
    I see them every day, but (never / I / have / spoken) to them.
  8. 8
    We haven't moved. (we / still / are / living) in the same place.
  9. 9
    This shop is always busy. (have / you / always / to wait) a long time to be served.
  10. 10
    This could be the last time I see you. (meet / never / we / might) again.
  11. 11
    Thanks for the invitation, but (probably / I / be / won't) able to come to the party.
  12. 12
    I'm going out for an hour. (still / be / you / will) here when I get back?
  13. 13
    Helen goes away a lot. (is / hardly ever / she) at home.
  14. 14
    If we hadn't taken the same train, (never / met / we / would / have) each other.
  15. 15
    The journey took a long time today. (doesn't / take / it / always) so long.
  16. 16
    (all / were / we) tired, so (all / we / fell) asleep.
  17. 17
    Tanya (says / always) that she'll phone me, but (does / she / never).