Download Bits & Pieces of Grammar - UNAM-AW

Bits & Pieces of Grammar
Where to place adverbs wrt verbs?
Adverbs of time (e.g., already, still, yet, finally, eventually, just, etc.)
They can go at the end or at the beginning of a sentence, depending
on the emphasis.
e.g.
Recently, research efforts have focused on the BCRII gene.
Research efforts have focused on the BCRII gene recently.
Where to place adverbs wrt verbs?
Adverbs of frequency (e.g. always, never, ever, rarely, seldom,
usually, normally, often, frequently, sometimes, occasionally, etc.)
(1) Put directly before the main verb
(2) Behind the verb ‘to be’
(3) Behind an auxiliary verb
 E.g.
(1) This approach often uses several variables.
(2) This approach is often used with several variables.
(3) This approach has often been employed with several variables.
Where to place adverbs wrt verbs?
Adverbs of manner (i.e. how something is done) such as slowly,
cautiously, continuously, etc.
- these adverbs are placed behind the (1) direct object or the
(2) verb
e.g.
(1) Researchers have interpreted the results carefully.
(2) The result should be interpreted carefully.
Where to place adverbs wrt verbs?
Adverbs of place (e.g., here, there, behind, above, etc.)
 Placed behind (1) direct objects or (2) the verb
e.g.
(1) We present the results here.
(2) The results are here.
Where to place adverbs wrt verbs?
 Adverbs of certainty (e.g. certainly, definitely, clearly, obviously,
probably, etc.)
(1) Placed after a ‘to be’ verb
(2) After an auxiliary verb
(3) Before other verbs
E.g.
(1) It is clearly a question of interpretation.
(2) The analysis was obviously done without the new data.
(3) It clearly lacks rigorous analyses.
Where to place adverbs wrt verbs?
 Focusing adverbs (e.g., even, only, also, mainly, just, etc.)
(1) After ‘to be’ verbs
(2) After auxiliary verbs
(3) Before other verbs
e.g.
(1) The data is only available from the NIH.
(2) The data has only been available from the NIH.
(3) She only obtained data from the NIH.
Other uses of adverbs
At the beginning of sentences (e.g., usually, normally, often,
frequently, sometimes, occasionally, recently, finally, etc.)
(1) After ‘to be’ verbs
(2) After auxiliary verbs
(3) Before other verbs
E.g.
(1) The model is occasionally useful for this application.
(2) The model has occasionally been used.
(3) The model occasionally includes other variables.