Some adverbs (for example, always, also, probably) go with the verb in the middle of a sentence:
* Tom always goes to work by car.
* We were feeling very tired and we were also hungry.
* Your car has probably been stolen.
Study these rules for the position of adverbs in the middle of a sentence. (They are only general rules, so there are exceptions.)
i) If the verb is one word (goes/fell/cooked etc.), the adverb usually goes before the verb:
Tom always(adverb) goes(verb) to work by car.
I almost(adverb) fell(verb) 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.
Note that these adverbs (always/often/also etc.) go before have to:
* Jim never phones me. I always have to phone him. (not 'I have always to phone')
ii) 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.
iii) If the verb is two or more words (can remember/doesn't smoke/has been stolen etc.), the adverb goes after the first verb (can/doesn't/has etc.):
I can(verb 1) never(adverb) remember(verb 2) his name.
Ann doesn't(verb 1) usually(adverb) smoke.(verb 2)
Are you(verb 1) definitely(adverb) going(verb 2) to the party tomorrow?
Your car has(verb 1) probably(adverb) been(verb 2) stolen.
* My parents have always lived in London.
* Jack can't cook. He can't even boil an egg.
* The house was only built a year ago and it's already falling down.
Note that probably goes before the negative. So we say:
* I probably won't see you. or I will probably not see you. (but not 'I won't probably.')
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.
Sometimes we use is/will/did etc. instead of repeating part of a sentence. 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
109.1 Are the underline words in the right position or not? Correct the sentences that are wrong.
1. Tom goes _a1ways_ to work by car. _WRONG: Tom always goes_
2. I cleaned the house and also cooked the dinner. _RIGHT_
3. I have usually a shower when I get up. ---
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 because she gets up so late. ---
8. We all were tired so we all fell asleep. ---
9. She always says she'll phone me but she never does ---
109.2 Rewrite the sentences to include the word in brackets.
1. Ann doesn't drink tea. (often) _Ann doesn't often drink tea._
2. We were on holiday. (all) ---.
3. We were staying at the same hotel. (all) ---.
4. We enjoyed ourselves. (all) ---.
5. Catherine is very generous. (always) ---.
6. 1 don't have to work on Saturdays. (usually) I ---.
7. Do you watch television in the evenings? (always) ---.
8. Martin is learning French. He is learning Italian. (also)
Martin is learning French. He ---.
9. That hotel is very expensive. (probably) ---.
10. It costs a lot to stay there. (probably) ---.
11. I can help you, (probably) ---.
12. I can't help you. (probably) ---.
109.3 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. 1 --- hungry when I get home from work. (am/usually)
4. 'Where's Jim?' '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 car --- down. (often/breaks)
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 sight 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 I 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. 'Are you tired?' 'Yes, I --- at this time of day.' (am/always)
109.1
3 I usually have ...
4 right
5 Steve hardly ever gets angry.
6 I also went to the bank.
7 Jane always has to hurry ..
8 We were all tired so we all fell asleep.
9 right
109.2
2 We were all on holiday.
3 We were all staying at the same hotel.
4 We all enjoyed ourselves.
5 Catherine is always very generous.
6 I don't usually have to work on Saturdays.
7 Do you always watch television in the evenings?
8 He is also learning Italian.
9 That hotel is probably very expensive.
10 It probably costs a lot to stay there.
11 I can probably help you.
12 I probably can't help you.
109.3
2 usually take
3 am usually
4 has probably gone
5 were both born
6 can also sing
7 often breaks
8 have never spoken
9 always have to wait
10 can only read
11 will probably be leaving
12 probably won't be
13 is hardly ever
14 are still living
15 would never have met
16 Yes, I always am at this time of day. (but I am always tired)
