C1 Advanced Adverbs, participle clauses and ellipsis

Adverb placement

Lesson goal. After this lesson you can place adverbs correctly in complex sentences, and you know that position can change the meaning.

When to use it

Position	Adverb type	Example
at the start of the sentence	comments on the whole sentence	Unfortunately, he failed.
mid-sentence, before an ordinary verb	frequency	She often goes to the gym.
mid-sentence, after to be	frequency	She is always late.
after the first auxiliary	frequency, completion	She has never been there.
at the end of the sentence	manner, place, time	He read it carefully.
right before the word it stresses	only, even, just	Only Nam passed.

Unfortunately, the results were disappointing.

She often goes to the library after school.

He has never been to Japan.

He read the instructions carefully.

She speaks English fluently.

Only three students passed the test.

I like very much this film. → I like this film very much.

English does not allow an adverb between a verb and its object. Many languages do, which makes this error very common.

He well plays the piano. → He plays the piano well.

Manner adverbs go at the end, not between subject and verb.

She goes always to school by bike. → She always goes to school by bike.

Frequency adverbs go before a main verb.

One prohibition prevents most errors: never separate a verb from its object. The adverb goes before the verb or right at the end.

Front: comment adverbs · Mid: frequency · End: manner.
Never place an adverb between a verb and its object.
only, even, just go right before what they emphasise — position changes meaning.

Do exercises with an explanation for every question, take mini tests and track your progress on GrammUp.