Adverbs’ Positions - 6th Grade Grammar
Adverbs’ Positions
Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They can tell us how, when, where, why, or to what extent something happens.
For example:
- - She ran quickly to catch the bus. (How did she run?)
- - He always arrives on time. (When does he arrive?)
- - They live nearby. (Where do they live?)
- - She studied hard because she wanted to pass the test. (Why did she study hard?)
- - He is very smart. (To what extent is he smart?)
Adverbs can have different positions in a sentence. They can come before or after the main verb, at the beginning or end of the sentence, or before the adjective or adverb they modify.
For example:
- - She quickly ran to catch the bus. (Before the main verb)
- - He arrives on time always. (After the main verb)
- - Nearby, they live. (At the beginning of the sentence)
- - She studied hard because she wanted to pass the test. (At the end of the sentence)
- - She studied very hard because she wanted to pass the test. (Before the adjective or adverb they modify)
The position of an adverb can affect the meaning and emphasis of a sentence.
For example:
- - He only eats vegetables. (He eats nothing else but vegetables.)
- - He eats only vegetables. (He eats vegetables and nothing else.)
- - Only he eats vegetables. (No one else but him eats vegetables.)
In general, adverbs of manner (how) and adverbs of degree (to what extent) usually come after the main verb or the object of the verb. Adverbs of time (when) and adverbs of frequency (how often) usually come before the main verb or after the auxiliary verb. Adverbs of place (where) usually come after the main verb or the object of the verb. Adverbs of reason (why) usually come at the beginning or end of a sentence.
However, these are not fixed rules and there may be exceptions depending on the context and style of writing. The best way to learn about adverbs’ positions is to read a lot of texts and pay attention to how adverbs are used in different situations.
Adverbs’ Positions Worksheet
Write each sentence. Add the adverb in parentheses ( ).
- We called the professor. (immediately)
- He didn’t sound concerned at all. (very)
- We thought we had seen a spacecraft. (overhead)
- He explained that it was a police helicopter. (probably)
- One had flown close to his house as well. (incredibly)