ADVERBS OF
PLACE
Adverbs of place tell
us where something happens. Adverbs of place are usually placed after the main verb or after
the clause that they modify. Adverbs of place do not modify adjectives or other adverbs. Some
examples of adverbs of place: here, everywhere, outside, away, around
EXAMPLES
John looked around but he couldn't see the monkey.
I searched everywhere I could think of.
I'm going back to school.
Come in!
They built a house nearby.
She took the child outside.
HERE AND THERE
Here and there are common adverbs of place. They give a location relative to the speaker.
With verbs of movement, here means "towards or with the speaker" and there means "away
from, or not with the speaker".
Here and there are combined with prepositions to make many common adverbial phrases.
Sentence Meaning
Come here! Come towards me.
The table is in here. Come with me; we will go see it together.
Put it there. Put it in a place away from me.
The table is in there. Go in; you can see it by yourself.
EXAMPLES
What are you doing up there?
Come over here and look at what I found!
The baby is hiding down there under the table.
I wonder how my driver's license got stuck under here.
Here and there are placed at the beginning of the sentence in exclamations or when emphasis
is needed. They are followed by the verb if the subject is a noun or by a pronoun if the subject
is a pronoun.
EXAMPLES
Here comes the bus!
There goes the bell!
There it is!
Here they are!
ADVERBS OF PLACE THAT ARE ALSO PREPOSITIONS
Many adverbs of place can also be used as prepositions. When used as prepositions, they must
be followed by a noun.
Word Used as an adverb of Used as a preposition
place, modifying a
verb
around The marble rolled I am wearing a necklace around my neck.
around in my hand.
behind Hurry! You Let's hide behind the shed.
are getting behind.
down Mary fell down. John made his way carefully down the cliff.
in We decided to drop I dropped the letter in the mailbox.
in on Jake.
Word Used as an adverb of Used as a preposition
place, modifying a
verb
off Let's get off at the The wind blew the flowers off the tree.
next stop.
on We rode on for Please put the books on the table.
several more hours.
over He turned over and I think I will hang the picture over my bed.
went back to sleep.
ADVERBS OF PLACE ENDING IN -WHERE
Adverbs of place that end in -where express the idea of location without specifying a specific
location or direction.
EXAMPLES
I would like to go somewhere warm for my vacation.
Is there anywhere I can find a perfect plate of spaghetti around here?
I have nowhere to go.
I keep running in to Sally everywhere!
ADVERBS OF PLACE ENDING IN -WARDS
Adverbs of place that end in -wards express movement in a particular direction.
EXAMPLES
Cats don't usually walk backwards.
The ship sailed westwards.
The balloon drifted upwards.
We will keep walking homewards until we arrive.
Be careful: Towards is a preposition, not an adverb, so it is always followed by a noun or a
pronoun.
EXAMPLES
He walked towards the car.
She ran towards me.
ADVERBS OF PLACE EXPRESSING BOTH MOVEMENT & LOCATION
Some adverbs of place express both movement & location at the same time.
EXAMPLES
The child went indoors.
He lived and worked abroad.
Water always flows downhill.
The wind pushed us sideways.
ADVERBS OF TIME
Adverbs of time tell us when an action happened, but also for how long, and how often.
Adverbs of time are invariable. They are extremely common in English. Adverbs of time
have standard positions in a sentence depending on what the adverb of time is telling us.
ADVERBS THAT TELL US WHEN
Adverbs that tell us when are usually placed at the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLES
Goldilocks went to the Bears' house yesterday.
I'm going to tidy my room tomorrow.
I saw Sally today.
I will call you later.
I have to leave now.
I saw that movie last year.
Putting an adverb that tells us when at the end of a sentence is a neutral position, but
these adverbs can be put in other positions to give a different emphasis. All adverbs that
tell us when can be placed at the beginning of the sentence to emphasize the time
element. Some can also be put before the main verb in formal writing, while others
cannot occupy that position.
EXAMPLES
Later Goldilocks ate some porridge. (the time is important)
Goldilocks later ate some porridge. (this is more formal, like a policeman's report)
Goldilocks ate some porridge later. (this is neutral, no particular emphasis)
ADVERBS THAT TELL US FOR HOW LONG
Adverbs that tell us for how long are also usually placed at the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLES
She stayed in the Bears' house all day.
My mother lived in France for a year.
I have been going to this school since 1996.
In these adverbial phrases that tell us for how long, for is always followed by an
expression of duration, while since is always followed by an expression of a point in
time.
EXAMPLES
I stayed in Switzerland for three days.
I am going on vacation for a week.
I have been riding horses for several years.
The French monarchy lasted for several centuries.
I have not seen you since Monday.
Jim has been working here since 1997.
There has not been a more exciting discovery since last century.
ADVERBS THAT TELL US HOW OFTEN
Adverbs that tell us how often express the frequency of an action. They are usually
placed before the main verb but after auxiliary verbs (such as be, have, may, & must).
The only exception is when the main verb is "to be", in which case the adverb goes after
the main verb.
EXAMPLES
I often eat vegetarian food.
He never drinks milk.
You must always fasten your seat belt.
I am seldom late.
He rarely lies.
Adverb that can be used in two positions Stronger position Weaker position
frequently I visit France frequently. I frequently visit France.
generally Generally, I don't like spicy foods. I generally don't like spicy foods.
normally I listen to classical I normally listen to classical
music normally. music.
occasionally I go to the opera occasionally. I occasionally go to the opera.
often Often, I jog in the morning. I often jog in the morning.
regularly I come to this museum regularly. I regularly come to this museum.
sometimes I get up very early sometimes. I sometimes get up very early.
usually I enjoy being with I usually enjoy being with
children usually. children.
Many adverbs that express frequency can also be placed at either the beginning or the end
of the sentence, although some cannot be. When they are placed in these alternate
positions,
the meaning of the adverb is much stronger
Some other adverbs that tell us how often express the exact number of times an action
happens or happened. These adverbs are usually placed at the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLES
This magazine is published monthly.
He visits his mother once a week.
I work five days a week.
I saw the movie seven times.
USING YET
Yet is used in questions and in negative sentences to indicate that something that has not
happened or may not have happened but is expected to happen. It is placed at the end of
the sentence or after not.
EXAMPLES
Have you finished your work yet? (= simple request for information)
No, not yet. (= simple negative answer)
They haven't met him yet. (= simple negative statement)
Haven't you finished yet? (= expressing surprise)
USING STILL
Still expresses continuity. In positive sentences it is placed before the main verb and after
auxiliary verbs such as be, have, might, will. If the main verb isto be, then place still after
it rather than before. In questions, still goes before the main verb.
EXAMPLES
She is still waiting for you.
Jim might still want some.
Do you still work for the BBC?
Are you still here?
I am still hungry.
ORDER OF ADVERBS OF TIME
If you need to use more than one adverb of time in a sentence, use them in this order:
1: how long 2: how often 3: when
EXAMPLES
1 + 2 : I work (1) for five hours (2) every day
2 + 3 : The magazine was published (2) weekly (3) last year.
1 + 3 : I was abroad (1) for two months (3) last year.
1 + 2 + 3 : She worked in a hospital (1) for two days (2) every week (3) last year.
