B1 English GrammarAdverbs and Adverb Position
Use adverbs to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Learn the different types of adverbs and where to place them in sentences.
Practice in interactive stories
With instant translation and audio
1Types of Adverbs
Adverbs describe how, when, where, or to what degree something happens. Many adverbs of manner are formed by adding -ly to adjectives (quick → quickly), but some have irregular forms.
Types of Adverbs
| Type | Question | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Manner | How? | quickly, slowly, carefully, well |
| Frequency | How often? | always, usually, sometimes, never |
| Time | When? | now, today, yesterday, soon, already |
| Place | Where? | here, there, everywhere, outside |
| Degree | How much? | very, quite, extremely, too, enough |
Examples
She speaks English fluently.
She speaks English fluently.
manner - how she speaks
I always drink coffee in the morning.
I always drink coffee in the morning.
frequency - how often
They arrived yesterday.
They arrived yesterday.
time - when
The movie was extremely boring.
The movie was extremely boring.
degree - modifying adjective
2Position of Frequency Adverbs
Frequency adverbs (always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never) usually go before the main verb but after 'be'. In questions, they follow the subject.
Frequency Adverb Position
| Context | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|
| With main verb | before verb | She always arrives early. |
| With 'be' | after 'be' | He is always late. |
| With auxiliary | after auxiliary | I have never been there. |
| In questions | after subject | Do you often travel? |
Examples
I usually walk to work.
I usually walk to work.
before main verb
She is rarely angry.
She is rarely angry.
after 'be'
He has never eaten sushi.
He has never eaten sushi.
after auxiliary 'has'
They sometimes work from home.
They sometimes work from home.
before main verb
3Position of Manner Adverbs
Adverbs of manner usually go at the end of the sentence, after the verb and object. They can sometimes go before the verb for emphasis, but never between verb and object.
Manner Adverb Position
| Position | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| After object | She speaks French well. | most common |
| Before verb | She carefully opened the door. | emphasis |
| WRONG | She speaks well French. | never between verb and object |
Examples
He drives carefully.
He drives carefully.
after verb (no object)
She plays the piano beautifully.
She plays the piano beautifully.
after object
He quietly closed the door.
He quietly closed the door.
before verb (emphasis)
They worked hard all day.
They worked hard all day.
hard is irregular (not hardly)
4Irregular Adverbs and Common Mistakes
Some adverbs have the same form as adjectives (fast, hard, early, late). 'Good' becomes 'well'. Don't confuse 'hard' (a lot) with 'hardly' (almost not).
Irregular Adverbs
| Adjective | Adverb | Note |
|---|---|---|
| good | well | completely different |
| fast | fast | same form |
| hard | hard | hardly = barely |
| late | late | lately = recently |
| early | early | same form |
Examples
She sings well. (NOT good)
She sings well.
well, not good
He works hard. (= a lot)
He works hard.
hard = with effort
He hardly works. (= almost doesn't)
He hardly works.
hardly = barely
The train arrived late.
The train arrived late.
late as adverb (not lately)
Practice Exercises
5 exercises
Where does 'always' go? 'She ___ arrives ___ early.'
Where does 'never' go with 'be'? 'He ___ is ___ late.'
Complete: 'She speaks English ___.' (in a fluent way)
Complete: 'He works ___.' (with much effort)
Where does 'carefully' go? 'She ___ opened ___ the box ___.'
See Real Examples in Stories
Now that you've practiced, see this grammar in context
“Sarah had always been an ambitious person who loved her career in marketing.”
“The ship departed at sunset, and the family watched Barcelona slowly disappear.”
“Sofia adjusted the seat and mirrors carefully before starting the engine.”
“'I never imagined anything could be this beautiful,' she whispered.”
“She now carefully examined every old book that came through the library.”
Practice with B1 Stories
Apply what you learned in interactive stories with instant translations.
Browse B1 Stories