Collins Cobuild English Grammar (121 page)

They can also show the way in which one sentence is linked to another clause. For more information, see the section on
sentence connectors
beginning at paragraph
10.48
.

The second paragraph repeats the information given in the first paragraph.
Therefore
, it isn’t necessary.

Position of adverbials

6.7
      The position of adverbials within clauses is flexible, allowing many changes of emphasis and focus.

Adverbials are normally placed at the end of the clause after the verb phrase, or after an object if there is one.

She packed
carefully
.
They would go on talking
for hours
.
I enjoyed the course
immensely
.

beginning of clause for emphasis

6.8
      You can emphasize the adverbial by placing it at the beginning of the clause, in front of the subject.

Gently
Fiona leaned forward and wiped the old lady’s tears away.
In his excitement
Billy had forgotten the letter.

The adverbial is often separated by a comma from the rest of the clause.

After much discussion
, they had decided to take the coin to the jeweller.

This position is often used in written stories to draw attention to the adverbial. For more information, see paragraph
9.70
.

Note that adverbs of degree are rarely used at the beginning of a clause: see paragraph
6.45
.

between subject and verb

6.9
      Adverbials can also be placed between the subject and the main verb. This focuses on the adverbial more than when it is at the end of the clause, but not as much as putting it at the beginning of the clause. However, this position is much more common with adverbs than with prepositional phrases.

I
quickly
became aware that she was looking at me.
We
often
swam in the surf.
He
carefully
wrapped each component in several layers of foam rubber.
He
noisily
opened the fridge and took out a carton of milk.

Note that in verb phrases containing auxiliaries, the adverbial is still placed in front of the main verb.

I had
almost
forgotten about the trip.
We will
never
have enough money to provide all the services that people want.
It would not
in any case
be for him.

Long adverbials in this position are usually separated by commas from the rest of the clause.

Fred,
in his own way
, was a great actor.

Adverbials of place rarely occur in this position. For more information about adverbials of place, see the section beginning at paragraph
6.53
.

6.10
    Some adverbials are often placed in front of the main verb:

most adverbs of indefinite frequency (see paragraph
4.114
)

always

constantly

continually

continuously

ever

frequently

hardly ever

never

normally

occasionally

often

rarely

regularly

repeatedly

seldom

sometimes

usually

some adverbs of indefinite time (see paragraph
4.41
)

again

already

earlier

finally

first

just

last

previously

recently

since

some adverbs of degree (see paragraph
6.45
), especially emphasizing adverbs (see paragraph
6.49
)

absolutely

almost

altogether

badly

completely

deeply

entirely

fairly

greatly

largely

nearly

perfectly

quite

rather

really

somewhat

totally

utterly

virtually

well

focusing adverbs, when modifying a verb (see paragraph
9.67
)

even

just

merely

only

really

simply

Note that some adverbs have a different reference when they are placed in front of the main verb rather than at the end of the clause:

The Trade Unions have acted
foolishly
.
Baldwin had
foolishly
opened the door.

The first example means that the Unions acted in a foolish way. The second example means that opening the door was a foolish action, and not that the door was opened in a foolish way.

Americans always tip
generously
.
He
generously
offered to drive me home.

The first example tells us how well Americans tip, the second example indicates that his offer was a generous action.

USAGE NOTE

6.11
    If the verb is a
to
-infinitive, you usually put an adverb after it, or after the object if there is one.

He tried to leave
quietly
.
Thomas made an appointment to see him
immediately
.

Some people, however, particularly when they are speaking, do put adverbs between the
to
and the infinitive. This use is considered to be incorrect by some speakers of English.

My wife told me
to probably expect
you, he said.
Vauxhall are attempting
to really break
into the market.

Sometimes, however, if you avoid putting the adverb between the
to
and the infinitive, you change the emphasis of the sentence, or it can sound clumsy. In such cases,
splitting the infinitive
, as it is called, is now generally considered acceptable.

Participants will be encouraged
to actively participate
in the workshop.
I want you
to really enjoy
yourself.

Note that the second example above means
I want you to enjoy yourself very much
. If you said
I really want you to enjoy yourself
, you would mean
It is very important for me that you enjoy yourself
.

minor points about position

6.12
    If a clause has two adverbials, and one is an adverb and the other is a prepositional phrase, you can usually place either of them first.

Miss Burns looked
calmly at Marianne
.
They were sitting
happily in the car
.
The women shouted
at me savagely
.
He got
into the car quickly
and drove off.

However, if the prepositional phrase is rather long, it is more common to place the adverb first, immediately after the verb.

He listened
calmly
to the report of his aides.
She would sit
cross-legged
in her red robes.

Similarly, if the verb phrase is followed by a long object, the adverb comes after the verb and before the object.

She sang
beautifully
a school song the children had taught her when they were little.

manner, place, then time

6.13
    In clauses with more than one adverbial, the meaning of the adverbials can also affect their order. The usual order is adverbial of manner, then adverbial of place, then time adverbial.

They knelt
quietly in the shadow of the rock
.
I tried to reach you
at home several times
.
He was imprisoned
in Cairo in January 1945
.
Parents may complain that their child eats
badly at meals
.
The youngsters repeat this
in unison at the beginning of each session
.

However, if a clause contains an adverb of manner and an adverb of direction such as
down
,
out
, or
home
, the adverb of direction is usually put in front of the adverb of manner.

Lomax drove
home fast
.
I reached
down slowly
.

adverbials of the same type

6.14
    Adverbials of different types can be placed together, sometimes separated by a comma, but adverbials of the same type, for example two adverbials of manner, are usually linked by conjunctions such as
and
and
but
, or structures such as
rather than
. For more information about how to link adverbials using conjunctions, see paragraph
8.188
.

She sang
clearly
and
beautifully
.
They help to combat the problem
at source
, rather than
superficially
.