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Dear friends! Having been teaching English for so many years, I see that many students have true problems with adverbs. I hope you will read what I have written and ask me questions if you have some. The following are basic grammar rules. Of course, in some particular sentences they may be violated because of this or that reason. So, I would like you to ask me the particular questions with examples, OK? Well, I am starting!

The greatest problem with adverbs is where to place them in a sentence.  Let's make a plan of this topic.

1. Parenthesis

2. Adverbs with different predicates (simple, compound, complex)

3. Adverbs used with the gerund

4. Adverbs with the infinitive

5. Adverbs with the participle.

6. Adverbs with adjectives.

Let's start from the beginning.

1. A parenthesis is one word or an expression that can be placed before a subject. Some adverbs can be used like that but not those we use in a sentence’s body. I have never seen the list of such adverbs and I doubt if there is one. I will list the most usable:

However, anyway, therefore, hence, nevertheless, moreover, also, since , yet (as however) and many others.

In good dictionaries they should be marked in the appropriate way.

2. How to use an adverb describing a predicate.

It depends on the tenses. First of all, there are some adverbs that are placed only inside a predicate.

They are:

often, usually, generally, rarely, seldom, sometimes, hardly (mostly the Simple Tenses)

still (mostly Continuous)

just, never, ever, already, always (mostly the Perfect Tenses)

I say "mostly" because they can be used in other tenses.

Let's consider some examples.

a) The Simple Present and Past Tenses.

We should place an adverb before all verbs (predicates) except "be":

I usually get up early.

I don’t usually get up early.

She rarely missed classes.

Does she rarely miss classes?

I just wanted to say what I mean.

If a predicate is "be", we place an adverb after it.

He is often late.

She is still single.

The same is about other adverbs:

I occasionally have a rest at the sea.

He is occasionally late for class.

 b) Present and Past Continuous

Being used with all compounds (the predicates consisting of two parts), an adverb must be before a notional verb:

I am still thinking about you.

Are you still studying at school?

He was attentively listening to what he was told.

c) Present and Past Perfect and Perfect Continuous.

In these tenses we place an adverb after have/has/had:

He has never been like that!

Has he ever been like that?

She has just arrived.

I have already been waiting for you for an hour!

How long have you already been waiting?

He knew the way as he had often been there before.

d) Future simple and continuous.

In these tenses an adverb should be after "will":

When I leave, I will often call you.

You will still be sleeping when I come back.

e) Future Perfect and Perfect Continuous.

An adverb should be after have:

I will have already got my diploma before you arrive.

She will have constantly been studying English for a year before you arrive.

There are a few adverbs always used at the end of a sentence. They are:

yet, lately, recently, before:

He hasn't come, yet.

I have seen him recently/lately.

Most of adverbs (except above-mentioned) can be used either inside(before) a predicate or after objects:

He attentively listened to my story

or

He listened to my story attentively.

If there is one object, it is of no matter where to place an adverb. However, if there are a few objects or some complex object, it is better  to place an adverb inside a predicate:

He kindly presented her a great car (two objects).

I attentively listened to him telling about his trip (complex object, participle).

3. If an adverb is used as a definition of a gerund, it is always placed directly after a gerund (if there are no objects) or after all objects:

She doesn't approve of his driving carelessly.

I would appreciate your sending me the documents immediately.

4. If an adverb is used as a definition of an infinitive, there may be two cases:

a) An adverb belongs to the group of the adverbs placed only inside a predicate. Such an adverb is used before an infinitive:

He promised never to do it again.

b) all other adverbs are used after an infinitive phrase:

I like to read slowly and attentively.

5. If an adverb is used as a definition of a participle, there may be a few cases:

a) The Participle II (used as a definition of a noun). In this case we place an adverb beforea participle:

The newly painted fence was still wet.

I couldn't go to sleep because of a noisily crying baby.

He managed to notice the light hardly being seen in the twilight. 

b) The Participle I (used as a modifier of action or time). There may be two cases:

      1) if there are no objects after a participle, an adverb is placed after a participle at the end of a sentence:

          The children were crossing the street laughing loudly.

But it should be before a participle at the beginning of a sentence.

Loudly laughing, the children were crossing the street.

      2) If there are objects or other modifiers after a participle, an adverb is usually placedbefore it:

          I saw a men slowly walking to the gate.

       If we use perfect forms , we usually place an adverb like this:

           Having quickly eaten his dinner he rushed out.

           She fainted having been suddenly informed about the crash.

As you can see, the principles of using adverbs defining predicates and verbals are the same.

6. If we use adverbs with adjectives we place an adverb before an adjective:

This book is very informative and interesting.

He turned out to be unexpectedly knowledgeable .

I hope, my explanations are clear enough. But if you still have some questions, just ask them. I am always glad to help.

And now, here is your test. Your task is to find the right place of an adverb in brackets.

1. I don’t call her (often).
2. I will have finished this translation by tomorrow (hardly).
3. He was walking up the hill (slowly).
4. I have found it out (recently).
5. Winter seemed to end (never).
6. He is used to attending classes (regularly).
7. She has been like that (always)
8. He is studying at the university (still).
9. Do you like to do nothing (sometimes)?
10. Having been asked a question (suddenly), he didn’t know what to say.
11. Walking on the street (slowly), I noticed a wallet lying on the pavement (suddenly).
12. Give up trying to reach your goals (never).
13. He is hungry (always).
14. When I called for her, she turned out not to be ready (yet).
15. The book referred (just) was translated from French.
16. Having looked through the morning mail (inattentively), he left for work.
17. My brother is fond of reading (greatly).
18. I can tell you how to do it (properly).
19. She misses lectures (rarely).
20. It is a book brought out (just).

As usual, there is a deadline. Let it be May 16.

Have a great Sunday and a wonderfull week!

Here are the correct answers.

1. I don’t often call her.
2. I will have hardly finished this translation by tomorrow.
3. He was slowly walking up the hill.
4. I have found it out recently.
5. Winter seemed never to end.
6. He is used to attending classes regularly.
7. She has always been like that.
8. He is still studying at the university.
9. Do you sometimes like to do nothing?
10. Having been suddenly asked a question, he didn’t know what to say.
11. Slowly walking on the street, I suddenly noticed a wallet lying on the pavement.
12. Never give up trying to reach your goals.
13. He is always hungry.
14. When I called for her, she turned out not to be ready, yet.
15. The book just referred, was translated from French.
16. Having inattentively looked through the morning mail, he left for work.
17. My brother is greatly fond of reading.
18. I can tell you how to do it properly.
19. She rarely misses lectures.
20. It is a book just brought out.

Thanks everyone and all of you for such active participation!