Tag: position of adverbs

Questions Related to position of adverbs

State whether true or false:
The placement of the adverb in the following sentence is correct.
Rita used to never read books.

position of adverbs adverb english

  1. True

  2. False

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The statement is false because the placement of the adverb in the sentence is incorrect. When we use auxiliaries such as "have to" and "used to," the adverb is always placed before the verb. So, the correct sentence would be:
Rita never used to read books.

State whether true or false:
When there are two or more adverbs in a sentence, the correct order of placement is adverb of place, time, manner. 

position of adverbs adverb english

  1. True

  2. False

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The statement is false because when there are two or more adverbs in a sentence, the correct sequence of placement will be:
1. adverb of manner
2. adverb of place
3. adverb of time

Fill in the blank with the correct option:
The adverb "enough" is always placed ________.

position of adverbs adverb english

  1. before the word it modifies

  2. after the word it modifies

  3. at the beginning of the sentence

  4. at the end of the sentence

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Option B is the correct answer because "enough" is always placed after the word it modifies in the sentence. 
For example:
He was kind enough to lend me money. (enough - adverb; placed after the word it modifies - kind)

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:


He walked as far as the next town almost before he turned back.

position of adverbs adverb english

  1. He walked almost as far as the next town before he turned back.

  2. He almost walked as far as the next town before he turned back.

  3. He walked as far as the next town before he almost turned back.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

In the given sentence, almost is the adverb of degree. It is modifying adjective 'as far as' given in the sentence. It should be placed before adjective. Thus, option A is the correct answer.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:


He stopped only for lunch on his way to his parents' place.

position of adverbs adverb english

  1. He stopped for only lunch on his way to his parents' place.

  2. He stopped for lunch only on his way to his parents' place.

  3. He only stopped for lunch on his way to his parents' place.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The correct answer is Option C because the adverb "only" is always placed before the verb that it modifies. Here, the adverb "only" modifies the verb "stopped" and hence, it is placed just before the verb in the sentence.

Options A and B are wrong because they do not have the correct placement of "only." 
Option D is wrong because the original sentence is incorrect and needs to be changed.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:


He spoke to his son angrily.

position of adverbs adverb english

  1. Angrily spoke he to his son. 

  2. Angrily to his son he spoke.

  3. He spoke angrily to his son.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The adverb 'angrily' is used to describe the manner in which something happens. Adverbs of manner are generally placed after the verb they qualify.

In the given sentence, 'angrily' qualifies the verb 'spoke'. Thus, it will be placed after spoke.
Angrily is placed at the beginning of the sentence hence options A and B are incorrect.
Option D will also be incorrect as the adverb is placed at the end of the sentence and not after the verb, which means we need to make a change in sentence.
Therefore, the answer is option C.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence at the underlined point:


It was the most remarkable dessert we ever remember to have eaten.

position of adverbs adverb english

  1. we remember ever to have eaten

  2. we remember to have ever eaten

  3. we remember to ever have eaten

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Choice B is correct as the adverb 'ever'relates to eaten. Choice A is wrong as the sentence is awkard. Choice C is wrong as 'to ever have' is not the correct form. Choice D is wrong as 'ever remember' makes the sentence awkward. B is correct.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence at the underlined point:


Such clothes are seldom or ever worn by the people of the town.

position of adverbs adverb english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. seldom never

  3. seldom or never

  4. seldom ever

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
The correct answer is Option C.
The sentence means to say that 'particular clothes are either worn sometimes (seldom) or never worn. There are two options and options are separated by the conjunction 'or'.
Therefore, Option C is the correct option.
Seldom never and seldom ever (option B and C) are grammatically incorrect as two options are not separated by or.
Hence Option C is the correct answer.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:


He lived in only one house while he was growing up.

position of adverbs adverb english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. He lived in one house only while he was growing up.

  3. He lived in one only house while he was growing up.

  4. He only lived in one house while he was growing up.

Show answer
Correct Option: A,D
Explanation:

As a rule, the word 'only' is always placed as close as possible to the word it is intended to modify. Hence, the correct answer is A and D.

If both auxiliary verb and main verb come in a sentence, where is the adverb of frequency/degree put?

position of adverbs adverb english

  1. Between auxiliary verb and main verb

  2. Before auxiliary verb and main verb

  3. After auxiliary verb and main verb

  4. In the place of auxiliary verb

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

When a sentence contains more than one verb i.e. one main verb and another is an auxiliary verb, place the adverb of frequency/degree between the verbs. E.g. They have often visited Europe. Here, 'Have' is an auxiliary verb and 'visited' is the main verb so, 'often' is placed between the two. Thus, option A is the correct answer.