ERcicliiiir lg 1 Position of adverbs enim ‘There are three main positions for adverbs: © front position: Normally, [ write for about six hours a day. © mid position: J usually start work by about 8.00. I'm generally up at about 7.00. 1 had never been to Norway before. If my books hadn't been successful, I would happily have stayed in teaching. or I would have happily stayed .. © end position: He writes simply. Many adverbs can go in any of these positions, depending on context or style: Gradually, hey grow into real people. or They gradually grow into real people. or They grow gradually into real people. Some adverbs tend to appear in particular positions: © Always, never; adverbs of indefinite frequency (hardly ever, often, rarely, regularly, seldom); and degree adverbs (almost, hardly, nearly, quite, rather, scarcely) are usually put in mid position: Trarely have a clear idea. I always know how a book is going to end. © Constantly, continually, regularly; absolutely, completely, entirely, greatly, perfectly are usually put either in mid or end position, but not in front position: T greatly admire William Boyd. (not © Adverbs of place (e.g. upstairs) and adverbs of definite time and frequency (e.g. last January, monthly) are usually put in end position. ‘Adverbs of time or frequency consisting of more than one word (e.g. as a rule, from time to time, every so often) are usually put either in front or end position, but not mid position: As a rule, I prefer finding information from books. (not We avoid putting an adverb between a main verb and a direct object, or following an -ing form or to-infinitive: I still speak Swedish quite well. (not £still-speak-quite-well Swedish.) I started writing professionally. (not 1started-professionally-weiting,) Tid like to go back again. (not Pé-tike-to-go-again-back ) In end position we usually put adverbs of place before adverbs of time: Thadn’t been to Norway before. rather than I hadn't been before to Norway. mvo 2 quite, rather; already, yet, still; even, only; really quite, rather ‘The usual position for quite is before a / an and an adjective, where it means ‘moderately’: Elsa is quite a dominant figure.