ADVERBS OF PLACE

Adverbs of place tell us where something happens. Adverbs of place are usually placed after the main
verb or after the clause that they modify. Adverbs of place do not modify adjectives or other adverbs.
Some examples of adverbs of place: here, everywhere, outside, away, around

HERE AND THERE

Here and there are common adverbs of place. They give a location relative to the speaker. With verbs of
movement, here means "towards or with the speaker" and there means "away from, or not with the
speaker".

Sentence Meaning

Come here! Come towards me.

The table is in here. Come with me; we will go see it together.

Put it there. Put it in a place away from me.

The table is in there. Go in; you can see it by yourself.

Here and there are combined with prepositions to make many common adverbial phrases.

EXAMPLES
 What are you doing up there?
 Come over here and look at what I found!
 The baby is hiding down there under the table.
 I wonder how my driver's license got stuck under here.

Here and there are placed at the beginning of the sentence in exclamations or when emphasis is needed.
They are followed by the verb if the subject is a noun or by a pronoun if the subject is a pronoun.

EXAMPLES
 Here comes the bus!
 There goes the bell!
 There it is!
 Here they are!
 ADVERBS OF PLACE THAT ARE ALSO
PREPOSITIONS
Many adverbs of place can also be used as prepositions. When used as prepositions, they must be
followed by a noun.

Word Used as an adverb of place, modifying a verb Used as a preposition

around The marble rolled around in my hand. I am wearing a necklace around my neck.

behind Hurry! You are getting behind. Let's hide behind the shed.

down Mary fell down. John made his way carefully down the cliff.

in We decided to drop in on Jake. I dropped the letter in the mailbox.

off Let's get off at the next stop. The wind blew the flowers off the tree.

on We rode on for several more hours. Please put the books on the table.

over He turned over and went back to sleep. I think I will hang the picture over my bed.

ADVERBS OF PLACE ENDING IN -WHERE

Adverbs of place that end in -where express the idea of location without specifying a specific location or
direction.

EXAMPLES
 I would like to go somewhere warm for my vacation.
 Is there anywhere I can find a perfect plate of spaghetti around here?
 I have nowhere to go.
 I keep running in to Sally everywhere!

ADVERBS OF PLACE ENDING IN -WARDS

Adverbs of place that end in -wards express movement in a particular direction.
EXAMPLES
 Cats don't usually walk backwards.
 The ship sailed westwards.
 The balloon drifted upwards.
 We will keep walking homewards until we arrive.

Be careful: Towards is a preposition, not an adverb, so it is always followed by a noun or a pronoun.

EXAMPLES
 He walked towards the car.
 She ran towards me.

ADVERBS OF PLACE EXPRESSING BOTH

MOVEMENT & LOCATION
Some adverbs of place express both movement & location at the same time.

EXAMPLES
 The child went indoors.
 He lived and worked abroad.
 Water always flows downhill.
 The wind pushed us sideways.

ADVERBS OF TIME
Adverbs of time tell us when an action happened, but also for how long, and how often. Adverbs of time
are invariable. They are extremely common in English. Adverbs of time have standard positions in a
sentence depending on what the adverb of time is telling us.

ADVERBS THAT TELL US WHEN

Adverbs that tell us when are usually placed at the end of the sentence.

EXAMPLES
 Goldilocks went to the Bears' house yesterday.
 I'm going to tidy my room tomorrow.
 I saw Sally today.
 I will call you later.
 I have to leave now.
 I saw that movie last year.
Putting an adverb that tells us when at the end of a sentence is a neutral position, but these adverbs can
be put in other positions to give a different emphasis. All adverbs that tell us when can be placed at the
beginning of the sentence to emphasize the time element. Some can also be put before the main verb in
formal writing, while others cannot occupy that position.

EXAMPLES
 Later Goldilocks ate some porridge. (the time is important)
 Goldilocks later ate some porridge. (this is more formal, like a policeman's report)
 Goldilocks ate some porridge later. (this is neutral, no particular emphasis)

ADVERBS THAT TELL US FOR HOW LONG

Adverbs that tell us for how long are also usually placed at the end of the sentence.

EXAMPLES
 She stayed in the Bears' house all day.
 My mother lived in France for a year.
 I have been going to this school since 1996.

In these adverbial phrases that tell us for how long, for is always followed by an expression of duration,
while since is always followed by an expression of a point in time.

EXAMPLES
 I stayed in Switzerland for three days.
 I am going on vacation for a week.
 I have been riding horses for several years.
 The French monarchy lasted for several centuries.
 I have not seen you since Monday.
 Jim has been working here since 1997.
 There has not been a more exciting discovery since last century.

ADVERBS THAT TELL US HOW OFTEN

Adverbs that tell us how often express the frequency of an action. They are usually placed before the
main verb but after auxiliary verbs (such as be, have, may, & must). The only exception is when the main
verb is "to be", in which case the adverb goes after the main verb.

EXAMPLES
 I often eat vegetarian food.
 He never drinks milk.
 You must always fasten your seat belt.
 I am seldom late.
 He rarely lies.
Many adverbs that express frequency can also be placed at either the beginning or the end of the
sentence, although some cannot be. When they are placed in these alternate positions, the meaning of
the adverb is much stronger.

Adverb that can be used in two positions Stronger position Weaker position

frequently I visit France frequently. I frequently visit

generally Generally, I don't like spicy foods. I generally don't

normally I listen to classical music normally. I normally listen

occasionally I go to the opera occasionally. I occasionally go

often Often, I jog in the morning. I often jog in the

regularly I come to this museum regularly. I regularly come

sometimes I get up very early sometimes. I sometimes get

usually I enjoy being with children usually. I usually enjoy b

Some other adverbs that tell us how often express the exact number of times an action happens or
happened. These adverbs are usually placed at the end of the sentence.

EXAMPLES
 This magazine is published monthly.
 He visits his mother once a week.
 I work five days a week.
 I saw the movie seven times.

USING YET
Yet is used in questions and in negative sentences to indicate that something that has not happened or
may not have happened but is expected to happen. It is placed at the end of the sentence or after not.
EXAMPLES
 Have you finished your work yet? (= simple request for information)
 No, not yet. (= simple negative answer)
 They haven't met him yet. (= simple negative statement)
 Haven't you finished yet? (= expressing surprise)

USING STILL
Still expresses continuity. In positive sentences it is placed before the main verb and after auxiliary verbs
such as be, have, might, will. If the main verb is to be, then place still after it rather than before. In
questions, still goes before the main verb.

EXAMPLES
 She is still waiting for you.
 Jim might still want some.
 Do you still work for the BBC?
 Are you still here?
 I am still hungry.

ORDER OF ADVERBS OF TIME

If you need to use more than one adverb of time in a sentence, use them in this order:

1: how long 2: how often 3: when

EXAMPLES
 1 + 2 : I work (1) for five hours (2) every day
 2 + 3 : The magazine was published (2) weekly (3) last year.
 1 + 3 : I was abroad (1) for two months (3) last year.
 1 + 2 + 3 : She worked in a hospital (1) for two days (2) every week (3) last year.