Interrogative and conjunctive adverbs

The adverbs when, where, how and why belonging to different semantic groups mentioned above have one point in common – they serve to form questions and introduce some kinds of subordinate clauses. In the former case, owing to their auxiliary function, they are called interrogative adverbs (a). In the latter case, also owing to their auxiliary function, they are called conjunctive adverbs (b). In both cases they perform different adverbial functions in the sentence:

e.g. As when did you see him last? (adverbial modifier of time).

Where are you going? (adverbial modifier of place).

How did you manage it? (adverbial modifier of manner).

b) Sunday was the day when he was least busy. (adverbial modifier of place)

The thing to find out was where he was then. (adverbial modifier of place)

How it was done remains a mystery to me. (adverbial modifier of manner)

The adverb how, in addition to the above function, can also be placed at the head of an exclamatory sentence. In this case it is often followed by an adjective or an adverb but it may also be used alone. This how is sometimes called the exclamatory how.

e.g. How unfair grown-ups are!

Oh, how the baby cries!

The Position of Adverbs

Adverbs of manner

a) The adverb of manner (e.g. nicely, strangely, etc.) is usually put either after the verb:

He ran quickly.

or after the object:

He speaks English badly.

It is worth observing that in English the verb and its direct object cannot be separated by the adverb of manner.

b) If there are other adverbs (e.g. of place or time), the adverb of manner is used

first:

He read the whole book quickly at home yesterday.

c) In passive sentences the adverb of manner is placed either before or after the past participle:

This house was well reconstructed.

This house was reconstructed well.

d) In phrasal verbs two positions of the manner adverbial are possible:

Carry on your work quickly.

Carry quickly on with your work.

e) If the adverb of manner consists of one word, it is often put between the subject and the verb for the sake of emphasis:

She distinctly pronounced all difficult English words.

f) If there are two adverbs of manner, the shorter is put first:

Do it well and quickly.