Adverbs of time

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1. The adverb of time is usually put at the very end of a sentence:

He delivered a speech in the House of Commons yesterday.

It may occur at the very beginning of a sentence to emphasize the time of an

event or state:

Yesterday, he delivered a speech in the House of Commons.

2. If there is a series of time adverbials, the more detailed information is mentioned first:

I was born at five o’clock in the morning on the thirtieth of October 1960.

Similarly to place adverbials, if the order of time adverbials is changed, breaks in intonation should be introduced:

I was born in 1960 / in October / on the thirtieth / to be exact / at five o’clock in the morning, I suppose.

Mind that adverbs of definite time (which say exactly when something happens) do not go in mid-position. They can be put at the beginning or end of a clause:

I met her yesterday. (Not: * I yesterday met her).

Note: tonight, tomorrow night and last night. (not * yesterday night)

4. Adverbs of frequency

Such adverbs of indefinite frequency as always, ever, usually, normally, often, frequently, sometimes, occasionally, rarely, seldom, never say how often something happens.

a)The adverb of frequency occurs in the following positions:

After the simple tenses of to be (am, are, is, was, were + adverb)

e.g. My boss is always bad-tempered.

I’m frequently late. I’m seldom late for work.

· Before the simple tenses of all other verbs (adverb + other verb)

e.g. I often go to the theatre.

It is sometimes gets very windy here.

· After the first auxiliary (auxiliary verb + adverb)

e.g. You can always come and stay with us if you want to.

Have you ever played American football?

When there are two auxiliary verbs, adverbs usually come after the first.

e.g. We have never been invited to one of their parties.

She must sometimes have wanted to run away.

· Before the auxiliary if it is an answer to a question or if more emphasis is given to the adverb.

e.g. Do you drink wine? – Yes, I often do.

I never can understand Professor Lamb’s lectures. – which is more emphatic than - I can never understand Professor Lamb’s lectures.

· Before the verb for the sake of emphasis

e.g. He always is on time.

He always does come on time.

!Usually, normally, often, frequently, sometimes and occasionally can also

go at the beginning or end of a clause. Always, ever, rarely, seldom and

never cannot normally go in these positions.

e.g. Sometimes I think I’d like to live somewhere else.

Usually I get up early.

(But not: ~~Always I get up early. Never I get up early~~).

I go there occasionally.

I go there quite often. (But not ~~I go there always~~).

However, always and never can begin imperative clauses.

e.g. Always look in the mirror before stating to drive.

Neve r ask her about her marriage.

b) The negative adverb of frequency (e,g, never, rarely, etc.) is used at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis. In such a construction (typical of rhetorical style) the subject and the verb of a sentence must be inverted (using do if necessary):

e.g. Never have I seen such a good film.

Never does Peter go to the theatre.

5. Adverbs of relative time (e.g. just, yet, etc.) occur in the following

positions:

a) Just is used in medial positions:

Tom has just arrived.

b) Still occupies either medial or final positions:

Are you still thinking about your ex-fiance?

Are you thinking about your ex-fiance still?

If, however, there is a single verb, still is put before the verb but after the

verb to be:

I still think about my ex-fiance.