Adverbs and
Word Order
She usually walks to work. She speaks English fluently. I had lunch at home yesterday. — learn where adverbs go, then practise.
Show rules
Frequency adverbs — always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never
| structure | example |
|---|---|
| before the main verb | I always drink coffee in the morning. |
| after the verb be | She is always late. |
| after an auxiliary / modal, before the main verb | I have never seen her. · She can sometimes be difficult. |
At the beginning of the sentence — only with sometimes, usually, often, occasionally (NOT always / never):
✅ Sometimes I work from home. — ❌ Always I work from home.
Manner adverbs — slowly, carefully, well, fluently
| structure | example |
|---|---|
| after the verb (no object) | She walks slowly. |
| after the verb + object | She speaks English fluently. |
Watch out: ❌ She speaks fluently English — never put a manner adverb between a verb and its direct object.
Place and time adverbs
End position is the most natural place for adverbs of place and time:
I'll meet you in the park. We had lunch at home yesterday.
When both appear at the end, the order is place + time:
✅ I went to the gym yesterday. — ❌ I went yesterday to the gym.
Time and place adverbs can also go at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis: Yesterday, I had lunch with an old friend.
Several adverbs together
End-position order is usually manner → place → time: She sang beautifully in the garden last night.
Common mistakes
| ❌ | ✅ |
|---|---|
| She always is late. | She is always late. |
| I never have seen her. | I have never seen her. |
| She speaks fluently English. | She speaks English fluently. |
| I went yesterday to the gym. | I went to the gym yesterday. |
| Always I wake up early. | I always wake up early. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do frequency adverbs (always, usually, never) go in a sentence?
Before the main verb ('I always drink coffee'), after the verb 'be' ('She is always late'), and after an auxiliary or modal ('I have never seen her', 'She can sometimes be difficult'). Only sometimes, usually, often and occasionally can also go at the beginning of a sentence — never use 'always' or 'never' at the start.
Why is 'She speaks fluently English' wrong?
A manner adverb cannot go between a verb and its direct object. Say 'She speaks English fluently' — adverb after the object. With no object, the adverb goes right after the verb: 'She walks slowly.'
Do place or time adverbs come first?
When both come at the end of the sentence, the order is place + time: 'I went to the gym yesterday' (not 'I went yesterday to the gym'). Time adverbs can also go at the beginning for emphasis: 'Yesterday, I went to the gym.'
What order do you use when several adverbs come together?
The usual end-of-sentence order is manner → place → time: 'She sang beautifully in the garden last night'. In practice, more than two end-position adverbs is unusual; if needed, move one to the beginning of the sentence.