Adverbial confusion, part 2: Positioning adverbs
March 5th 2011 05:36
If you read my previous post on adverbs, you'll know why one feels bad instead of badly, and can move on to part 2 of a discussion of adverbial confusion.
Now that you know what an adverb is and how to use it, the next thing to consider is where to put the adverb in your sentence. Word placement is always important, and the position of an adverb can change the meaning of a sentence.
Put the adverb next to the word or phrase it modifies
Consider the following examples.
'Nearly' modifies the verb 'lost':
He nearly lost all his money when he was mugged.
Meaning: He didn't lose all his money when he was mugged, but he almost did.
'Nearly' modifies the adjective 'all':
He lost nearly all his money when he was mugged.
Meaning: He lost money when he was mugged--close to all of it.
'Still' modifies the verb 'think':
You still think I love her!
Meaning: You continue to think that I love her.
'Still' modifies the verb 'love':
You think I still love her!
Meaning: You think I love her now, as I loved her before.
'Only' modifies the verb 'want':
I only want to be with you.
Meaning: I want to be with no one else, i.e., You are the only person I want to be with.
'Only' modifies the infinitive 'to be' (more on infinitives later in this post):
I want only to be with you.
Meaning: I want nothing but to be with you.
Put the adverb after the intransitive verbs
An intransitive verb is a verb that takes no object, as opposed to a transitive verb, which has a direct object. Some verbs are always transitive and others are always intransitive, but depending on context, some verbs can be either transitive or intransitive. For example, 'read' in "I read before bed" is in transitive, but "I like to read biographies the most" it is transitive.
If an adverb modifies an intransitive verb, put it after the verb:
The children play merrily outside.
She scowled menacingly.
I read quietly before bed.
There are exceptions to the rule, such as:
Owls seldom cry.
I generally disagree with him.
Don't be afraid to split infinitives
The infinitive is a verb form that usually looks like 'to [verb]', but can also be 'be [verb]' and 'do [verb]". The Chicago Manual of Style (15th edition) states that split infinitives were roundly disapproved until about 1925, and "adverbs sometimes justifiably separate the to from the principal verb."
The Chicago Manual would no doubt agree that the split infinitive in "To boldly go where no man has gone before", in which the phrase "to go" is split by the adverb 'boldly', is justified. Somehow, "To go boldly where no man has gone before" just doesn't sound as compelling or memorable.
Now that you know what an adverb is and how to use it, the next thing to consider is where to put the adverb in your sentence. Word placement is always important, and the position of an adverb can change the meaning of a sentence.
Put the adverb next to the word or phrase it modifies
Consider the following examples.
'Nearly' modifies the verb 'lost':
He nearly lost all his money when he was mugged.
Meaning: He didn't lose all his money when he was mugged, but he almost did.
'Nearly' modifies the adjective 'all':
He lost nearly all his money when he was mugged.
Meaning: He lost money when he was mugged--close to all of it.
'Still' modifies the verb 'think':
You still think I love her!
Meaning: You continue to think that I love her.
'Still' modifies the verb 'love':
You think I still love her!
Meaning: You think I love her now, as I loved her before.
'Only' modifies the verb 'want':
I only want to be with you.
Meaning: I want to be with no one else, i.e., You are the only person I want to be with.
'Only' modifies the infinitive 'to be' (more on infinitives later in this post):
I want only to be with you.
Put the adverb after the intransitive verbs
An intransitive verb is a verb that takes no object, as opposed to a transitive verb, which has a direct object. Some verbs are always transitive and others are always intransitive, but depending on context, some verbs can be either transitive or intransitive. For example, 'read' in "I read before bed" is in transitive, but "I like to read biographies the most" it is transitive.
If an adverb modifies an intransitive verb, put it after the verb:
The children play merrily outside.
She scowled menacingly.
I read quietly before bed.
There are exceptions to the rule, such as:
Owls seldom cry.
I generally disagree with him.
Don't be afraid to split infinitives
The infinitive is a verb form that usually looks like 'to [verb]', but can also be 'be [verb]' and 'do [verb]". The Chicago Manual of Style (15th edition) states that split infinitives were roundly disapproved until about 1925, and "adverbs sometimes justifiably separate the to from the principal verb."
The Chicago Manual would no doubt agree that the split infinitive in "To boldly go where no man has gone before", in which the phrase "to go" is split by the adverb 'boldly', is justified. Somehow, "To go boldly where no man has gone before" just doesn't sound as compelling or memorable.
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