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Old 29-Nov-2003, 21:13
abrilsp
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Default adverb position

hi,

Are these sentences right?


It has happened to me sometimes
It has sometimes happened to me

Thanks

abrilsp
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Old 29-Nov-2003, 21:18
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Those are both good.

:D
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Old 29-Nov-2003, 21:59
abrilsp
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Thanks RonBee,



What about 'sometimes it has happened to me'
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Old 29-Nov-2003, 22:01
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Quote:
Originally Posted by abrilsp
Thanks RonBee,
You're welcome.

Quote:
Originally Posted by abrilsp
What about 'sometimes it has happened to me'
That is good too.

:)
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Old 30-Nov-2003, 22:06
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'Sometimes' is a very flexible adverb of frequency. Not all behave like it, though. 'Never' rarely takes end position and you have to invert the verb and subject if you put it at the beginning.
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Old 30-Nov-2003, 23:11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tdol
'Sometimes' is a very flexible adverb of frequency. Not all behave like it, though. 'Never' rarely takes and position and you have to invert the verb and subject if you put it at the beginning.
Do you mean that never rarely takes the end position?

Never at the beginning of the sentence:
  • Never does that ever happen.
Never at the end of a sentence:
  • That happens never!

I would use the second one only in a poem or for a rhetorical flourish.

:)
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Old 30-Nov-2003, 23:16
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Thanks- I did mean 'end position'. It is rare, but it does happen sometimes, such as the instances you give.
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