Strongly and quickly

[Rachel Adams]

Should we put only adverbs of frequency before the main verb and between two verbs are all other adverbs used after verbs?
For example these adverbs which aren't adverbs of frequency.


1. "She was holding the bag strongly."

2. "She wants to move strongly."

3. "She doesn't want to go there strongly."

4. "She doesn't speak quickly."

 

[emsr2d2]

What do sentences 1 and 3 mean? Actually, I'm not entirely sure what sentence 2 means!

 

[Rachel Adams]

I meant "firmly" in #1 and "very much" in #2. She wants to move abroad very much." Sorry, if the sentences are confusing. I should have added "abroad."

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Should we put only adverbs of frequency before the main verb and between two verbs are all other adverbs used after verbs?
For example, these adverbs [STRIKE]which[/STRIKE] aren't adverbs of frequency.

1. "She was holding the bag tight."

2. "She desperately wants to move." (Delete STRONGLY.)

When you put STRONGLY after MOVE, it means MOVE STRONGLY. That's wrong. You want to modify WANTS.

3. "She absolutely doesn't want to go there." (Delete STRONGLY.)

When you put STRONGLY after GO, it means GO STRONGLY. That's wrong. You want to modify DOESN'T WANT.

4. "She doesn't speak quickly." (Or: She doesn't talk fast)

Here, you have QUICKLY modifying SPEAK. That's correct..

I don't think the problems in 2 and 3 are the types of adverbs. The problems are their placement.

Using "abroad" won't fix the problems.

 

[Rachel Adams]

I don't think the problems in 2 and 3 are the types of adverbs. The problems are their placement.

Using "abroad" won't fix the problems.

Does their placement depend on each sentence? So it's not only adverbs of frequency which are put before the main verb.

 

[emsr2d2]

Does their placement depend on each sentence? So it's not only adverbs of frequency which are put before the main verb.

Are you suggesting that adverbs of frequency always go before the main verb? If so, that's not true.

 

[Rachel Adams]

Are you suggesting that adverbs of frequency always go before the main verb? If so, that's not true.

I read about it in my books. This screenshot is from Raymond Murphy "English Grammar in Use".



"Oxford Discover Grammar" by Helen Casey.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

That's not what the book says. It points out that the adverbs in those examples are before the verbs. It doesn't say those adverbs MUST go before verbs.

 

[emsr2d2]

Charlie's right. The screenshot you posted is more of an observation than an instruction. These, for example, are all possible.

Sometimes, I eat at Bob's.
I sometimes eat at Bob's.
I eat at Bob's sometimes.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Does their placement depend on each sentence? . . .

Yes, especially when a sentence has more than one verb. Which verb an adverb modifies depends on the adverb's placement.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Charlie's right. The screenshot you posted is more of an observation than an instruction. These, for example, are all possible.

Sometimes, I eat at Bob's.
I sometimes eat at Bob's.
I eat at Bob's sometimes.

My Like button isn't working, but I like it.

 

[Tarheel]

Sometimes I eat chili.
I sometimes eat chili.
I eat chili sometimes.

Darn! I'm out of chili!

 

[Rachel Adams]

Charlie's right. The screenshot you posted is more of an observation than an instruction. These, for example, are all possible.

Sometimes, I eat at Bob's.
I sometimes eat at Bob's.
I eat at Bob's sometimes.

I understand now. In "English Grammar in Context" by Michael Vince it says that adverbs of frequency normally go before the main verb. Which means "normally" not "always".

Isn't it wrong to use "sometimes" between two verbs? For example, "I don't sometimes read in the evenings." If I am not mistaken the sentences below are correct.

1. "Sometimes I don't read in the evenings."

2. " I sometimes don't read in the evenings."

3. "I don't read in the evenings sometimes."

 

[Tarheel]

Try:

Sometimes I read in the evening.
I sometimes read in the evening.
I read in the evening sometimes.

 

[Rachel Adams]

Try:

Sometimes I read in the evening.
I sometimes read in the evening.
I read in the evening sometimes.

Yes, I know these are correct, but regarding my question does "sometimes" sound unnatural or is it ungrammatical between the verbs?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Yes, I know these are correct, but regarding my question does "sometimes" sound unnatural or is it ungrammatical between the verbs?

It depends. Between which verbs?

(Tarheel's examples just used one: read.)

 

[Tarheel]

What I would not say is;

Sometimes I don't read ....

 

[Rachel Adams]

It depends. Between which verbs?

(Tarheel's examples just used one: read.)

For example, "I don't sometimes see them" or "I don't sometimes read in the evenings" or with any other verb between the main verb and an auxiliary verb.

 

[Rachel Adams]

I might.

But "I sometimes don't read" and "I don't read sometimes" aren't wrong, are they?

 

[jutfrank]

But "I sometimes don't read" and "I don't read sometimes" aren't wrong, are they?

What do you mean by 'wrong'? Can you provide a context that might justify using them?

You should be aware that you're mixing up two points with these odd examples. The first point concerns the position of adverbs. The second point concerns using frequency adverbs in negative sentences. I think you need to slow right down and try to simplify everything before it becomes even more hopelessly confused. Get the simple rules clear in your mind first.