The position of "also" in a sentence

Status
Not open for further replies.

misu

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2020
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
German
Home Country
Germany
Current Location
Japan
If one googles upon this question, they will find different opinions.

What is your opinion? Does "also" always come before the verb but not if the verb is to be?

Example sentences:


  • I also like swimming.
  • I am also staying in the same hotel.

With the auxiliary verb "have" also seems to come always after the auxiliary:


  • I have also bought some more milk.

also seems to behave differently with the auxiliary "do" and "does" and also depending on whetehr it is a statement or a question.

Could someone please provide a clear explanation on how to correctly use also in different sentence's structures?
 
If one googles [STRIKE]upon[/STRIKE] this question, [STRIKE]they[/STRIKE] one will find different opinions.

What is your opinion? Does "also" always come before the verb but not if the verb is to be?

Example sentences:


  • I also like swimming.
  • I am also staying in the same hotel.

With the auxiliary verb "have", also seems to always come [STRIKE]always[/STRIKE] after the auxiliary:


  • I have also bought some more milk.

also seems to behave differently with the auxiliary "do" and "does" and also depending on whether it is a statement or a question.

Could someone please provide a clear explanation on how to correctly use also in different sentence's structures?

We'll need some more context. "I also like swimming" could mean "I like swimming as well as [another sport/hobby]" or "Someone else has just said they like swimming and I would like to say that I like it too". Either one could be worded "I like swimming also".
 
For me the most likely interpretations of these are:

I also have bought some milk = I am not the only person to have bought milk
I have also bought some milk = I have bought something else, or, less likely, I am not the only person to have bought milk

Other people may see things differently.
 
I see. It is a question of focus. Therefore, can we say that there is no fixed rule?
 
Definitely.
 
By the way, I see that #emsrd2d2 corrected my "they will find..". I thought that nowasays we tend to use "they" instead of "she" and "her as a neutral pronoun, am I wrong? Could it be that this rule works only in sentences such as : "Please, everyone takes their bag"?
 
"Definitely" to the fact that there is no fixed rule?
 
By the way, I see that #emsrd2d2 corrected my "they will find..". I thought that nowasays we tend to use "they" instead of "she" and "her as a neutral pronoun, am I wrong? Could it be that this rule works only in sentences such as : "Please, everyone takes their bag"?

I changed it from "they" to "one" because you chose to start the sentence with "If one". Once you've introduced "one", stick with it. Alternatives are:

If you Google this question, you will find ...
If someone Googled this question, they would find ...

The second example above is where "they" works rather than "he/she".
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top