Adverbs should be placed as nearly as possible to the verbs they modify. Although some adverbs can occur only in fixed positions in a sentence, most adverbs can come at different places in a sentence.

Rule 1

When the verb intransitive (an intransitive verb has no object), place the adverb immediately after it.

He laughed aloud.

He worked hard.

She smiled sweetly.

They walked fast.

She spoke fluently.

They arrived late.

She walked slowly.

They sang beautifully.

Rule 2

When the verb is transitive with an object following, place the adverb immediately after the object.

She combed her hair carefully.

He drew the picture beautifully.

She offered her help willingly.

She suffered the pain bravely.

He refuted the charge effectively.

He gave his reply immediately.

Rule 3

Adverbs of time (e.g. always, before, never, often) are usually placed before the verb.

He seldom comes to see me.

They never admitted their fault.

We always try to help him.

Rule 4

When the verb consists of an auxiliary verb and a principal verb, the modifying adverb is placed between the two. If there are two auxiliaries, the adverb is placed between them.

He was greatly praised for his brave act.

I have always wanted to write a novel.

I should never have thought it possible.

One couldn’t possibly have suspected her.

I have not had the time to look into the matter.

Rule 5

An adverb is placed before an adjective or another adverb which it modifies.

She is very beautiful.

You are absolutely correct.

She is rather careless.

Notes

The adverb enough comes after the adjective which it modifies.

He was foolish enough to trust her.

She is old enough to take care of herself.

The adverb only should be placed immediately before the word which it modifies. Note the change in the meaning of a sentence according to the change in the position of only.

Only Alice helped me to finish the work. (Only Alice and no one else helped me to finish the work.)

Alice only helped me to finish the work. (Alice helped me to finish the work, but she didn’t actually do the work.)