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Cho7712 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

adverb

It is considered to be incorrect when verb-phrase adverb like quickly is inserted into such a position as in the sentence below.
ex. We turned quickly off the light. (X)

In case of sentential adverb, I deem that it would be possible as in,
ex. We turned certainly off the light. (O) ??
(If certainly is used to modify the proposition of the whole sentence)
Is it right?
  

Top answer

No, it's incorrect to insert it into the middle of a phrasal verb.

— Elanguest

  • No, it's incorrect to insert it into the middle of a phrasal verb.
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6 Answers
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No, it's incorrect to insert it into the middle of a phrasal verb. Emotion: sad
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Thank you for the answer.
What would be the reason for that?
As my thought, the sentential adverb is free in terms of where it occurs, though I am not fully convinced of it.
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cho7712the sentential adverb is free in terms of where it occurs
No. It only occurs between other constituents of the sentence, not within them.
In practical terms, that's at the beginning, between the subject and an auxiliary verb, between an auxiliary verb and a main verb, and at the end.

The sentential adverb 'certainly' can go at any point ma
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Thank you for the answer.
CalifJimIn practical terms, that's at the beginning, between the subject and an auxiliary verb, between an auxiliary verb and a main verb, and at the end. So The team certainly can rely on my support is possible, but not The certainly team can rely on my support.
The examples are so obvious that I think I grasp what it mea
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cho7712can I think of it as a failproof rule which always comes to works?
Yes, grammatically. But stylistically, those sentential adverbs are not often placed at the end.

CJ
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Thank you for the answer.
Your answer is very informative.
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