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Usenet Posted 19 years ago
Usage
Adverb and verb position
Hello,
I have a question about the correct position of the adverb in a sentence, it seems to me that generally the adverb precedes the verb. For example,
I would say:
"He typically eats pankakes" rather than "He eats typically pankakes" (adverb before the verb)
"He is typically having pankakes" rather than "He is having typically pankakes" but I'd be tempted to say "He typically is having pankakes" (adverb before the verb... before the auxilliary? )
"The weather is typically good" rather than "The weather typically is good" (here "typically" modifies the adjective good rather than the verb is so it's ok if it's after)
"He typically is hungry" rather than "He is typically hungry"... now here's the point where people told me I was wrong. Am I ? Am I wrong about the common usage, the theoretically correct wording or both ?
Thanks
I have a question about the correct position of the adverb in a sentence, it seems to me that generally the adverb precedes the verb. For example,
I would say:
"He typically eats pankakes" rather than "He eats typically pankakes" (adverb before the verb)
"He is typically having pankakes" rather than "He is having typically pankakes" but I'd be tempted to say "He typically is having pankakes" (adverb before the verb... before the auxilliary? )
"The weather is typically good" rather than "The weather typically is good" (here "typically" modifies the adjective good rather than the verb is so it's ok if it's after)
"He typically is hungry" rather than "He is typically hungry"... now here's the point where people told me I was wrong. Am I ? Am I wrong about the common usage, the theoretically correct wording or both ?
Thanks
Top answer
[nq:1]I have a question about the correct position of the adverb in a sentence, it seems to me that generally the adverb precedes the verb. For example, I would say: "He typically eats pankakes" rather than "He eats typically pankakes" (adverb before the verb)[/nq] In all your example the suitability of the word "typically" ranges from just about acceptable to plain weird, and that makes it more difficult to address your main point. He often eats pancakes is entirely natural, whereas He eats often pancakes is not English.
- [nq:1]I have a question about the correct position of the adverb in a sentence, it seems to me that generally the adverb precedes the verb.
- For example, I would say: "He typically eats pankakes" rather than "He eats typically pankakes" (adverb before the verb)[/nq] In all your example the suitability of the word "typically" ranges from just about acceptable to plain weird, and that makes it more difficult to address your main point.
- He often eats pancakes is entirely natural, whereas He eats often pancakes is not English.
- However, He eats pancakes often would be OK, though perhaps a little less natural than the first one.
- [nq:1]"He is typically having pankakes" rather than "He is having typically pankakes" but I'd be tempted to say "He typically is having pankakes" (adverb before the verb...
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16 Answers
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[nq:1]I have a question about the correct position of the adverb in a sentence, it seems to me that generally the adverb precedes the verb. For example, I would say: "He typically eats pankakes" rather than "He eats typically pankakes" (adverb before the verb)[/nq]
In all your example the suitability of the word "typically" ranges from just about acceptable to plain weird, and that makes it mo
In all your example the suitability of the word "typically" ranges from just about acceptable to plain weird, and that makes it mo
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[nq:2]"He typically is hungry" rather than "He is typically hungry"...[/nq]
[nq:1]The second seems to me impossible, though it would be OK with "usually". The first is more or less OK.[/nq]
I wouldn't have any problem with the second in a context where hunger is characteristic of a category to which "he" belongs. I can't think of a good example offhand, and such circumstances must be prett
[nq:1]The second seems to me impossible, though it would be OK with "usually". The first is more or less OK.[/nq]
I wouldn't have any problem with the second in a context where hunger is characteristic of a category to which "he" belongs. I can't think of a good example offhand, and such circumstances must be prett
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[nq:2]The second seems to me impossible, though it would be OK with "usually". The first is more or less OK.[/nq]
[nq:1]I wouldn't have any problem with the second in a context where hunger is characteristic of a category to which "he" belongs. I can't think of a good example offhand, and such circumstances must be pretty rare, but I think "impossible" is overstating the case.[/nq]
Any chi
[nq:1]I wouldn't have any problem with the second in a context where hunger is characteristic of a category to which "he" belongs. I can't think of a good example offhand, and such circumstances must be pretty rare, but I think "impossible" is overstating the case.[/nq]
Any chi
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[nq:1]Hello, I have a question about the correct position of the adverb in a sentence, it seems to me that generally the adverb precedes the verb.[/nq]
There are many sentences in English used to show how the position of 'only' may significantly alter the meaning. Adverbs may appear anywhere but be cautious about how they affect the meaning.
The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.
There are many sentences in English used to show how the position of 'only' may significantly alter the meaning. Adverbs may appear anywhere but be cautious about how they affect the meaning.
The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.
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[nq:1]Adverbs may appear anywhere but be cautious about how they affect themeaning.[/nq]
Just the other day my wife asked me why "So I am" and "So am I" have different meanings. I had no idea. All I could say was, "Syntax."
Let's add that "I am so!" and "Am I so?" also have different meanings, but "I so am" and "Am so I" are nonsense.
Using a different verb, "So I can?", "So can I
Just the other day my wife asked me why "So I am" and "So am I" have different meanings. I had no idea. All I could say was, "Syntax."
Let's add that "I am so!" and "Am I so?" also have different meanings, but "I so am" and "Am so I" are nonsense.
Using a different verb, "So I can?", "So can I
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[nq:1]Using a different verb, "So I can?", "So can I", and "I can so!" make sense, but the other permutations, "I so can", "Can I so", and "Can so I" don't.[/nq]
.well, actually, if you listen to california teens you so can hear them saying stuff like, "i so can
like that..."
unDO email address
Nature, heron stone to be commanded,
.well, actually, if you listen to california teens you so can hear them saying stuff like, "i so can
like that..."
unDO email address
Nature, heron stone to be commanded,
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[nq:2]Using a different verb, "So I can?", "So can I", ... so can", "Can I so", and "Can so I" don't.[/nq]
[nq:1].well, actually, if you listen to california teens you so can hear them saying stuff like, "i so can like that..."[/nq]
Uh huh. And if you spent a lazy afternoon in a Galway pub, you wouldn't be surprised to hear constructions like "Can I so?"
John Dean
Oxford
[nq:1].well, actually, if you listen to california teens you so can hear them saying stuff like, "i so can like that..."[/nq]
Uh huh. And if you spent a lazy afternoon in a Galway pub, you wouldn't be surprised to hear constructions like "Can I so?"
John Dean
Oxford
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[nq:2]Adverbs may appear anywhere but be cautious about how they affect the meaning.[/nq]
[nq:1]Just the other day my wife asked me why "So I am" and "So am I" have different meanings. I had no idea. All I could say was, "Syntax."[/nq]
Does she worry about the difference between "Mary asked John" and "John asked Mary"?
John Dean
Oxford
[nq:1]Just the other day my wife asked me why "So I am" and "So am I" have different meanings. I had no idea. All I could say was, "Syntax."[/nq]
Does she worry about the difference between "Mary asked John" and "John asked Mary"?
John Dean
Oxford
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[nq:2]Just the other day my wife asked me why "So ... I had no idea. All I could say was, "Syntax."[/nq]
[nq:1]Does she worry about the difference between "Mary asked John" and "John asked Mary"?[/nq]
If Mary is in the nominative case and John is in the objective case in both sentences, then the two sentences mean the same thing.
[nq:1]Does she worry about the difference between "Mary asked John" and "John asked Mary"?[/nq]
If Mary is in the nominative case and John is in the objective case in both sentences, then the two sentences mean the same thing.
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[nq:2]Does she worry about the difference between "Mary asked John" and "John asked Mary"?[/nq]
[nq:1]If Mary is in the nominative case and John is in the objective case in both sentences, then the two sentences mean the same thing.[/nq]
Now I se why they call you the Grammer Genious and not the Grammar Genius
John Dean
Oxford
[nq:1]If Mary is in the nominative case and John is in the objective case in both sentences, then the two sentences mean the same thing.[/nq]
Now I se why they call you the Grammer Genious and not the Grammar Genius
John Dean
Oxford
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