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Meantolearn Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary

Also can be adj vs. can also be adj

a. "But it also can be dangerous."

b. "But it can also be dangerous."

1. Which one (a or b or both) sound OK to you native speakers?

2. Please explain your answer.

Thanks
  

Top answer

Both are acceptable. It seems to me that it flows better to place the "also" after the modal "can" so I prefer the second, "But it also can be dangerous". Note that with non-modal auxiliairies (be or have) this is not possible.

— Ratiatum

  • Both are acceptable.
  • It seems to me that it flows better to place the "also" after the modal "can" so I prefer the second, "But it also can be dangerous".
  • Note that with non-modal auxiliairies (be or have) this is not possible.
  • I cannot say *I also have been to Mexico.
  • I must say "I have also been to Mexico".
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1 Answers
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Both are acceptable. It seems to me that it flows better to place the "also" after the modal "can" so I prefer the second, "But it also can be dangerous".

Note that with non-modal auxiliairies (be or have) this is not possible. I cannot say *I also have been to Mexico. I must say "I have also been to Mexico".
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