The position of 'already'

Question

Could you tell me which one is right and natural among the following sentences? Thank you.

1. The shop will already have closed when I arrive there.
2. The shop will have already closed when I arrive there.
3. The shop will have closed already when I arrive there.

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

One of the rules regarding indefinite time adverbs (already) says it should be placed after a modal auxiliary (will) in an affirmative clause (sentence #1).

CB

Lucas21c · Answer

Then, are #2 and #3 wrong? Actually, the original sentence that I extracted from my book is #3. I just corrected #3 into #1 because I think it fits the grammar that I know. Could you tell me whether #2 and #3 are possible?

Cool Breeze · Answer

lucas21cCould you tell me whether #2 and #3 are possible?

In my opinion they are possible, but I wouldn't use them. No doubt there are other opinions. There is no language academy or any other similar institution in any English-speaking country, and consequently there isn't just one divine truth about any grammar issue.

CB

Cool Breeze · Answer

I was too much in a hurry to switch my sauna on when I posted my hasty reply (and to watch a Jokerit ice hockey match on TV). What I said about the position of frequency adverbs after modal auxiliaries is true, but I should also have mentioned that a few frequency adverbs can be placed at the end of a clause as well. Already is one of them. Another one is sometimes.

It is perfectly all right to say: I have seen it already. / I have already seen it.

In other words, sentence #3 is fine. I wouldn't flag #2 incorrect, either. It's just that my ear is so used to the positions I learned at school ages ago that any unusual position seems to jar in my ear—sometimes perhaps needlessly.

CB

CalifJim · Answer

Cool Breezethere isn't just one divine truth about any grammar issue.

It seems you haven't been reading my posts.

CJ

The position of 'already'

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