The position of an adverb in a sentence

Question

I've learned that you normally put an adverb immediately after the "be" or the "auxiliary verb", or immediately before the "verb", in case that you want to put it in the middle of the sentence.

I've however seen two adverbs immediately before the "be".

"Earth really is an interesting place."
"Life sure is strange."

What case do(or can) you put an adverb on that position in?
And, for what?

Thanks in advance.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

AnonymousI've learned that you normally put an adverb immediately after the "be" or the "auxiliary verb", or immediately before the "verb"

"Earth really is an interesting place."
"Be" is the main verb. The adverb "really" comes immediately before the verb.
"Life sure is strange."
"Be" is the main verb. The adverb "sure" comes immediately before the verb.

That being said, an adverb can naturally take several positions in a sentence.
The position can tell the reader what the most important idea in the sentence is.

"Earth really is an interesting place." You are stressing the existence (is) of Earth.
"Earth is a really interesting place." You are stressing that this place attracts a lot of interest.
"Earth is really an interesting place." What is Earth? It's an interesting place.
"Earth is an interesting place, really." You are stressing the entire idea of Earth being an interesting place, as if the reader does not believe the idea and needs convincing.

Anonymous · Answer

So, do you say, for instance,
"Jack surprisingly is alive",
or "this park always is attractive"?

And you don't say
"he surprisingly is alive",
or "that girl astonishingly was beautiful"?

In fact, you don't put an adverb immediately before the "be" when the subject is a pronoun or the adverb doesn't modify the verb or the whole sentence, correct?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

AnonymousSo, do you say, for instance,"Jack surprisingly is alive",or "this park always is attractive"?

The adverbs in your sentences are not modifying the verb; they are modifying an adjective. As a modifying adjective is placed directly before the noun it modifies, an adverb modifying an adjective is placed directly before the adjective it modifies.

"surprisingly alive" = the degree to which he is alive.
"astonishingly beautiful" = the degree to which she is beautiful.

We never say:
That girl very was beautiful.
Instead
That girl was very beautiful.

These are adjective phrases: "surprisingly alive," "astonishingly beautiful" and "very beautiful."

Anonymous · Answer

they are moderating an adjective.

I'm afraid that I can't understand "moderating an adjective."

Instead of "surprisingly, Jack was alive", you don't say "Jack surprisingly was alive"?
You put an adverb immediately before the "be" when the subject is pronoun?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousI've learned that you normally put an adverb immediately after the "be" or the "auxiliary verb",

That's true for a "frequency adverb" (always, never, ...). really, sure(ly), certainly are representatives a different kind of adverb, so you may find them before the linking verb "be". Or after "be".

Alice certainly is talented. / Alice is certainly talented.

The same is true of the perfect forms, which go like this:

It certainly has been an interesting day. / It has certainly been an interesting day.

CJ

Cool Breeze · Answer

AnonymousI'm afraid that I can't understand "moderating an adjective."

I think "modifying an adjective" is meant.

CB

Anonymous · Answer

That's true for a "frequency adverb" (always, never, ...).

I think "modifying an adjective" is meant.

I see, thank you both.
I'm sorry for my several questions, but please let me make questions once again. It's going to be final ones.
To tell the truth, though I don't yet get the idea of it very well, do you often put an adverb immediately before "be" in daily life?
And if so, what is the typical case?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Anonymousdo you often put an adverb immediately before "be" in daily life?

Sorry, I meant "modifying" in my last post.

We do, for emphasis.

Johnny certainly will be on his best behavior today. I threatened to remove his game-playing privileges if he didn't behave.
The vase is broken? It wasn't me. I never was even near it.

Here is a good link to read: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/grammar/british-grammar/adverbs-and-adverb-phrases-position

AnonymousI'm sorry for my several questions, but please let me make questions once again. It's going to be final ones.

Don't be sorry. We are here to answer your questions. You can ask as often and as many as you like.

Anonymous · Answer

Oh, that's clear.
It'll sound good to say with an adverb on that position when wanting to stress "be", isn't it.

Thank you three for your kindness to help me!

The position of an adverb in a sentence

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