Adverbs and adverb phrases: typical errors
- Many errors with adverbs are spelling errors:
It happened quite accidentally.
Not: …quite accidentaly.
Actually, I’ve been very busy.
Not:Actualy…
It’s not something that can be done easily.
Not: …that can be done easly.
They were happily married for 20 years.
Not:They were happyly married…
The building was completely destroyed.
Not: …completly destroyed.
I felt extremely unhappy about it all.
Not:I felt extremly unhappy…
[end of a formal letter/email]
Yours sincerely, Mark Johnson
Not:Yours sincerly…
I am truly sorry for what happened.
Not:I am truely sorry…
- Adverbs and adverb phrases indicating frequency don’t usually go after the verb phrase. They usually go in mid position:
He usually goes to the park after school.
Not:He goes usually to the park after school.
Our next door neighbours sometimes come here for dinner. We hardly ever go to theirs.
Not:We go hardly ever to theirs.
At the end of the day, do you often come home from work feeling tired?
Not: …do you come often home from work…
- Adverbs and adverb phrases indicating time usually go in end position:
I’ll post the CDs to you tomorrow.
Not:I’ll post tomorrow the CDs to you.
I received your email about the meeting late.
Not:I received late your email about the meeting.
- We don’t often put always, usually, never, etc. at the beginning of a sentence or clause:
She was always comparing herself to other people.
Not:Always she was comparing herself to other people.
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