Adverbs should be placed as near as possible to the verbs they modify. When the verb has no object, place the adverb immediately after it.
- They played (verb) well (adverb).
- She worked (verb) hard (adverb).
- He spoke (verb) fluently (adverb).
- They danced (verb) merrily (adverb).
When the verb has an object, place the adverb immediately after the object.
- He gave (verb) his reply immediately (adverb).
- He drew (verb) the picture nicely (adverb).
- She sang (verb) a song sweetly (adverb).
- They offered (verb) their help willingly (adverb).
- She suffered (verb) the pain bravely (adverb).
- She accepted (verb) the offer reluctantly (adverb).
Adverbs of time and frequency are placed before the verb. Examples are: seldom, always, often, before, never etc.
- She seldom (adverb) writes (verb) to me.
- They never (adverb) visit (verb) us.
- We always (adverb) try (verb) to help them.
When the sentence consists of an auxiliary verb and a principal verb, the adverb is placed between the two. If there are two auxiliaries, the adverb is placed between them.
- I have always wanted to become famous. (auxiliary verb + adverb + main verb)
- I should never have thought it possible. (first auxiliary verb + adverb + second auxiliary verb + main verb)
- He was greatly praised for his contribution to the field.
An adverb is placed before an adjective or another adverb which it modifies.
- She is very (adverb) beautiful (adjective).
- You are absolutely (adverb) right(adjective).
- He is a rather (adverb) careless (adjective)fellow.
Note that the adverb enough comes after the adjective which it modifies.
- He was foolish (adjective) enough (adverb) to trust her.
- She is not old (adjective)enough (adverb) to become a grandmother.
