Order of Adverbs

Order of Adverbs

Just like adjectives, adverbs have a particular order in a sentence when you use more than one to modify a word or clause.  Of course, generally only two to three adverbs would be used in a row.  Since adverbs have the flexibility to go almost any where in a sentence, others could be placed at the beginning (with a comma usually!), and possibly one at the end of the sentence.  (See also Adverbs)

For verbs of motion (dance, walk, run, fly, go, leave, etc.) an adverb showing place usually follows right after the verb.  For other types of verbs, an adverb of manner is the first generally used.

Just for fun:  Fill in adverbs in the proper order 

Order of Adverbs, cont.

1.  Shorter adverbial phrases come before longer ones, no matter what the type (frequency, time, manner, etc.) 

• Annie often (frequency) drives in the countryside (place) before work (time) to relax (purpose).   Compare the order with the order given in the table above.

2.  When the adverbs are similar (both are those of time, manner, frequency, etc),  put the most specific adverb (or phrase) first. 

• Desi was going to meet Carlos at Benito Juarez airport in Mexico  sometime next week.  (Benito Juarez airport is a more specific place than Mexico). 

• My great-great-great-great grandfather fought in 1781 during the Revolutionary War.  (in 1781 is a more specific time than during the Revolutionary War).

3.  If you put an adverbial modifier at the beginning of a sentence, it can place special emphasis on that  modifier.

• Seldom, only seldom, does Logan stay at home on a Saturday night.

• Carefully, ever so carefully, the demolition expert disarmed the bomb."

Messed-up Modifiers

When a modifying word or phrase is misplaced or misused, the resulting sentence then does not mean what the writer meant it to mean.  Remember, modifying words and phrases should be as close as possible to whatever they are modifying.  Read your writings carefully to catch any dangling or misplaced modifiers, because:

1. They will confuse the reader. 
2. They will make you look silly for using them. 
3. They break the flow of your text, and the reader will lose the impact of what you are saying.

You can correct misplaced or dangling modifiers in two ways:  

You can re-write the participial clause: 

• Correct:  When the boulder slid down the mountainside, the car was hit.

• Incorrect:  Sliding down the mountainside, the car was hit.  (Was the car sliding down the mountain?) 

You can also re-write the main clause and make the modified word the subject: 

• Sliding down the mountainside, the boulder hit the car.

There are several ways to mess up a modifier:

1.    A dangling modifier occurs when a modifier, whether word or phrase, doesn't clearly and LOGICALLY modify a word in the sentence.  When there is no word to modify, the modifier dangles.

• Finishing the mowing, a cool drink was needed.  (Who needed the drink? There is no word to which the modifying phrase can relate.)

• Better:  Finishing the mowing, he needed a cool drink.

• Born in North Dakota, the winters were cold.  (Were the winters born there?) 

• Better:  Pierre was born in North Dakota, where winters were cold.

2.   A misplaced modifier is one that is not as near as possible to the word(s) it modifies.  Unlike the dangling modifier, which has no word to modify, the misplaced version seems to describe the wrong word, because the modifier (or the modified word) isn't where it should be in the sentence.

• While washing dishes, the dog bit Dotty on the ankle.  (Was the dog washing the dishes?  Try this:  While Dotty was washing dishes, the dog bit her on the ankle.) 

• When Mr. Jason demonstrates how to pronounce words, the students can understand English when they hear it easily.  (Think about that.  Do the students understand easily, or do they hear easily?  Try this:  The students easily understand spoken English after Mr. Jason demonstrates how to pronounce words.)

• Stirring the oatmeal, the phone rang and startled me.  (Very talented phone if it can stir oatmeal.  How about:  While I was stirring the oatmeal, the phone rang and startled me.)

• Sally served us cheese and crackers, not being able to cook.  (My cheese and crackers can't cook either.  Try this:  Sally, not being able to cook, served us cheese and crackers.)

• Cathy likes to watch wild birds, relaxing by the window.  (Most birds relax in a tree.  Maybe this would make more sense:  Relaxing by the window, Cathy likes to watch wild birds.)

Note:  Misplacing modifiers like merely, just, hardly, only, almost are very common errors for non-native and native speakers alike!

• Duane nearly drank all the coffee.  (You can't nearly drink.  Duane drank nearly all the coffee.)

• Barb almost danced all night.  (You dance or you do not--you can't almost dance.  Barb danced almost all night.)

You can see there are several ways to correct misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers.  One way is not necessarily better than another.  Just be able to recognize and fix them.

3.  Two-way or squinting modifiers* are those that are placed in a sentence in such a way that they might modify the words before it or the words after it--we are not sure which.  (*I found the term squinting modifier on a web page, and like a dolt, forgot to make note of the person who coined it.  I had never heard this term before, but thought it very apt.  Apologies to the originator, and if I find out who you are, I will give you credit!)

• The assistant reported to the coach before basketball season began in the sports office.  (Did the basketball season begin in the office?  or did the assistant report to the coach before the season?)  You can also write it in these ways:

The assistant reported to the coach in the sports office before basketball season began .

Before basketball season began, the assistant reported to the coach in the sports office.

• Madonna swore after much public speculation she would never marry again.   (Did she swear after the speculation, or will she never marry after the speculation?)  Try this: 

                   After much public speculation, Madonna swore she would never marry again.

4.  Split infinitives (an infinitive is to + the base form of a verb--to shout, to cry, to rain, to think) are created if you put a word or words between the to and the verb.  Using a split infinitive used to be unacceptable, but now it is much more acceptable, even in formal writing.  The danger in doing so , however, is inserting so many words between the to and the verb, that the sense of the verb is lost, or that the reader gets confused.  Therefore, split your infinitives with caution, and keep the intruding words and phrases short.  After you write such a sentence, try reading it aloud and see if it sounds awkward.  You may do as some writers do and just avoid split infinitives completely.  That is always correct, but sometimes they are needed to add emphasis or rhythm in your sentences.  

•  Everyone decided to, after they had finished their breakfast and packed, continue their search for the Loch Ness monster.  (See how clumsy this sounds?)

•  Everyone decided to continue their search for the Loch Ness monster after they had finished their breakfast and packed.  (Much better!)

• We will have to quietly leave before the end of the play.  (Maybe)

• We will have to leave quietly before the end of the play.  (No split infinitive, no worry--this way is always correct.)

Now it's your turn.  Here's some tips:  

1. We watched the horror movie lying on the couch.

2. Knocking at the door, Cecil was disturbed by a pushy salesman.

3. Lily found a fossil in the forest that is millions of years old.

4. The detective heard the suspect confess while he was outside the door.

5. Earl declared to, no matter what the obstacles, fight for what you believe is important.

6. The crowd cheered as the parade went by loudly.

7. Wordsworth wrote of daffodils in rhythmic verse.

8. Belinda has learned how to grill hotdogs filled with pride.

9. Barking at the cat, Clara admonished her dog Ambrosia.

10. The reception was a huge success wearing my new dinner gown.

11. Jana asked the lawyer after much hesitating about suing the restaurant.

12. Scared by our anger, Vanessa's knees shook.

13. While looking for a bakery, the car ran a stoplight.

14. Perry saw the accident eating lunch.

15. Having eaten Tokyo we watched Godzilla head for Nagano.

16. Roy balanced his checkbook taking a bath.

17. Sophie needed to, as soon as she could, leave for the party.

18. Laying crushed on the sidewalk, Ian found a candy bar.

19. Oscar began to gracefully and emotionally sing a love song to his lady.

20. We clapped when he started to play wildly.

Answers

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