WREN & MARTIN's English grammar-position of adverbs

 

Here are 10 MCQs on the position of adverbs — plain text, ready to copy and paste:

---

1. Which sentence places the adverb of manner in the correct position? A) She quickly was eating her lunch. B) She was eating her lunch quickly. C) Quickly she was eating her lunch. D) She was quickly lunch eating.

✅ Answer: B) She was eating her lunch quickly. Adverbs of manner are generally placed after the verb or after the object if there is one. "She was eating her lunch quickly" — "quickly" comes after the object "lunch." Placing it between "was" and "eating" is also acceptable but less natural.

---

2. Where is the adverb of frequency "always" correctly placed? A) She always arrives on time. B) Always she arrives on time. C) She arrives always on time. D) She arrives on time always.

✅ Answer: A) She always arrives on time. Adverbs of frequency (always, never, often, usually, sometimes) are placed before the main verb but after auxiliary verbs (is, are, was, have, etc.). "Always" correctly sits before the main verb "arrives."

---

3. Which sentence correctly places the adverb of time "yesterday"? A) Yesterday I went not to school. B) I yesterday went to school. C) I went to school yesterday. D) I went yesterday to school early.

✅ Answer: C) I went to school yesterday. Adverbs of time are usually placed at the end of the sentence. They can also appear at the beginning for emphasis: "Yesterday, I went to school." Placing them in the middle of the sentence is generally incorrect.

---

4. Where should the adverb "never" be placed in this sentence? "She / has / been / to Paris." A) At the very beginning of the sentence B) At the very end of the sentence C) Between the auxiliary verb and the main verb D) After the main verb

✅ Answer: C) Between the auxiliary verb and the main verb With auxiliary verbs, adverbs of frequency go between the auxiliary and the main verb: "She has never been to Paris." This is the fixed rule for adverbs of frequency with auxiliary/modal verbs.

---

5. Which sentence is INCORRECT in the placement of the adverb "often"? A) He often visits his grandparents. B) She has often thought about quitting. C) He visits often his grandparents. D) Often, he visits his grandparents.

✅ Answer: C) He visits often his grandparents. Adverbs of frequency like "often" must not be placed between the verb and its object. The correct positions are: before the main verb ("He often visits"), after the auxiliary ("has often thought"), or at the start/end for emphasis.

---

6. Where is the adverb of degree "very" correctly placed? A) She sang very the song beautifully. B) She sang the song very. C) Very she sang the song beautifully. D) She sang the song very beautifully.

✅ Answer: D) She sang the song very beautifully. Adverbs of degree like "very", "quite", "extremely", and "rather" are placed immediately before the word they modify. Here, "very" modifies "beautifully" and must appear directly before it.

---

7. Which sentence correctly places the adverb "already"? A) Already I have finished my homework. B) I finished already my homework. C) I have already finished my homework. D) I have finished my homework already not.

✅ Answer: C) I have already finished my homework. "Already" is an adverb of time that is placed between the auxiliary verb and the main verb in affirmative sentences: "I have already finished." It can also go at the end of the sentence informally: "I've finished already."

---

8. In which position can adverbs of place be correctly placed? A) Before the subject of the sentence only B) Before the main verb always C) Between the subject and the verb only D) After the verb or at the end of the sentence

✅ Answer: D) After the verb or at the end of the sentence Adverbs of place (here, there, outside, everywhere, nearby) are placed after the verb or at the end of the clause: "She waited outside." / "The children played everywhere." They do not come before the verb or between subject and verb.

---

9. Which sentence correctly uses a front position adverb for emphasis? A) She tomorrow will leave for Paris. B) He studied hard always for his exams. C) They here arrived early this morning. D) Suddenly, the lights went out.

✅ Answer: D) Suddenly, the lights went out. Some adverbs — especially adverbs of manner and time — can be placed at the front (beginning) of a sentence for emphasis or dramatic effect. A comma usually follows the adverb in this position: "Suddenly, the lights went out."

---

10. Which of the following sentences has the adverb in the WRONG position? A) He quietly closed the door. B) She has never broken a promise. C) They arrived here early this morning. D) She reads never books in the evening.

✅ Answer: D) She reads never books in the evening. "Never" must not be placed between the verb and its object. The correct sentence is: "She never reads books in the evening." Adverbs of frequency always go before the main verb, not between the verb and the object.