adverb particles 20

19 adjectives (8): what can follow an adjective?

Many adjectives can be followed by 'complements' - words and expressions
that 'complete' their meaning. Not all adjectives are followed by the same kind
of complement. Some can be followed by preposition + noun/-ing (see 297).
I'm interested in cookery. I'm interested in learning to cook.
Some can be followed by infinitives (see 284).
You don't look happy to see me. The soup is ready to eat.
An infinitive may have its own subject, introduced by for (see 291).
I'm anxious for her to get a good education.
(= I'm anxious that she should get ...)
Some adjectives can be followed by clauses (see 521,567,446-447).
I'm glad that you were able to come.
It's important that everybody should feel comfortable.
And many adjectives can have more than one kind of complement.
I'm pleased about her promotion. I'm pleased to see you here.
I'm pleased that we seem to agree.
We rarely put adjective + complement before a noun (see 13.5).
He's a difficult person to understand.
(N OT lIe's a tiiffieult t6 uruie"starttl I'et'S6n.)
For the strucrures that are possible with a particular adjective, see a good dictionary.

20 adverb particles
1 adverb particles and prepositions
Words like down, in, up are not always prepositions. Compare:
- I ran down the road. - He's in his office.
Please sit down. You can go in.
- Something's climbing up my leg.
She's not up yet.
In the expressions down the road, in his office and up my leg, the words down,
in and up are prepositions: they have objects (the road. his office and my leg).
In sit down, go in and She's not up, the words down, in and up have no objects.
They are adverbs, not prepositions.
Small adverbs like these are usually called 'adverb(ial) particles'. They include
above, about, across, ahead, along, (a) round, aside, away, back, before, behind,
below, by, down, forward, in, home, near, off, on, out, over, past, through,
under, up. Many words of this kind can be used as both adverb particles
and prepositions, but there are some exceptions: for example back, away
(only adverb particles)j /rom, during (only prepositions).
2 phrasal verbs
Adverb particles often join together with verbs to make two-word verbs,
sometimes with completely new meanings (e.g. break down, put off, work out,
give up). These are often called 'phrasal verbs'. For details of their use, see 599.

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 adverb position (1): introduction 21

3 adverb particles with be

Adverb particles are often used, rather like adjectives, as complements of the
verb be.
Why are all the lights on? Hello! You're back!
The match will be over by 4.30.
For invened word order in sentences beginning with an adverb panicle (e.g. Out walked Sarah),
see 303.

21 adverb position (1): introduction

Different kinds of adverbs go in different positions in a clause. Here are some
general rules; for more details, see 22-25.
Note: in the following explanations, the word adverb is generally used both for
one-word adverbs like here, often, and for longer adverb phrases like in this
house, once every six weeks.
1 verb and object: She speaks English well
We do not usually put adverbs between a verb and its object.
adverb + verb + object
I often get headaches. (NOT .' get ttften headaches.)
verb + object + adverb
She speaks English well. (NOT She spettks weB Engltah.)
But an adverb particle like on, off, out can go between a verb and a noun
object.
Could you switch off the Ught?
2 front, mid- and end position
There are three normal positions for adverbs:
a front position (at the beginning of a clause)
Yesterday morning something very strange happened.
b mid-position (with the verb - for exact details see 24)
My brother completely forgot my birthday.
I have never understood her.
e end position (at the end of a clause)
What are you doing tomorrow?
3 what goes where?
Connecting adverbs (which join a clause to what came before) go in front
position.
However, 1I0t everybody agreed.
Adverbs of indefinite frequency (e.g. always, often) and adverbs of certainty
usually go in mid-position.
My boss often travels to America.
I've definitely decided to change my job.

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 adverb position (2): front position 22

Adverbs of manner (how), place (where) and time (when) most often go in
end position.
She brushed her hair slowly. The children are playing upstairs.
I phoned Alex this morning.
Time adverbs can also go in front position.
Tomorrow I've got a meeting in Cardiff.

For more details about the position of these and other kinds of adverb, see the next four sections.

22 adverb position (2): front position

Adverbs that usually go in front position: connecting adverbs (e.g. then, next);
comment adverbs (e.g. fortunately, surprisingly); maybe, perhaps.
Adverbs that can go in front position: some adverbs of indefinite frequency
(e.g. sometimes); adverbs of place; adverbs of time.
1 connecting adverbs: then, next, ...
These adverbs join a clause to what came before.
Examples: then, next, besides, anyway, suddenly, however.
I worked until five o'e/ock. Then I went home.
Next, I want to say something abollt the fUture.
Suddenly the door opened.
Some of us want a new system However, not everybody agrees.
Other positions are possible.
I went home then. Not everybody, however, agrees.
2 comment adverbs: fortunately, surprisingly, ...
Adverbs which give the speaker's opinion of an action most often go in front
position.
Fortunately, she has decided to help us. Stupidly, I forgot my keys.
Mid-position is also possible.
3 indefinite frequency: usually, normally, ...
USllO.lly, normally, often, frequently, sometimes and occasionally can go in front
position (but they are more common in mid-position - see 24.)
Sometimes I think I'd like to live somewhere else.
Uswzlly I get up early.
Always, ever, rarely, seldom and never cannot normally go in front position.
I always/never get up early. (NOT AIW6}'91IVeuer .. get ttp ettrly.)
However, always and never can begin imperative clauses.
Always look in the mirror before starting to drive.
Never ask her about her marriage.
4 certainty: maybe, perhaps
Maybe and perhaps usually come at the beginning of a clause.
Maybe I'm right and maybe I'm wrong.
Perhaps her train is late.
Other adverbs of certainty (e.g. probably, definitely, certainly) usually go in
mid-position.

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