Now that we have some ideas about where to put an adverb or adverb phrase in a sentence, let’s turn our attention to what to do when you have more than one adverb (phrase) in the same sentence.

 

To get started, look at the sentence below. See if you can find all the adverb phrases. Can you identify the type of adverb (phrase) that each one is (i.e. frequency, place, time, etc.).

 

 

Example: Emily works caringly in her yard every weekend in the morning to keep it looking nice.

 

 

This sentence demonstrates the basic order of adverbs and adverb phrases when you have more than one in a sentence. Many adverbs and adverb phrases come after the verb, and if there is more than one, they follow a basic order. Of course, this order is flexible and there are exceptions to it, but this sentence shows the general pattern.

 

Let’s look at the sentence again and examine this pattern. Here’s the sentence with each adverb (phrase) identified.

 

subject + verb	Manner(how)	Place(where)	Frequency(how often)	Time (when)	Reason (why)
Emily works	caringly	in her yard	every weekend	in the morning	to keep it looking nice.

Now, are you thinking to yourself, “That sentence sounds a little funny. I don’t think I’d ever say that!” If this thought has crossed your mind, then congratulations! You’re developing the ear of a native English speaker. This sentence does sound a little funny. Frankly, native English-speakers would not put so many adverbs or adverb phrases at the end of the sentence. As we learned in the previous section, sometimes you have some choice in the matter of where to put the adverbs and adverb phrases in your sentences. As a result, you will probably not find more than two or three adverbs or adverb phrases in the final position like the ones in the sentence above.

If you have two or three adverbs or adverb phrases in this final position, it is important to know what order to put them in. Let’s look at some more manageable sentences and notice how the adverbs and adverb phrases follow the general rule of order demonstrated in the sentence above.

Examples:

We installed a new showerhead	in our bathroom	last weekend	to save water.
	place	time	reason

 

You can find my friend	in the garden	every afternoon.
	place	frequency

 

John will remodel his kitchen	inexpensively	to increase the value of his home.
	manner	reason

Click here for Activity 3: Complete each sentence with an adverb or adverb phrase.
When you finish, close the new window and continue to the next exercise

Click here for the Final Comprehension Activity:   Choose the sentence with the most appropriate position and order of adverbs and adverb phrases.
When you finish, close the new window and continue to the next exercise