Word Order 2 — Adverbs
always/never · probably · already/still · also · all/both — Complete Guide
Ordre des Mots 2 — Les Adverbes
always/never · probably · already/still · also · all/both — Guide Complet
Master the position of mid-sentence adverbs: they go before the main verb but after auxiliary verbs and after be. Covers always/never/usually, probably, already, still, also, all, both.
Maîtrisez la place des adverbes de milieu de phrase : ils vont avant le verbe principal mais après les auxiliaires et après be. Couvre always/never/usually, probably, already, still, also, all, both.
Certain adverbs — always, never, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, probably, already, still, just, soon, also — have a fixed mid-position in the sentence. The key rule: they go before the main verb, but after the verb be and after the first auxiliary verb. All and both follow the same rule.
Certains adverbes — always, never, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, probably, already, still, just, soon, also — ont une position fixe au milieu de la phrase. La règle clé : ils vont avant le verbe principal, mais après le verbe be et après le premier auxiliaire. All et both suivent la même règle.
always / never / usually — Mid-Position Adverbs
always / never / usually — Adverbes en Position Médiane
Adverbs like always, never, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, ever, hardly ever go in mid-position: before the main verb, but after be and after the first auxiliary.
Les adverbes comme always, never, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, ever, hardly ever vont en position médiane : avant le verbe principal, mais après be et après le premier auxiliaire.
| Structure | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Simple tense (no auxiliary) | adverb before main verb | I always feel hungry. · She never drinks tea. |
| Verb be | adverb after be | He is always late. · They are usually on time. |
| Auxiliary + main verb | adverb after first auxiliary | I have never seen that film. · She doesn’t usually work late. |
✓ She is never late. (NOT: She never is late)
✓ Have you ever been to Japan? (auxiliary + ever)
✓ I don’t usually eat breakfast. (after first auxiliary don’t) ✓ I always feel hungry when I get home. (PAS : I feel always hungry)
✓ She is never late. (PAS : She never is late)
✓ Have you ever been to Japan?
✓ I don’t usually eat breakfast.
probably / certainly / definitely — Before Negatives
probably / certainly / definitely — Avant les Négatifs
Probably, certainly, definitely, obviously follow the same mid-position rule. However, before a negative auxiliary (won’t, can’t, didn’t), these adverbs come before the auxiliary.
Probably, certainly, definitely, obviously suivent la même règle de position médiane. Cependant, avant un auxiliaire négatif (won’t, can’t, didn’t), ces adverbes viennent avant l’auxiliaire.
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| Positive: after first auxiliary / before main verb | She will probably forget. · I definitely want to come. |
| Negative: before won’t / can’t etc. | She probably won’t come. · They definitely didn’t know. |
✓ I definitely want to come. · I definitely won’t do it again.
✓ It certainly was a surprise. ✓ She will probably be late. · She probably won’t come.
✓ I definitely want to come. · I definitely won’t do it again.
✓ It certainly was a surprise.
already / still / just / soon / also — Same Mid-Position Rule
already / still / just / soon / also — Même Règle
Already, still, just, soon and also all follow the same mid-position rule: before the main verb, after the first auxiliary, after be.
Already, still, just, soon et also suivent tous la même règle : avant le verbe principal, après le premier auxiliaire, après be.
| Adverb | Example with auxiliary | Example without auxiliary |
|---|---|---|
| already | I have already eaten. | I already know the answer. |
| still | She is still working. | He still lives here. |
| just | I have just arrived. | I just want to say thank you. |
| soon | It will soon be dark. | They soon forgot about it. |
| also | I have also invited Tom. | I also play the guitar. |
all and both — Mid-Position
all et both — Position Médiane
All and both follow the same rules as mid-position adverbs when they modify the verb (not when they modify a noun). They go after the subject, after be, and after the first auxiliary.
All et both suivent les mêmes règles que les adverbes en position médiane lorsqu’ils modifient le verbe. Ils vont après le sujet, après be, et après le premier auxiliaire.
| Structure | all / both examples |
|---|---|
| Simple tense (no auxiliary) | We all felt tired. · They both work very hard. |
| After be | They are all here. · We were both surprised. |
| After first auxiliary | We can all swim. · They have both passed. |
✓ They are both very talented. (NOT: Both they are very talented)
✓ We can all meet at 6. · They have both been to Paris. ✓ We all felt tired after the journey. (PAS : All we felt tired)
✓ They are both very talented.
✓ We can all meet at 6. · They have both been to Paris.
always / never with Short Answers and Question Tags
always / never avec les Réponses Courtes
Always and never come before the short response verb (not after it). This is different from the usual rule where the auxiliary comes first.
Always et never viennent avant le verbe de réponse courte. C’est différent de la règle habituelle.
‘Do you watch TV in the morning?’ ‘I never do.’ (NOT: I do never)
‘Can you drive?’ ‘I always could. I just don’t anymore.’ ‘Do you take sugar in your coffee?’ ‘I always do.’ (PAS : I do always)
‘Do you watch TV in the morning?’ ‘I never do.’ (PAS : I do never)
1. Before the main verb: I always eat breakfast.
2. After be: He is always late.
3. After first auxiliary: I have never been there.
4. Before negative auxiliary (probably/definitely/etc.): She probably won’t come.
5. Before short response verb: I always do. Résumé — adverbes en position médiane :
1. Avant le verbe principal. 2. Après be. 3. Après le premier auxiliaire.
4. Avant l’auxiliaire négatif (probably/definitely/etc.). 5. Avant le verbe de réponse courte.
Put the adverb in the correct position.
Placez l’adverbe au bon endroit.
Rewrite each sentence with the adverb in brackets.
Réécrivez chaque phrase avec l’adverbe entre parenthèses.
Is the position of the adverb correct? Write OK or the corrected sentence.
La position de l’adverbe est-elle correcte ? Écrivez OK ou corrigez.
Rewrite placing probably in the correct position.
Réécrivez en plaçant probably au bon endroit.
Place all or both correctly in each sentence.
Placez all ou both correctement dans chaque phrase.
Frequently Asked Questions — Word Order 2
Questions fréquentes — Ordre des Mots 2
‘Always’ goes before the main verb, not after it. ‘Feel’ is the main verb here, so: ✓ I always feel tired.
‘Always’ va avant le verbe principal, pas après. ✓ I always feel tired.
Mid-position adverbs go after the verb be. ✓ She is never late.
Les adverbes en position médiane vont après le verbe be. ✓ She is never late.
Before the negative auxiliary: ✓ She probably won’t come. (NOT: She won’t probably come.) Compare with positives: She will probably come.
Avant l’auxiliaire négatif : ✓ She probably won’t come. Comparez avec les positifs : She will probably come.
They follow the same mid-position rule as adverbs: before the main verb, after be, after the first auxiliary. ✓ We all felt tired. ✓ They are both talented. ✓ We can all go.
Ils suivent la même règle que les adverbes en position médiane : avant le verbe principal, après be, après le premier auxiliaire.
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