Adverbs and adverb phrases: typical errors
Many errors with adverbs are spelling errors:
It happened quite accidentally.
Not: … quite accidentaly.
Actually, I’ve been very busy.
Not: Actualy …
It’s not something that can be done easily.
Not: … that can be done easly.
They were happily married for 20 years.
Not: They were happyly married …
The building was completely destroyed.
Not: … completly destroyed.
I felt extremely unhappy about it all.
Not: I felt extremly unhappy …
[end of a formal letter/email] Yours sincerely, Mark Johnson
Not: Yours sincerly …
I am truly sorry for what happened.
Not: I am truely sorry …
See also:
Adverbs: forms
Adverbs and adverb phrases indicating frequency don’t usually go after the verb phrase. They usually go in mid position:
He usually goes to the park after school.
Not: He goes usually to the park after school.
Our next door neighbours sometimes come here for dinner. We hardly ever go to theirs.
Not: We go hardly ever to theirs.
At the end of the day, do you often come home from work feeling tired?
Not: … do you come often home from work …
Adverbs and adverb phrases indicating time usually go in end position:
I’ll post the CDs to you tomorrow.
Not: I’ll post tomorrow the CDs to you.
I received your email about the meeting late.
Not: I received late your email about the meeting.
We don’t often put always, usually, never, etc. at the beginning of a sentence or clause:
She was always comparing herself to other people.
Not: Always she was comparing herself to other people.
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