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Adverbs can generally be placed anywhere in a
sentence, but the placement of adverbs can change the
meaning of the sentence. What that means is
that it’s important to choose
an adverb’s place within a sentence deliberately to
avoid confusion and to ensure your meaning comes
through. Four adverbs which require careful
placement are also,
only, not, and however. This week
we will discuss the first two on the list: also and only.
The Adverb Also
In the following examples, the placement of
also changes the meaning of the sentence. Each
sentence is followed by a brief discussion of the
effect of the placement.
Ex. The Martians also came to abduct the
portly man who was mowing his lawn and mumbling
softly.
This example shows that the Martians came to do
something else in addition to abducting the man. Or,
depending on the context,
it could also mean the Martians, in addition to the
Venusians, came to abduct the man.
Ex. Also, the Martians came to abduct the
portly man who was mowing his lawn and mumbling
softly.
This example would add on to a previous sentence,
adding extra information to the ideas included in a
previous sentence. It puts the whole sentence in a
relationship of addition to another sentence.
Ex. The Martians came also to abduct the
portly man who was mowing his lawn and mumbling
softly.
This example shows that the Martians came
to complete activities in addition to abducting the
man.
Ex. The Martians came to abduct the portly man who
was mowing his lawn and also mumbling softly.
This final example shows that the Martian came to
abduct the man who was not only mowing his lawn, but
also mumbling softly.
The Adverb Only
Only is an interesting adverb, as the rules for
its placement in a sentence are stricter than for
many other adverbs. The general rule of thumb is
that only needs to be placed right before the
word or phrase it modifies. However, only should not
split an infinitive (to + verb) as it does in
the following example.
Ex.
Goofy is going to only walk Pluto down the
street. (Incorrect)
This example is incorrect because only splits
the infinitive to walk; in reality, only
should have come before the to or before
Pluto.
Ex.
Goofy is going only to walk Pluto down the
street. (Correct)
Ex.
Goofy is going to walk only Pluto down the
street. (Correct)
Notice the meaning of the two sentences is
different. In the first instance, the sentence shows
that the only reason Goofy is going somewhere
is to walk Pluto. The second corrected example shows
that Pluto is the only pet Goofy is going to
walk down the street.
Ex.
Goofy is only going to walk Pluto down the
street. (Correct)
This example gives two possible meanings. The
sentence states that Goofy is only going to walk
(as opposed to run or jog) Pluto down the street or
that walking Pluto down the street is the only thing
Goofy will be doing.
Ex.
Only Goofy is going to walk Pluto down the
street. (Correct)
In
this example, the sentence states that no one but
Goofy is going to walk Pluto down the street.
Ex.
Goofy is going to walk Pluto only down the
street. (Correct)
In
this example, the sentence states that the only
place Goofy is going to walk Pluto is down the
street, not to the park or some other location.
The same would hold true if it were placed at the
end of the sentence:
Ex.
Goofy is going to walk Pluto down the street only.
(Correct) |
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The
Author
Nick Jobe earned a degree in English with secondary
teaching certification in spring 2009. He has tutored in the Academic Center
since January 2007. He is a writer, novelist, and Fall '07
winner of the Golden Ampersand award.
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References
Cook, Claire
Kehrwald. Line by Line: How to Improve Your Own Writing.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1985.
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