“I like very much football” is one of the most typical mistakes Brazilians make in English. In Portuguese adverbs can go almost anywhere, but English has clear positions. Learn where adverbs go and your sentences will sound natural straight away.“I like very much football” é um dos erros mais típicos dos brasileiros em inglês. Em português os advérbios podem ir quase em qualquer lugar, mas o inglês tem posições bem definidas. Aprenda onde os advérbios ficam e suas frases vão soar naturais na hora.
B1+ Three positions: front, mid and end
Adverbs and adverbial phrases usually go in one of three places: at the beginning of the clause (front), next to the main verb (mid) or at the end of the clause (end). The type of adverb decides the best position.Advérbios e locuções adverbiais normalmente ficam em um de três lugares: no início da oração (front), junto do verbo principal (mid) ou no fim da oração (end). O tipo de advérbio decide a melhor posição.
| Position | Typical adverbs | Example | Português |
|---|---|---|---|
| front | connectors, comment, time | Unfortunately, the flight was cancelled. | Infelizmente, o voo foi cancelado. |
| mid | frequency, certainty, focus | She always takes the bus to school. | Ela sempre vai de ônibus para a escola. |
| end | manner, place, time | He finished the test quickly. | Ele terminou a prova rapidamente. |
The golden rule
Don’t put an adverb between the verb and its object. The verb and the object stay together: I like football very much, not “I like very much football”.Não coloque advérbio entre o verbo e o objeto. O verbo e o objeto ficam juntos: I like football very much, e não “I like very much football”.
- She speaks English very well. (Ela fala inglês muito bem.)
- I read the instructions carefully. (Li as instruções com atenção.)
- We visit our grandparents every Sunday. (Visitamos nossos avós todo domingo.)
B1+ Mid position: frequency, certainty and focus
Adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, never), certainty (probably, definitely, certainly) and focus (also, just, even, only, already, still) usually go in mid position. The exact place depends on the verb.Advérbios de frequência (always, usually, often, never), de certeza (probably, definitely, certainly) e de foco (also, just, even, only, already, still) normalmente ficam na posição do meio. O lugar exato depende do verbo.
- My brother often forgets his keys. (Meu irmão vive esquecendo as chaves.)
- Our teacher is always on time. (Nossa professora sempre chega no horário.)
- I have already finished my homework. (Já terminei minha lição de casa.)
- They will probably arrive after lunch. (Eles provavelmente vão chegar depois do almoço.)
- She has never been to Salvador. (Ela nunca foi a Salvador.)
Negatives with certainty adverbs
Probably, definitely and certainly go before a negative auxiliary: He probably won’t come. / She definitely doesn’t like spicy food. Frequency adverbs usually go after it: I don’t usually eat breakfast.Probably, definitely e certainly vêm antes do auxiliar negativo: He probably won’t come. (Ele provavelmente não vem.) / She definitely doesn’t like spicy food. (Ela definitivamente não gosta de comida apimentada.) Os de frequência geralmente vêm depois: I don’t usually eat breakfast. (Normalmente não tomo café da manhã.)
Also, too and as well
also (mid)
Goes in mid position, like other focus adverbs. It doesn’t usually end the sentence.Fica na posição do meio, como outros advérbios de foco. Normalmente não termina a frase.
I also play the guitar. (Eu também toco violão.)
too / as well (end)
Go at the end of the clause and are more common in conversation.Ficam no fim da oração e são mais comuns na conversa.
I play the guitar too. (Eu também toco violão.)
B1+ End position: manner, place and time
Adverbs of manner (how), place (where) and time (when) usually go at the end, after the object. When there is more than one, the usual order is manner, place, time. A short phrase of place often comes before manner after verbs of movement: She walked home slowly.Advérbios de modo (como), lugar (onde) e tempo (quando) normalmente ficam no fim, depois do objeto. Quando há mais de um, a ordem mais comum é modo, lugar, tempo. Com verbos de movimento, uma expressão curta de lugar costuma vir antes do modo: She walked home slowly.
- The kids played happily in the park all afternoon. (As crianças brincaram felizes no parque a tarde toda.)
- I met Camila at the gym last week. (Conheci a Camila na academia semana passada.)
- He explained the problem clearly at the meeting yesterday. (Ele explicou o problema com clareza na reunião de ontem.)
Teacher’s tip: long objects
If the object is very long, a manner adverb can go before the verb instead: She carefully opened the old box her grandmother had left her. That way the reader doesn’t wait too long for the adverb.Se o objeto for muito longo, o advérbio de modo pode vir antes do verbo: She carefully opened the old box her grandmother had left her. (Ela abriu com cuidado a caixa antiga que a avó tinha deixado para ela.) Assim o leitor não espera demais pelo advérbio.
B1+ Front position and changes in meaning
Comment adverbs (fortunately, honestly, apparently, surprisingly) give your opinion about the whole sentence and usually go at the front, followed by a comma. Some frequency adverbs (sometimes, usually, often) and time expressions can also go at the front for contrast or emphasis.Os advérbios de comentário (fortunately, honestly, apparently, surprisingly) dão sua opinião sobre a frase inteira e normalmente ficam no início, seguidos de vírgula. Alguns advérbios de frequência (sometimes, usually, often) e expressões de tempo também podem vir no início, para contraste ou ênfase.
- Apparently, the new shopping mall opens in December. (Pelo jeito, o novo shopping abre em dezembro.)
- Sometimes I study at the library, but usually I study at home. (Às vezes estudo na biblioteca, mas normalmente estudo em casa.)
- Last year, we spent the holidays in Bahia. (No ano passado, passamos as férias na Bahia.)
The position of some adverbs changes the meaning of the sentence. Only and even focus on the word right after them, and honestly or clearly mean different things at the front and at the end.A posição de alguns advérbios muda o sentido da frase. Only e even dão foco à palavra logo depois deles, e honestly ou clearly significam coisas diferentes no início e no fim.
| Sentence | Português |
|---|---|
| Only Julia passed the test. | Só a Julia passou na prova (ninguém mais). |
| Julia only passed the test. | A Julia só passou na prova (não foi muito bem). |
| Honestly, I don’t care. | Sinceramente, não me importo. |
| He answered honestly. | Ele respondeu com sinceridade. |
| Clearly, she was upset. | Estava claro que ela estava chateada. |
| She explained it clearly. | Ela explicou com clareza. |
Still and yet
Still goes in mid position, even in negatives: He still doesn’t understand. Yet goes at the end of negatives and questions: Have you finished yet?Still fica na posição do meio, mesmo em negativas: He still doesn’t understand. (Ele ainda não entende.) Yet fica no fim de negativas e perguntas: Have you finished yet? (Você já terminou?)
Common Mistakes
Avoid these
✗ I like very much football. ✓ I like football very much.Não separe o verbo do objeto; very much vai para o fim.
✗ She speaks very well English. ✓ She speaks English very well.O advérbio de modo vai depois do objeto.
✗ I go always to the gym. ✓ I always go to the gym.Advérbios de frequência vêm antes do verbo principal.
✗ He is late always. ✓ He is always late.Com o verbo be, o advérbio de frequência vem depois dele.
✗ He won’t probably come. ✓ He probably won’t come.Probably vem antes do auxiliar negativo.
Quick Summary
| Rule | Example | Português |
|---|---|---|
| verb + object stay together | I like football very much. | Gosto muito de futebol. |
| frequency: before the main verb | I always go to the gym. | Sempre vou à academia. |
| frequency: after be | He is always late. | Ele sempre se atrasa. |
| after the first auxiliary | I have already eaten. | Já comi. |
| probably before won’t | She probably won’t come. | Ela provavelmente não vem. |
| manner, place, time | He worked hard at the office yesterday. | Ele trabalhou muito no escritório ontem. |
| comment adverb at the front | Fortunately, nobody was hurt. | Felizmente, ninguém se machucou. |
Practice Time
Quiz