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raewon
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
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 Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:21 pm Post subject: A question about frequency adverbs |
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I wonder whether or not there will be unanimous agreement on this question.
Where should "often" go when placed in the following sentence:
I (a) am (b) not (c) at (d) home (e) on Sunday.
Is there really only one correct choice?
Which letter(s) would you choose ... and why?
Thanks! |
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detourne_me
Joined: 26 May 2006
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| Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:31 pm Post subject: |
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just half-assing it, since it's the end of the day, but...
I am not at home often on Sunday.
what about
Often, I am not at home on Sunday. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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| b c and e are ok the others are wrong. Often at the beginning of a sentence is acceptable too |
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The Goalie
Joined: 17 Nov 2009
Location: Chungcheongnamdo
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| Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:54 pm Post subject: |
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| I second the above. |
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raewon
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 12:07 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks. I agree as well. Does anyone out there wish to disagree (with a reason)? |
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dorian_gray
Joined: 04 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 12:07 am Post subject: Re: A question about frequency adverbs |
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| raewon wrote: |
I wonder whether or not there will be unanimous agreement on this question.
Where should "often" go when placed in the following sentence:
I (a) am (b) not (c) at (d) home (e) on Sunday.
Is there really only one correct choice?
Which letter(s) would you choose ... and why?
Thanks! |
There are a few simple rules for the placement of adverbs of frequency:
1) Before the main verb:
This goes for one-word forms (e.g. like, speaks, etc.) and verb phrases that include an auxiliary verb and a main verb.
He often sings in the shower.
He has often sung in the shower.
** If there are two auxiliary verbs, place the adverb of frequency between the auxiliary verbs:
He would often have eaten before arriving home.
2) With 'to be'
When we use one-word forms of the 'to be' verb (am, is, are, was, were), the adverb of frequency is placed before the complement (object):
I was often late for work.
3) Front and End positions
For emphasis, usually, often, sometimes and occasionally can be placed at the beginning of a whole clause:
Often he is late for class.
**Sometimes and often can also be placed at the end of the clause:
She doesn't go out often.
So, to answer your question, technically, I think only the positions "c" and "e" are correct (you could also put often at the very end of the sentence). Position "d" is definitely incorrect. Position "a" sounds a little forced, but position "b" is widely used ~ so while prescriptive grammar might rule it as incorrect, descriptive grammar would definitely include it as acceptable. The rules I listed above are simply the easiest way to explain it to students.
Hope this helps. |
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raewon
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 12:39 am Post subject: |
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Thank you very much. Your post was very informative.
Cheers! |
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