French Adverb Position - Lawless French Grammar


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Position des adverbes

French adverbs can be a little tricky when it comes to figuring out where they go in a sentence. Their placement depends on the type of adverb as well as the type of word it’s modifying.

Adverbs Modifying Verbs

Very generally speaking, when most adverbs modify verbs, they are placed after the conjugated verb. This includes short adverbs and most adverbs of frequency.*

Par exemple…

Je voyage moins* cette année.*		I’m traveling less this year.
Il étudie souvent.		He often studies.

In negative sentences, these adverbs follow pas.

Je ne voyage pas moins* cette année.*		I’m not traveling less this year.
Il n’étudie pas souvent.		He doesn’t study often.

In two-verb constructions, the adverb follows the first verb, meaning

1 – After the helping verb

Par exemple…

Tu es vite* parti.*		You left quickly.
Nous avions déjà* mangé.*		We’d already eaten.

2 – After the semi-auxiliary verb

Par exemple…

J’aime beaucoup* skier.*		I really like skiing.
Elle veut toujours* parler.*		She always wants to talk.

* Except parfois, which usually goes at the beginning of the sentence.

Par exemple…

Parfois, il cuisine pour nous.		Sometimes he cooks for us.
Parfois, j’ai juste envie de crier.		I just want to scream sometimes.

Adverbs of time like aujourd’hui and demain can go at the beginning or end of the sentence.

Par exemple…

Aujourd’hui, on va à la plage. On va à la plage aujourd’hui.		We’re going to the beach today.
Demain, tu peux venir à midi. Tu peux venir à midi demain.		You can come at noon tomorrow.

Long adverbs usually go at the beginning or end.

Par exemple…

Heureusement, il a trouvé son portefeuille. Il a trouvé son portefeuille, heureusement.		Fortunately, he found his wallet.
Dernièrement, je me sens déprimé. Je me sens déprimé dernièrement.		I feel depressed lately.

Alternatively, long adverbs can go after the verb for emphasis.

Par exemple…

Elle est actuellement* à Paris.*		She’s in Paris right now.
Je me sens énormément* déprimé.*		I feel extremely depressed.

Adverbs Not Modifying Verbs

When adverbs modify any other part of speech, they precede that word.**

Par exemple…

Je suis très* fatigué.*		I’m very tired.
Elle voyage assez* souvent.*		She travels fairly often.
Il habite tout* près de moi.*		He lives quite near me.

** Except for adverbs of place, which usually follow the direct object.

Par exemple…

Mets tes affaires là-bas.		Put your things over there.
J’étais à la poste, et j’ai découvert un nouveau resto à côté.		I was at the Post Office and discovered a new restaurant next door.