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More than one adjunct in end position 

326b

Where there is more than one adjunct in end position, the most neutral

(unmarked) order is manner – place – time.

Examples of more than one adjunct in end position

clause 

manner (how?)

place (where?)

time (when?)

We were working

in the garden

all morning.

She played

magnificently

the second time.

An 18-year-old teenager 

in Cyprus

yesterday.

was arrested

She died 

peacefully 

in Hartlepool 

on Sunday.

General Hospital

A group of women

angrily

outside the parliament 

yesterday.

protested

building

Although the last two examples show that it is possible to have all three types of

adjunct in the same clause, this is rare in informal spoken language and is

associated with more formal registers such as journalism and formal writing.

More than one adjunct of the same type 

326c

If there is more than one adjunct of the same meaning-class, there is usually a

choice of order, with more emphasis falling on the last adjunct.

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Manner

1 We survived | 

quite well

| 

without one

| .

Or: 2 We survived | 

without one

| 

quite well

| .

However, the order in 1 is more common, with prepositional phrases (especially

longer ones) coming after shorter adjuncts:

I just wanted to live my life | 

quietly

| , | 

independently

| and | 

with the

minimum of disruption

| .

Place

1 You’ll see the station | 

just round the corner

| 

next to the library

| .

Or: 2 You’ll see the station |

next to the library

|

just round the corner

| 

.

The order in 1, with the more general location followed by the more specific

location, is more common.

Time

1 I’ll see you | 

at six o’clock

| 

on Wednesday

| .

Or: 2 I’ll see you | 

on Wednesday

| 

at six o’clock

| .

With time adjuncts there is little difference between the two orders, but the

second adjunct is felt to carry greater emphasis.

Topical linking of clauses and sentences

326d

Combinations of manner, place and time adjuncts in front position are flexible,

and the order may vary, often depending on topical links between clauses and

sentences:

[rubbering refers to the sound of the rubber tyres of a car on the road]

Only the odd car rubbering by in the boulevard below and the hum of the 

air-conditioning disturbed my sleep. | 

In the morning

| , | 

at an international

newspaper stand

| , I met my first Moroccan friend, Muhammad.

Here the choice of time adjunct (in the morning) before place adjunct (at an

international newspaper stand

) is appropriate because of the contrast between

the two sentences (night/sleep, and morning).

In 1979 Mogador bought the house known as the Creek overlooking the Orwell

estuary near Ipswich, where the family had been holidaying for some years. 

| 

There

| , | 

following William’s death and her own 70th birthday

| , Hetta

decided to organise an open-air performance of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

for June 21, 1986.

Here the choice of place adjunct (there) before time adjunct (following William’s

death and her own 70th birthday

) is appropriate because of the topic of place

which is continued from the first to the second sentence.

Û

539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

Adjuncts | 587

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DURATION

327

Duration adjuncts, expressing how long an event lasts, are normally used in end

or front position. End position is the more neutral:

She’s been going out with her current boyfriend 

for three years.

Throughout history, all commanders have known that no victory is complete

until the chief of the opposing side has been killed, captured or fled. 

They may be found less frequently in other positions, in more formal styles:

The church 

has 

throughout the ages

given

a moral lead to society.

Bruckner 

showed, 

throughout his life

, an attitude of deference

, if not

abasement, towards established authority.

(between verb and object; characteristic of journalistic and literary styles)

DEFINITE AND INDEFINITE FREQUENCY

328

Definite frequency

Adjuncts of definite frequency most typically occupy end position:

The temperature is checked 

twice daily. 

The electoral register is compiled 

every October 10th.

They also occur in front position, for greater emphasis or for reasons of topical

linking. They do not normally occupy mid position:

Every day she spends hours on her personal fitness programme, which includes

gym sessions, aerobics and swimming. 

(She every day spends hours on her personal fitness programme, …)

Four times a year I get a magazine from them, which I never read.

(I four times a year get a magazine from them, …)

Indefinite frequency

Adjuncts of indefinite frequency most typically occupy mid position when they

take the form of adverb phrases:

They 

quite often

ask

about you.

It 

usually

turns out

that way.

Common adverbs of indefinite frequency include:

always 

frequently 

generally 

hardly ever 

never 

occasionally 

often 

rarely

regularly 

seldom 

sometimes

usually

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Prepositional adjuncts and longer adjuncts in general expressing indefinite

frequency are normally used in front or end position:

Every now and again they would get her to fill in these forms for them.

(preferred to: They every now and again would get her to fill in these forms for

them.)

I see her 

from time to time. 

(I from time to time see her.)

I’ve been to Paris 

many a time. 

(preferred to: I’ve many a time been to Paris.)

Formal written styles may sometimes have longer indefinite frequency adjuncts in

mid position:

[talking of aristocrats and their choice of servants (retainers)]

Many aristocrats preferred personal retainers who 

were 

more often than not

recruited

from suspect sectors of society. 

(formal written)

For emphasis, indefinite frequency adjuncts can be used in front or end position.

End position is much more common in spoken language:

Sometimes we would start teasing him.

Usually it’s a matter of discussing things till we reach agreement.

The decisions judges make in court cases, well it’s unbelievable 

sometimes.

We don’t get a candidate for my party except at General Elections 

usually.

REASON AND PURPOSE 

329

Reason and purpose adjuncts typically occupy end or, less frequently, front

position:

Pay negotiations are due to begin next month, 

with the aim of agreeing a 

two-year deal from January. 

Cycling is forbidden on the canal path 

for reasons of safety and security. 

Because of all the confusion, I didn’t tell them until the next morning.

Occasionally, in more formal styles, they may occupy mid position:

Social workers have to make extremely difficult decisions in cases where 

all

the facts, 

for reasons of privacy

, cannot

possibly be revealed. 

Û

539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

Adjuncts | 589

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DEGREE AND INTENSITY

330

Degree and intensity adjuncts express the degree, extent or intensity of an event.

They most typically modify the lexical verb rather than the whole clause, and

therefore come immediately before the lexical verb, after modal or auxiliary verbs,

especially when they take the form of adverb phrases:

I 

really

enjoyed

that party.

Sorry, I’

ve 

completely

forgotten

where I got up to.

Although he wouldn’t 

have been 

directly

blamed

if anything went wrong, it

wouldn’t have done his flourishing career any good.

They may also occur in end position:

[Conservative here refers to the British Conservative Party; disenfranchised

means having no power to vote]

There’s such a big Conservative majority we’re disenfranchised 

completely.

I take your point 

entirely.

The stories have to be treated as allegories 

almost*.

* Almost in end position is very rare in formal written language.

✪

Degree/intensifying adverbs such as entirely, almost and completely are not

normally used in front position:

I 

almost

got 

killed. 

(Almost I got killed.)

I

’ve 

completely

forgotten

where I was. 

(Completely I’ve forgotten where I was.)

When really and actually come in front or end position, they tend to have a

modal meaning (‘as a matter of fact’/ ‘the truth is’) rather than an intensifying

meaning, and comment on the whole clause:

A: How does that make you feel?

B: Really it’s sickening. 

(compare: It’s really sickening.)

Actually a friend of mine was there.

(compare: A friend of mine was actually there – emphasising the

unexpectedness of the action)

Longer degree adverbs normally occupy end or front position:

Only a country with a profound identity crisis could pervert history 

to such an

extent.

To some extent the problem has already been solved. 

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The government, arguing that nobody should be treated as a refugee in their

own country, provided little comfort – calculating that this would encourage

them to disperse. It worked 

up to a point. 

FOCUSING

331

Focusing adjuncts specify or focus upon an event in some way. They occur in all

positions, but tend to be used immediately before or after the clause element they

are focusing upon:

The key to Cuba’s distant past is found in the area known as Oriente and, 

in