Adverb Placement: Where Adverbs Sit in a Sentence

One of the more satisfying things about Chinese adverbs is that they follow a fairly consistent set of rules about where they go. Once you know the basic positions, you can place most adverbs correctly without having to memorize each one individually.

The basic rule: adverbs go before the verb

The core principle is simple. In Chinese, adverbs come before the verb they modify, not after it. This is the opposite of English in many cases.

• 我已经吃了。(Wǒ yǐjīng chī le.) -- I have already eaten.
• 她也来了。(Tā yě lái le.) -- She came too.
• 他慢慢走。(Tā mànmàn zǒu.) -- He walks slowly.
• 我们都同意。(Wǒmen dōu tóngyì.) -- We all agree.

The adverb sits between the subject and the verb. This holds for almost every adverb in Chinese. If you are ever unsure where to put an adverb, this position is almost always right.

Time words: a little more flexible

Time words and phrases like 今天 (today), 已经 (already), 马上 (right away), and 立刻 (immediately) can appear in two positions: before the subject, or between the subject and the verb. Both are grammatically correct, and the choice is mostly about emphasis.

• 今天我没去上课。(Jīntiān wǒ méi qù shàngkè.) -- Today I didn't go to class.
• 我今天没去上课。(Wǒ jīntiān méi qù shàngkè.) -- I didn't go to class today.

Placing the time word before the subject puts it at the topic position and gives it slightly more prominence. Placing it after the subject is more neutral. Both versions are natural, and the difference in meaning is subtle enough that you can often choose either without worrying.

Longer time phrases ("last Tuesday," "three days ago") tend to land comfortably at the front of the sentence or right after the subject, rarely anywhere else.

Modal adverbs come before negatives

Modal adverbs like 都, 也, 还, 又, 才, and 就 always come before 不 or 没 when both appear in the same clause. The adverb cannot jump over the negative to sit closer to the verb.

• 我也不知道。(Wǒ yě bù zhīdào.) -- I don't know either. (也 before 不, correct)
• 他还没来。(Tā hái méi lái.) -- He still hasn't come. (还 before 没, correct)
• 我们都不去。(Wǒmen dōu bù qù.) -- None of us are going. (都 before 不, correct)

This ordering feels natural once you get used to it. Think of the adverb as modifying the whole predicate, including the negative, rather than sitting as close to the verb as possible.

Degree adverbs go directly before the adjective or verb

Degree adverbs like 很, 非常, 太, 比较, and 真 attach tightly to the word they modify and sit directly in front of it with nothing in between.

• 这个非常好。(Zhège fēicháng hǎo.) -- This is excellent.
• 她太忙了。(Tā tài máng le.) -- She's too busy.
• 他真厉害。(Tā zhēn lìhài.) -- He's really impressive.

Degree adverbs do not roam around the sentence the way some time words do. They stay glued to whatever they are intensifying.

Frequency adverbs and manner adverbs

Frequency adverbs like 经常 (often), 总是 (always), 有时候 (sometimes), and 偶尔 (occasionally) follow the same before-the-verb rule.

• 她经常去图书馆。(Tā jīngcháng qù túshūguǎn.) -- She often goes to the library.
• 我有时候会忘记。(Wǒ yǒu shíhou huì wàngjì.) -- Sometimes I forget.
• 他偶尔来这里。(Tā ǒu'ěr lái zhèlǐ.) -- He comes here occasionally.

Manner adverbs, which often take the form of reduplicated words or 地 phrases, also come before the verb:

• 她认真地听讲。(Tā rènzhēn de tīngjiǎng.) -- She listens carefully.
• 孩子们高兴地跑了出去。(Háizimen gāoxìng de pǎo le chūqù.) -- The children ran out happily.

When multiple adverbs appear together

If a sentence has more than one adverb, the general order is: time word, then modal adverb (也, 都, 还, etc.), then degree adverb or negation, then verb.

• 她昨天也没来。(Tā zuótiān yě méi lái.) -- She also didn't come yesterday.
• 我们都已经吃了。(Wǒmen dōu yǐjīng chī le.) -- We have all already eaten.
• 他今天又迟到了。(Tā jīntiān yòu chídào le.) -- He was late again today.

In practice, you rarely need to think through this order consciously because the natural rhythm of the sentence tends to guide you. If a combination sounds awkward when you say it out loud, try moving the adverbs around slightly and see which order flows best.

The short version

Chinese adverbs almost always sit between the subject and the verb. Time words can also go before the subject for extra prominence. Degree adverbs stay directly in front of whatever they modify. When multiple adverbs appear together, time words tend to come first. Follow these guidelines and adverb placement will feel natural quickly.