Word order: Where to place the adverb.

English has very strict word order rules. Many frequent time adverbs such as frequency adverbs (always, usually, never) or adverbs that indicate completion of tasks (already, still) must be placed between the auxiliary verb and the main verb:

subj  +  aux  +    ADV   +    verb
I             have   ALWAYS    been
we         don't    USUALLY   go

In cases where there is no auxiliary verb, such as affirmative sentences in simple present and simple past, they are placed between the subject and the main verb:

subj  +  aux  +    ADV   +    verb
you                     NEVER     say
she                   ALREADY  arrived

If the only verb is the verb to be, it will work as an auxiliary verb. Therefore, adverbs will come after:

subj  +  aux  +    ADV   +    verb
they         are       STILL                     at home
she            is       ALSO                     a great person

Questions in English: Wh question + auxiliary + subject + verb + Exercise

Although this is basic grammar, many learners find a lot of trouble in asking questions correctly. So let's review their structure.

(Wh question) + Auxiliary verb + Subject + Verb = (WH) + A + S + V

To ask questions in English, we have to bring the auxiliary verb before the subject:
You are talking . Are you talking ? ( ASV : auxiliary + subject + verb)
He has arrived . Has he arrived? ( ASV )
It'll be there . Will it be there ? ( ASV )

Present and past simple don't use auxiliary verbs in affirmative sentences, but use do and don't in negative sentences and questions.
I work hard. Do you work hard? (ASV)
She called. Did she call? (ASV)

If we add a WH -question before, the ASV order will remain the same.
We are eating burgers. What are you eating? (Wh + ASV)
We went there. Where did you go? (Wh + ASV)
I told Sally. Who did you tell? (Wh + ASV)

Exercise. Turn the following sentences into questions:

I know the answer.    ____________________ the answer?
I lived in London .     Where ____________________?
You are kidding me.    ____________________ me? 
We are going for dinner.     Where ____________________ for dinner?
I got the job in 2010.         When ____________________ the job?
Mary will travel by plane .     How ____________________?
He can't speak Japanese.    ____________________ Japanese?
You can get there by bus.     How ____________________ there?
Johnny eats too much.     Why ____________________ so much?
You should listen to her.    ____________________ to her?
They are arriving in 5 minutes .     When ____________________?
We're talking about the match.     What ____________________ about?
He has invited a few friends.         Who ____________________?
I would like another cup of coffee.    What ____________________? 

Questions in English: Wh question + auxiliary + subject + verb + Exercise

Although this is basic grammar, many learners find a lot of trouble in asking questions correctly. So let's review their structure.

(Wh question) + Auxiliary verb + Subject + Verb = (WH) + A + S + V

To ask questions in English, we have to bring the auxiliary verb before the subject:
You are talking . Are you talking ? ( ASV : auxiliary + subject + verb)
He has arrived . Has he arrived? ( ASV )
It'll be there . Will it be there ? ( ASV )

Present and past simple don't use auxiliary verbs in affirmative sentences, but use do and don't in negative sentences and questions.
I work hard. Do you work hard? (ASV)
She called. Did she call? (ASV)

If we add a WH -question before, the ASV order will remain the same.
We are eating burgers. What are you eating? (Wh + ASV)
We went there. Where did you go? (Wh + ASV)
I told Sally. Who did you tell? (Wh + ASV)

Exercise. Turn the following sentences into questions:

I know the answer.    ____________________ the answer?
I lived in London .     Where ____________________?
You are kidding me.    ____________________ me? 
We are going for dinner.     Where ____________________ for dinner?
I got the job in 2010.         When ____________________ the job?
Mary will travel by plane .     How ____________________?
He can't speak Japanese.    ____________________ Japanese?
You can get there by bus.     How ____________________ there?
Johnny eats too much.     Why ____________________ so much?
You should listen to her.    ____________________ to her?
They are arriving in 5 minutes .     When ____________________?
We're talking about the match.     What ____________________ about?
He has invited a few friends.         Who ____________________?
I would like another cup of coffee.    What ____________________? 

Exercise. Reported Imperatives.

 Exercise. Reported Imperatives.

Turn the following imperative senteces into reported imperatives:Find the answers in the first comment.


I told you: "Tell me about your problems".
I'd like __________ me about your problems.

I told her: "Introduce me to your friends".
I told __________ me to her friends.

I'll tell my boss: "Don't shout at me any more!".
I'll tell __________ at me anymore!

He told his neighbour: "Turn the volume down".
He asked __________ the volume down.

I'll tell Sarah: "Come to movies with me this weekend".
I'll ask __________ to the movies this weekend.

They told us: "Don't wear long hair in the restaurant kitchen".
They'd like __________ long hair in the restaurant kitchen.

I said: "All the tables must be clean before the customers arrive".
I need __________ clean before the customers arrive.

His parents told him: "Study Economics or Law".
His parents want __________ Economics or Law.

She said: "I'd like a light appartment near the coastline".
She'd like __________ light and near the coastline.

The board told us: "Do your best during this quarter".
The company needs __________ our best during this quarter.

I told them: "Don't be so loud! I'm reading a book".
I told __________ so loud because I was reading a book.