Lesson: Sentence Structure and Adverb Placement

Part 1: Basic Sentence/Finite Clause Structure
A finite clause is a structure that expresses a complete idea. It must contain a minimum of a subject, a verb, and any complements required by the verb. Look at sentence examples in the chart below:

Adverb / Prepositional Phrase	Subject	Finite Verb	Other Verbs	Complements	Adverb / Prepositional Phrase
	The frequency	increased.
	We	evaluated		the data	from the experiment.
	The Congo River	supplies		a large amount of organic matter	to the ocean.
In practice,	most users	were able	to use	the system	effectively.
For rabies,	vaccine availability	requires		work.
	The transmission of disease	is		highly possible	in public places.
In designing our lesson,	we	tried	to create	typographical errors.
Finally, at the end of the experiment,	the researchers	asked		if they noticed any errors.

1. A subject can be one word or many words. The words in bold are the subjects in these example sentences:

We evaluated the data from the experiment.
The transmission of disease is highly possible.
A mobile-phone-based system was developed.

2. Similarly, a verb can be one word or many words. The words in bold are the verbs in these example sentences:

The frequency increased over time.
Most users were able to use the system effectively.

3. A subject does not always begin a sentence. The words in bold are the subjects in these example sentences:

In practice, most users were able to use the system effectively.
For rabies, vaccine availability still requires work.

4. Some sentences are complete with only a subject and verb. Other sentences require a complement.

The researchers published their findings.
The biologist collected the samples.
The doctor discovered the cause of the disease.

5. In addition to subject, verb, and a complement if required, there are also optional sentence components. The sentence is considered complete with or without those components. The optional sentence components are often prepositional phrases or adverbs or adverb phrases which indicate the time, place, or location of the action.

Last year, they published the research. (optional phrase indicates when)
Recently, they published the research. (optional word indicates when)
In 2015, they published the research. (prepositional phrase indicates when)
They published the research in the Journal of the American Medical Association. (prepositional phrase indicates where)
They published the research after they completed the study. (adverb clause indicates when)

Part 2: Complete Sentences
A complete sentence must contain a subject and a verb. Some sentences require a complement. Sentences that do not contain all of the required parts are called sentence fragments. Two sentences that are connected by no punctuation are called run-on sentences. Look at some examples:

Examples of complete sentences

In the current study, we observed a three-way interaction by the subjects.
The effect of the virus appears to be more than double the effect of the bacteria.
They also add to the growing literature on the relationship between personality and language.

Examples of sentence fragments

The relationship of personality traits and assessments of written errors. (subject only)
Was unexpected and difficult to interpret. (verb only, no subject)
Has been found. (verb only, no subject.)
People with lower agreeability ratings. (subject only, no verb)
He conducted. (no complement)
The researchers collected. (no complement)

Examples of run-on sentences

The researcher was pleased with the data it was robust.
We collected blood samples we analyzed the results.
This is an important finding more research needs to be done in this area.

Examples of run-on sentence corrections

This is an important finding. More research needs to be done. (with a period to make two sentences)
This is an important finding; more research needs to be done. (with a semicolon)

Part 3: Adverb Placement
In English, adverbs appear at different locations in sentences, depending on function and meaning. Many of them appear in different locations than adverbs in other languages. Look at some examples and notice where the adverbs appear in each sentence (the words in bold are the adverbs). What do you notice about similarities and differences between adverb placement in English and your own language?

1. Vaccine availability still requires work.
2. It has already been modified.
3. On first use, users took approximately ten minutes to complete the form.
4. Most users were able to use the system effectively.
5. These differences definitely reflect increased recording of dog bites.
6. Rabies is primarily spread by dogs.
7. The system is currently used by over 300 healthcare workers.
8. Sometimes, they go to Paris. Sometimes, we do not know where they go.
9. We need to do a timely evaluation of the program.
10. We randomly chose five participants.
11. A detailed study was previously published.
12. Seasonal rains typically peak between March and June.
13. User complaints are generally low.
14. First, we estimated the quantity.
15. Second, they completed a form.
16. Finally, at the end of the study, we asked five questions.
17. The data was significantly different.
18. Details are extremely scarce.
19. Surprisingly, the test had no errors.
20. Similarly, the subjects reported a reaction to heat.

Look at the chart below to see how adverbs can be classified according to meaning and how meaning affects adverb placement:

Meaning	Examples	Placement	Example Sentences (words in bold are adverbs)
frequency	sometimes, occasionally, often, normally, usually, only, also, just, already, still, generally	before main verb between first and second auxiliary after negative after "be" at beginning of sentence for emphasis or for sentence variety	We never go. We just visited her. PEP has already been modified. We don't often go. We have not always visited him. Transmission is generally low. Normally, we take a vacation in August. Usually, he comes in at 3:00. Sometimes, they go to Paris.
probability	certainly, probably, likely, definitely	before main verb before negative	We definitely want to see her. We certainly won't go. He will likely come on time. They will probably not visit him this time.
manner	quickly, slowly, considerably, completely, effectively	can sometimes go before the verb but can always go after the phrase or at the end of sentence (so best to memorize and use that rule)	We ate dinner quickly. We randomly assigned five tasks. This program will help medical workers considerably. Most users were able to use the system effectively. Rabies is primarily spread by dogs. OR Rabies is spread primarily by dogs.
time	immediately, once a week, every day, today, first, second, next	at the end of phrase or sentence, particularly multi-word adverbs of time at the beginning of sentence for emphasis or sentence variety	We called him immediately. We went there every day. They monitored the site once a week. Today, fewer rabies deaths occur than in previous decades.