Adverb position
French adverbs usually come right after the conjugated verb, never between subject and verb as in English.
| tense / form | position | example |
|---|---|---|
| simple tense | after the verb | Il parle souvent de toi. (not: Il souvent parle ✗) |
| compound tense, short adverb | between auxiliary and participle | J’ai bien dormi. Il a déjà mangé. |
| compound tense, -ment adverb | usually after the participle | Il a parlé lentement. |
| infinitive | before the infinitive (short adverbs) | Il faut bien comprendre. |
| time / place adverbs | end or start | Je l’ai vu hier. Ici, on parle français. |
Rules
- Short common adverbs before the participle: bien, mal, déjà, encore, toujours, souvent, trop, beaucoup, vite.
- hier, aujourd’hui, demain, ici, là-bas, partout never go between auxiliary and participle: J’ai hier vu ✗.
- Sentence adverbs at the start for emphasis: Malheureusement, il est parti.
- Position can change meaning: Il a seulement dit bonjour / Seul Paul a dit bonjour.
Examples
- Nous avons beaucoup travaillé.We worked a lot.
- Elle a toujours aimé la musique.She has always loved music.
- Il faut vraiment partir.We really have to leave.
- Ils ont répondu immédiatement.They answered immediately.
- Il a bien compris la question.He understood the question well.
Common mistakes
- ✗ Je souvent mange au restaurant.✓ Je mange souvent au restaurant.French never puts the adverb between subject and verb as English I often eat does.
- ✗ J’ai hier vu ce film.✓ J’ai vu ce film hier.Adverbs of time such as hier go after the participle.
- ✗ Elle a lentement parlé.✓ Elle a parlé lentement.A -ment adverb usually follows the participle.
- ✗ Elle a aimé toujours le sport.✓ Elle a toujours aimé le sport.Short adverbs such as toujours go between the auxiliary and the participle, as in English has always loved.
- ✗ Il a dormi mal.✓ Il a mal dormi.Mal is a short adverb and goes before the participle.