According to C.E. Eckersley (1970; 261), ‘there are three positions for adverbs in the sentence’:
(a). Front-position, i.e. as the first in a sentence.
(b). Mid-position, coming after the subject. The location of adverbs in the middle position varies depending on the type of verb used.
(c). End-position, i.e. as the last words in a sentence.
[40] Now it is time to leave. - It is now time to leave.- It is time to leave now.
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While R. Quirk and S. Green Baum (1987; 208) also distinguish ‚three positions of adverbs for the declarative form of the clause‛: (a). Initial position (i.e., before the subject)
(b). Medial position:
(c). Final position: after an intransitive verb, or after any object or complement.
I.3.5.1. Circumstantial adverbs:
Mostly, they are placed at the very end of the clause. Initial position is also common if the adverb is not the main focus of the message or for purpose of emphasis. Some can go in mid-position, especially with adverbs of indefinite frequency (often, ever, etc...)
[41] We are always on time.
[42] She read those books silently in the library all day.
However, adverbs of time is very flexible and may occupy any of the three positions in a clause to serve the purpose of their modification. The adverbs of negative: never, seldom, rarely, hardly ever,...are occasionally fronted and followed by subject-operator inversion for purposes of emphasis.
[43] Never in my life I have seen such a big tomato.
Similarly, adverbs of place are sometimes placed at the beginning of a clause, for emphasis.
[44] On the hilltop an old castle stood majestically.
I.3.5.2. Adverbs of manner:
They derive from value adjectives qualifying the activities referred to the clause; they are placed most frequently in final position.
[45] He washed the clothes well. - * He well washed the clothes.
In contrast, a manner adverb derived from a human propensity adjective refers just to the state of the subject; it can occur in I, M or E position, especially if the adverb is not important to the meaning of the verb.
[46] He had been washing the clothes happily. and He had happily been..
[47] Angrily, she tore up the letter.
I.3.5.3. Modal adverbs:
As clause adjuncts, they are typically placed in mid-position or after be, since they tend
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[48] They will probably get married next month.
However, perhaps and may be are exceptions to this rule. They usually go at the beginning of a clause as in: [49] Perhaps she will come.
I.3.5.4. Adverbs of degree and focusing adverbs:
It is best to place them in front of and next to the word(s) modified by them.
[50] She’s done everything- she’s even been a soldier.
I.3.5.5. Conjunctive adverbs:
They are often placed at the beginning of a clause, serving to provide a link between the present clause with the previous one(s).
[51] I would like to go skiing. However, I have too much work to do.
However, when the clause contains no adverb of frequency, some connecting adverbs may be placed in the M position of a clause.
[52] I am, nevertheless, anxious to continue.
I.3.5.6. Adverbs in initial position:
When an adverb is placed at the beginning of a clause, its meaning extends to the whole clause and not simply to the predication or to an element of the predication. In this position, the meaning may be of two broad kinds:
(a) it may function as an element within the clause and have the same status as the other elements as in: [53] Slowly, the rising sun appeared over the distant horizon.
In this way, the scope of the adverb ranges more widely over the clause than it would do in mid- or end-position.
(b) other adverbs occur in initial position but are considered, both syntactically and semantically, to be outside the clause, and are usually called Disjunct and Conjunct:
[54] Frankly, I don’t believe you.
[55] As a result, they are going to buy a smaller car.
In short, the choice of position is determined by its type (circumstantial, modal, degree, etc.), the scope of its meaning (whole clause or part of a clause), the degree of emphasis the speaker wishes to give to it, and the general information structure of the clause.