Position of adverbs: mid-position (details)

Typical mistakes: 

I go often to the theatre. 

She often is late. 

We always have lived in this house. 

This job will be never finished. 

1. In general, mid-position adverbs go before the verb, but they go after am, are, is, was, were even when these are main verbs. 

I often go to the theatre. 

She suddenly stood up and started singing. 

She is often late. 

I was never happy at home. 

2. When a verb has several parts (e.g. will be finished, have lived, should have been working), the most common position is after the first auxiliary verb. 

We have always lived in this house. 

This will never be finished. 

You should definitely have been working this morning. 

Other positions are possible, particularly when the first part of the verb phrase is a 'modal auxiliary', or used to or have to. 

You often must be bored (or: you must often be bored). 

She could have easily been killed (or: She could easily have been killed). 

We always used to go to the seaside in May (or: we used always to go... or: we used to always go...). 

When an auxiliary verb is used alone instead of a complete verb phrase, the adverb comes before it. 

'Don't trust politicians.' - 'I never have, and I never will.' 

'Are you happy?' - 'I certainly am.'

When adverbs of manner (which say how something is done) go in mid-position, they ae normally put after all auxiliary verbs. 

Don't you think the repair has been properly done? 

When I saw her, she was being well looked after. 

When do you think you will have completely finished? 

3. In emphatic sentences, many adverbs are put before the first auxiliary verb (and before am, are, is, was, were). 

I certainly do like you. 

'You should always be polite.' - 'I always am polite.'

You really will get a surprise one day. 

He said he would never tell them, and he never has told them. 

4. In negative sentences, some adverbs come before not and others after, depending on the meaning. Compare the following: 

I certainly do not agree.     I do not often have headache. 

Both positions are possible with some adverbs, often with a difference of meaning. Compare the following: 

I don't really like her.     I really don't like her. 

When adverbs come before Not, they may also come before the first auxiliary verbs; they always come before Do. 

I probably will not be there (Or: I will probably not be there). 

He probably does not know (Not: He does probably not know). 

Only one position is possible before a contracted negative. 

I probably won't be there. 

5. The determiners All, Both and Each can come in the same position as mid-position adverbs. 

They must have both been caught. 

You ae all being silly.