All: Details

The exact rules for the use of 'All' are quite complicated: 

1. All (of) before nouns and pronouns 

In general, 'all' and 'all of' are both possible before a noun, and before 'this' and 'that'. However, if the noun is used alone (without an article, possessive, or other 'determiner'), 'all of' is not usually possible. Compare the following: 

All (of) my friends like riding. 

I've read all (of) the books you lent me. 

I stopped believing in all (of) that years ago. 

All children can be naughty sometimes (Not: All of children...). 

All whisky is expensive (Not: All of whisky...). 

On the other hand, before a personal pronoun only 'all of' is possible; it is used with object pronouns (us, you, them). 

All of them enjoyed the party (Not: All them... or All they...). 

All of you are wrong (Not: All you...). 

They invited all of us (Not: ...all us). 

2. 'All' after nouns and pronouns 

'All' can go after the subject of the sentence. Note that it does not always immediately follow the subject in this case. The exact position is the same as the position of mid-position adverbs: that is to say, (i) before a simple one-word verb; (ii) if there are auxiliary verbs, after the first auxiliary; (iii) after the verb 'be'. 

My friends all like riding. 

They would all have been invited if there had been room (Not: They all would have been invited...). 

We are all tired (Not: We all are tired). 

'All' can also go after a direct or indirect object, but only if this is a personal pronoun (us, you, etc). 

I've eaten them all (Not: I've eaten the cakes all). 

Love you all (Not: Love to the family all). 

I sent them all presents. 

Note that 'all' cannot be used after a subject complement: you can say I've finished it all but not 'This is it all'. 

3. 'All' as subject, object or complement 

'All' can be used as the subject, object or complement of a sentence. In modern English, this is only common when 'all' is followed by a relative clause. Note the two possible meanings of 'all' in this case: 'everything' and 'the only thing(s)'. 

All that I own is yours.     All I want is a room somewhere. 

I'll give you all you want.     This all I've got. 

'All' is not often used to mean 'everybody', except in a very formal style. Instead of 'All who want tickets should go to the office', we would probably say 'All those who want tickets...' or 'All the people who want tickets...' 

In older English, 'all' could be used alone, without a relative clause, to mean 'everything' or 'everybody' (e.g. Tell me all. All is lost. All are dead). This is unusual in modern English, except in dramatic contexts like newspaper headlines (e.g. SPY TELLS ALL), and in the expression 'all about' (e.g. I know all about you. Let's forget all about it). 

4. It is not very common to use 'all' as the subject of a negative verb (e.g. All English people don't like fish and chips). Instead of this, we more often use 'not all' as the subject. 

Not all birds can fly. 

No birds can play chess. 

5. It is sometimes possible to leave out an article after 'all' (e.g. all day, all three brothers). 

Position of adverbs: end-position (details)

Typical mistakes: 

I went at once there. 

I think we should go early to bed. 

Come at four o'clock to my office. 

She went quickly home. 

1. The order of adverbs (and adverb phrases) in end-position depends partly on questions of rhythm and emphasis, so it is difficult to give exact rules. In general, however, we put adverbs of manner 'how' before adverbs of place 'where', and adverbs of time 'when' come last of all. 

I went there | at once. (place before time)

Come to my office | at four o'clock. (place before time) 

I worked hard | yesterday. (manner before time) 

She sang perfectly | in the town hall | last night. (manner before place before time) 

With verbs of movement like come, go arrive, it is often more natural to put an adverb of place (destination) first, before and adverb of manner. 

2. Adverbs of place can refer to direction (like backwards) or position (like in London). Adverbs of direction usually come before adverbs of position. 

I went to school | in York. 

Who's the man walking around | in the garden? 

I think they're moving the piano into another room | upstairs. 

When there are two adverbs of position, the larger place is mentioned last. 

I studied in a drama school | in Madrid. 

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.