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Splitting Verbs

Adverb Position

 

 

 

Positioning an Adverb
SPLIT VERB OPTIONS

Not incorrect, but it is unclear whether steadily modifies the verb continues or the infinitive to return, or the verb phrase, continues to return.

Move the adverb directly before or after the word you wish it to modify. Then check to see that the meaning is clear.

Air traffic continues to steadily return to normal across Europe.


move over modifies the word after it
(1)   Air traffic steadily continues to return to normal across Europe. (modifies main verb)
move over modifies the word after it
(2)   Air traffic continues steadily to return to normal across Europe. (modifies main verb)
move over modifies the word after it
(3)   Air traffic continues to steadily return to normal across Europe. (modifies infinitive)
move over modifies the word after it Does steadily modify return or continue?
(4)   Air traffic continues to return steadily to normal across Europe. (modifies either)
 

It does not really require expensive vitamins, shampoos, and conditioners.

move over modifies the word after it
(1)   It really  does not require expensive vitamins, shampoos, and conditioners. (OK)
move over modifies the word after it
(2)  It does not really require expensive vitamins, shampoos, and conditioners. (OK)
move overarrow to right 
(3)  It does not require really expensive vitamins, shampoos, and conditioners.
 

Related page: Adv for Focus (also, only, even, just, really, neither, etc.)

 

 

 

Adverb Positioning

Options

 

 

Placement Options for Adverbs
ADVERB TYPE BEFORE THE VERB MID –POSITION AFTER THE VERB

 

Adverbs that tell us how an activity is done can be positioned before the verb for emphasis.

Adverbs that tell us how or how often can be placed between the auxiliary and main verb.  "split"

Most adverbs are positioned after the verb.  (If the adverb modifies another adverb or adjective, it is placed before it.)

MANNER   
Adverbs that tell us how?

He patiently will work to succeed. 

She will patiently work to succeed.

They will work patiently to succeed. 

TIME   
Adverbs that tell us when?

He already has worked to succeed. 
*He tomorrow will work to succeed.  (no!)

She has already worked to succeed.
*She will tomorrow work to succeed. (no!)

They have worked already to succeed. 
They will work tomorrow to succeed. 

TIME   
Adverbs that tell us how often?

He always will work to succeed. 

She will always work to succeed.

She will work always to succeed.

PLACE   
Adverbs that tell us where?

*He here will work to succeed.   (no!)              

*She will here work to succeed.  (no!)

They will work here to succeed. 

DEGREE   
Adverbs that tell us to what extent?

*He persistently will work to succeed.  (emphasis only)

*She will persistently work to succeed. (emphasis)

They will work persistently to succeed.
 

FOCUS
Adverbs that draw attention to information

He even will work on weekend nights.
He also has been working overtime.

He will even work on weekend nights.
He has also been working overtime.
He has been also working overtime.

He will work on weekend nights even.
He has been doing also overtime work.
He has been working overtime too / as well.

*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.

 

 

 

 

Splitting a Verb or an Infinitive

Is it wrong?

President Obama taking the inaugural oath
 

 

A Real Life Example: "The Inaugural Stumble"

On January 20, 2008, Chief Justice Roberts gave Barack Obama the presidential oath.  Unexpectedly, he changed the word order of the traditional oath. Why? 

There was a moment of silence.  Barack Obama tried to resolve the difference mid-sentence.  As a result, he said the word "faithfully" twice.  The next day, the presidential oath was readministered to Barack Obama to make sure it was properly done.

“I do solemnly swear that I will execute ... faithfully the office of president of the United States faithfully ..."

 

Obama retakes oath of office after flub", MSNBC. 22 Jan 2008  
Solution lightbulbPop-Q "Inaugural Oath

 

 

 

 

TRADITIONAL WORD ORDER OF OATH CHANGED WORD ORDER

The adverb is placed between the auxiliary verb and the main verb — the auxiliary and main verb are split apart.

The adverb is placed after the auxiliary and main verb  — the auxiliary and main verb are together.

I Barack Hussein Obama do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office...

I Barack Hussein Obama do solemnly swear that I will execute faithfully the office...

 

 

Word Order Options 
INITIAL MEDIAL (middle) FINAL

 An adverb can be placed before the sentence as a modifier to the whole clause.

Commonly, an adverb is placed between the auxiliary verb and the main verb.  ("split")

 An adverb can be placed after the verb for less emphasis or to avoid a "split verb".

Transposing the subject and auxiliary verb is done in more formal speech such as an oath. (An oath is a formal promise that a person swears to before taking office.)

This is the traditional wording of the presidential oath.However, Chief Justice Roberts changed the word order of the traditional oath, perhaps, to avoid using a split-verb. He is known to be a strict grammarian.

Surprised at the change in the traditional word order, Barack Obama compromised by placing the adverb just after the verb.

Solemnly, do I swear that I . . .

 

I do solemnly swear that I ...

I do swear solemnly that I . . .

Faithfully, will I execute the office... 
                   move subject after aux verb

 

 I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States.

I will execute the office of president of the United States faithfully.

 

Perhaps, Chief Justice Roberts was using a controversial rule: NEVER split a verb (or an infinitive).  However, there does not appear to be a historical reason for doing so!

Is it wrong to split an infinitive?   Read below.

 

 

 

Grammar Notes

Splitting Verbs

 

 

Comments from Grammarians and Linguists 
A FEELING THAT IT IS WRONG NO RATIONAL BASIS

Any speaker who has not been brainwashed by the split-verb myth can sense that these corrections go against the rhythm and logic of English phrasing. The myth originated centuries ago in a thick-witted analogy to Latin, in which it is impossible to split an infinitive because it consists of a single word, like dicere, “to say.” But in English, infinitives like “to go” and future-tense forms like “will go” are two words, not one, and there is not the slightest reason to interdict adverbs from the position between them. — Steven Pinker "Oaf of Office"

"No rational basis for this prescriptivist rule. "
Prescriptive condemnation of the 'split infinitive' did not rise until the second half of the nineteenth century.  The construction can be found in the literature of the preceding several hundred years, but it became more popular in English writing as the nineteenth century went on, and the adoption of the rule in prescriptive grammar reflected disapproval of this change.  No reason was ever given as to why the construction was supposedly objectionable, however. 
 

First, all the evidence points towards the reality of the feeling that it is "wrong" to split infinitives….On the other hand it is clear that rigid adherence to a policy of non-splitting can sometimes lead to unnaturalness or ambiguity…. Preference.  No absolute taboo should be placed on the use of simple adverbs between the particle to and the verbal part of the infinitive.  'Avoid splitting infinitives whenever possible, but do not suffer undue remorse if a split infinitive is unavoidable for the natural and unambiguous completion of a sentence already begun.' — Burchfield. The Spoken Word (1981) 
 

It should be noted that the term 'split infinitive' is a misnomer: nothing is being split.  In Latin there is an infinitive form of the verb, which is traditionally translated into English by means of to + the plain form.  Latin amare, for example, is translated to love. But where amare is a single word, to love is not: it is a sequence of two words.  Thus the fact that no adjunct can be positioned within amare provides no basis for expecting it should be contrary to grammatical principles to position one between to and love.   — Huddleston & Pullum (CaGEL 581)

Split Infinitives. A. Generally. Although few amrmchair grammarians seem to know it, some split infinitives are regarded as perfectly proper…[Garner cites several grammarians.] B. Splits to Be Avoided. If a split is easily fixed by putting the adverb at the end of the phrase and the meaning remains the same, then avoiding the split is the best course:
Split: "It is not necessary to here enlarge upon those points."
Unsplit: " It is not necessary to enlarge upon those points here." 
Such capriciously split infinites only jar the reader.  — Garner (767)
Stage 5: Fully accepted on Garner's Language Change Index.
 

 

Fowler's Modern English Usage. Ed. R. W. Burchfield. Rev. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. Print. (737-8)
Garner, Bryan A.. Garner's Modern American Usage. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press. 2009. Print
Huddleston, Rodney and Geoffrey K. Pullum. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Print. (581)
Pinker, Steven, "Oaf of Office." The New York Times. 21 Jan 2009. <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/opinion/22pinker.html?th&emc=th>
"Split Infinitive." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 25 Jan 2009. UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_infinitive >  (includes resources at end of article)

 

 

 

Practice

Splitting Hairs

haircut
 

 

Read and note the position of each adverb.

Growing beautiful and healthy hair is not an extremely difficult process. You just need to closely follow a few steps. It does not really require expensive vitamins, shampoos, and conditioners. First, you must carefully cut off the dead ends. Next, stop washing your hair everyday. Hair is often damaged by overwashing. You need to carefully dry your hair with a cool dryer temperature.

If you notice frizzy ends, you should routinely apply conditioners. You should never put rubber bands in your hair. Remember to always rinse out chlorine or salt water. You will want to carefully remove your glasses or your hat, which may pull hair out. If you can patiently follow these steps, you can have more beautiful hair.

splitting hairs (expression) – to argue about very small differences or unimportant details

 

 

Select an alternate (another) option for the placement of each adverb.
  1. Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence. 
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.

 

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