Splitting Verbs
Deciding on adverb placement
Finding the Best Placement for 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.
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It does not really require expensive vitamins, shampoos, and conditioners. |
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Related page: Adv for Focus (also, only, even, just, really, neither, etc.)
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. |
Most adverbs are positioned after the verb. (If the adverb modifies another adverb or adjective, it is placed before it.) |
MANNER |
He patiently will work to succeed. |
She will patiently work to succeed. |
They will work patiently to succeed. |
TIME |
He already has worked to succeed. |
She has already worked to succeed. |
They have worked already to succeed. |
TIME |
He always will work to succeed. |
She will always work to succeed. |
She will work always to succeed. |
PLACE |
*He here will work to succeed. (no!) |
*She will here work to succeed. (no!) |
They will work here to succeed. |
DEGREE |
*He persistently will work to succeed. (emphasis only) |
*She will persistently work to succeed. (emphasis) |
They will work persistently to succeed. |
FOCUS |
He even will work on weekend nights. |
He will even work on weekend nights. |
He will work on weekend nights even. |
*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
Grammar Notes
Splitting Verbs
Is it wrong to split an infinitive?
STEVEN PINKER 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" |
HUDDLESTON & PULLUM "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. |
R. W. BURCHFIELD (FOWLER'S) 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)
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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. — (CaGEL 581) |
Fowler's Modern English Usage. Ed. R. W. Burchfield. Rev. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. Print. (737-8)
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)
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.
Obama retakes oath of office after flub", MSNBC. 22 Jan 2008
Pop-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. |
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... |
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!
Practice
x"
Splitting Hairs
splitting hairs (expression) – to argue about very small differences or unimportant details
Consider an alternate (another) option for the placement of each adverb.
- Select your response from the list.
- Compare your answer to the comment in the feedback box.