Adverb placement with multiple adverbs

[Jorriss]

I wish to understand the placement of an adverb in the following two sentences. Let me first say that, as I understand, an adverb follows a verb, unless said adverb modifies another adverb, or if an adjective is being modified.

Continuing, "Ya se que ella esta aqui." In this sentence, there are two adverbs - ya, aqui. Aqui follows the rule I would expect it to, it modifies esta and hence is placed after esta. However, Ya is more confusing to me. Is ya modifying aqui in this instance, and is thus placed before se?

Similarly, "El siempre hace bien su tarea." The two adverbs are siempre and bien. Bien is placed where I would expect it to be. Is siempre modifying bien then?

[Rusty]

It isn't true that an adverb must follow a verb. That is often the case, but it isn't always the case.

In your first sentence you have two clauses, separated by 'que'.
The adverb 'ya', in the first clause, modifies 'sé'. It sounds better if said prior to the verb.
In the second clause, the adverb is 'aquí'. It may follow the verb or precede the verb, but because the subject pronoun is present, it may be better left the way it is.

In your last sentence you have a valid case of multiple adverbs, since there is only one clause. The first adverb, 'siempre', is one of frequency. The other is an adverb of manner (how something is done). It doesn't sound good to use these two together (that is usually only done when adverbs modify adjectives or adverbs or adverbial phrases), so they are located on opposite sides of the verb. The frequency adverb sounds better prior to the verb. The manner adverb sounds better after the verb.

By the way, there is an 'Accents' drop-down menu just above where you type where you can select the special characters needed to write in Spanish. There is a change in meaning between 'se' and 'sé', 'esta' and 'está', 'El' and 'Él'. Also check the spelling of 'aquí'. :)

[Jorriss]

It isn't true that an adverb must follow a verb. That is often the case, but it isn't always the case.

In your first sentence you have two clauses, separated by 'que'.
The adverb 'ya', in the first clause, modifies 'sé'. It sounds better if said prior to the verb.
In the second clause, the adverb is 'aquí'. It may follow the verb or precede the verb, but because the subject pronoun is present, it may be better left the way it is.

In your last sentence you have a valid case of multiple adverbs, since there is only one clause. The first adverb, 'siempre', is one of frequency. The other is an adverb of manner (how something is done). It doesn't sound good to use these two together (that is usually only done when adverbs modify adjectives or adverbs or adverbial phrases), so they are located on opposite sides of the verb. The frequency adverb sounds better prior to the verb. The manner adverb sounds better after the verb.
Thank you, this is very helpful!


By the way, there is an 'Accents' drop-down menu just above where you type where you can select the special characters needed to write in Spanish. There is a change in meaning between 'se' and 'sé', 'esta' and 'está', 'El' and 'Él'. Also check the spelling of 'aquí'. :)
Yeah I know they are different, I just didn't know how to make the accents (in hindsight, I should have looked harder) :worried:. Thanks for letting me know how to do it!