Adverbs of place
An adverb of place is a word or phrase that describes where an action happens, showing location, direction or distance. It answers the question "where?" and usually modifies a verb. Common examples include "here", "there", "outside", "upstairs" and "abroad". These adverbs often come after the main verb or object in a sentence.
Types of adverbs of place
Location adverbs
Show the fixed position where an action takes place.
e.g. here, there, everywhere, nowhere
Direction adverbs
Show movement towards or away from a place.
e.g. up, down, away, backwards
Distance adverbs
Show how far something is from a point.
e.g. nearby, far, close by
Prepositional adverb phrases
Phrases made with a preposition plus a noun that function as an adverb of place.
e.g. in the garden, on the shelf, at the station
Compound directional adverbs
Adverbs formed with here, there or where plus a preposition to describe position or movement.
e.g. inside, underneath, upstairs
Rules to remember
- An adverb of place usually comes after the main verb or after the direct object, not before the verb.
- When a sentence has both an adverb of place and an adverb of time, the place adverb normally comes first: 'She waited outside yesterday.'
- Adverbs such as 'here' and 'there' are not used with 'to' before them; say 'come here', not 'come to here'.
- Some adverbs of place (here, there) can start a sentence for emphasis, and this triggers subject-verb inversion with certain verbs: 'Here comes the bus.'
- Prepositional phrases acting as adverbs of place must include a preposition plus a noun: 'She sat on the bench', not 'She sat the bench'.
Examples in sentences
| Example | How it works |
|---|---|
| The children are playing outside. | 'Outside' tells us where the children are playing. |
| Please put the keys there. | 'There' shows the location where the keys should go. |
| He looked everywhere for his passport. | 'Everywhere' shows an unspecified but wide location. |
| They travelled abroad for their holiday. | 'Abroad' indicates a general place outside one's own country. |
| Here comes the train. | 'Here' begins the sentence and causes subject-verb inversion for emphasis. |
| She left her umbrella upstairs. | 'Upstairs' is a compound adverb showing location within a building. |
| We waited nearby until the shop opened. | 'Nearby' shows distance from a point of reference. |
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Come to here now.
Correct: Come here now.
Incorrect: She goes there every day to school.
Correct: She goes to school there every day.
Incorrect: He sat the chair near the window.
Correct: He sat on the chair near the window.
Why this matters for IELTS
Using adverbs of place accurately, and varying them beyond simple words like "here" or "there" with richer phrases such as "on the outskirts" or "further along the coast", shows the examiner a wider range of structures. This directly supports the Grammatical Range and Accuracy criterion in IELTS Speaking and Writing, especially when describing locations in Task 1 maps or Part 2 descriptions of places, as long as word order and preposition use stay accurate.
Frequently asked questions
What is an adverb of place?
It is a word or phrase that tells you where an action happens, such as 'here', 'outside' or 'in the garden', and it usually modifies the verb by answering the question 'where?'
Where do adverbs of place go in a sentence?
They typically follow the main verb or the object of the verb, and come before adverbs of time if both appear in the same sentence, for example 'He worked there last year.'
Can an adverb of place start a sentence?
Yes, words like 'here' and 'there' can begin a sentence for emphasis, often causing the subject and verb to swap order, as in 'There goes my bus.'
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