Position of time, manner and frequency adverbs

In brief

In Brazilian Portuguese, adverbs can move to highlight different parts of a sentence. Time expressions often go at the beginning or end; manner usually follows the verb or its object. Frequency words have their own common positions, so there is no single slot for every adverb.

Form

Time: Amanhã, vou sair / Vou sair amanhã. Manner: Ela respondeu rapidamente / Ela respondeu à mensagem rapidamente. Frequency: Eu sempre estudo; Eu nunca falto.

Usage

• Put a time expression at the beginning to set the scene, or at the end as neutral information.
• Place a manner adverb after the verb or after the object when it describes how an action happens.
• Place sempre and nunca before the conjugated verb for a reliable, natural pattern; sempre can also follow the verb in many contexts.

Examples

• Amanhã, vamos visitar minha mãe. — Tomorrow, we’re going to visit my mother.
• Eu sempre leio antes de dormir. — I always read before bed.
• Ela respondeu à mensagem rapidamente. — She replied to the message quickly.
• Eu nunca tomo café à noite. — I never drink coffee at night.

Common mistake

❌ Eu tomo nunca café à noite.

✅ Eu nunca tomo café à noite.

Place nunca before the conjugated verb: nunca tomo. Putting it between the verb and its object sounds unnatural here.

Remember

For a natural starting point, put sempre or nunca before the verb and time expressions at the beginning or end of the sentence.