For Teachers

Assign this 12-minute lesson for self-study or warm-up; check answers using the automated key.

Focus student attention on adverb positions relative to main verbs and negatives.

For Learners

Read the 4 quick rules and examples carefully first.

Then complete the 12 practice items step by step.

Definitely and certainly mean that you are sure. Probably means that you are quite sure, and possibly means that you are not sure. We use them to show how sure we are that something is true or will happen.

With a verb in the present simple or past simple, put the adverb before the main verb. We never put the adverb after the main verb or after its object.

With am, is, are, was, were and with will, put the adverb after the verb. With a negative like won't, put the adverb before it.

Maybe and perhaps mean not sure and usually start the sentence. We do not put maybe between the subject and the verb.

✅ Correct Usage

• The neglected windmill probably won't rotate.
• Maybe the owner will sell it.
• They definitely grind barley here.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

• The neglected windmill won't probably rotate.
• The owner maybe will sell it.
• They grind barley definitely here.

Question 1 (sure)

____ a. The owner will possibly modernise the watermill next year. ____ b. The owner will probably modernise the watermill next year. ____ c. The owner will definitely modernise the watermill next year. ____ d. The owner will perhaps modernise the watermill next year.

Question 2 (quite sure)

____ a. The ancient millstone probably won't grind the barley today. ____ b. The ancient millstone possibly won't grind the barley today. ____ c. The ancient millstone definitely won't grind the barley today. ____ d. The ancient millstone perhaps won't grind the barley today.

Question 3 (not sure)

____ a. The miller maybe will repair the old windmill. ____ b. Maybe the miller will repair the old windmill. ____ c. The miller will repair maybe the old windmill. ____ d. The miller repair maybe will the old windmill.

Question 4 (sure)

____ (Type your complete rewritten sentence here...)

Question 5 (quite sure)

____ (Type your complete rewritten sentence here...)

Question 6 (not sure)

____ (Type your complete rewritten sentence here...)

Question 7 (not sure)

____ a. definitely ____ b. probably ____ c. possibly ____ d. maybe

Question 8 (quite sure)

____ a. perhaps is ____ b. probably is ____ c. is possibly ____ d. is probably

Question 9 (not sure)

____ a. Probably ____ b. Definitely ____ c. Maybe

Question 10 (quite sure)

"Hi Sam! The old watermill won't probably rotate today because the water level is low."

____ a. Hi Sam! The old watermill won't rotate probably today because the water level is low. ____ b. Hi Sam! The old watermill probably won't rotate today because the water level is low. ____ c. Hi Sam! The old watermill won't probably rotate today because the water level is low. ____ d. Hi Sam! The old watermill rotate probably won't today because the water level is low.

Question 11 (not sure)

"Hey Alex, the miller maybe will modernise the old millstone this spring."

____ a. Hey Alex, the miller will modernise maybe the old millstone this spring. ____ b. Hey Alex, the miller modernise maybe will the old millstone this spring. ____ c. Hey Alex, the miller maybe will modernise the old millstone this spring. ____ d. Hey Alex, maybe the miller will modernise the old millstone this spring.

Question 12 (sure)

"Dear Mia, they grind barley definitely with the traditional millstone."

____ a. Dear Mia, they grind definitely barley with the traditional millstone. ____ b. Dear Mia, they grind barley with the traditional millstone definitely. ____ c. Dear Mia, they definitely grind barley with the traditional millstone. ____ d. Dear Mia, they grind barley definitely with the traditional millstone.