Let’s take a scenario where someone asks, “Where is the cat sleeping?” What do you think you’ll say to make your answer clear? Probably something like “the cat is sleeping under the table.” This specificity of the location is what we call adverbs of Place. Using words that help in indicating where the action is occurring or the location, position, or direction of something. It tells us where something happens, whether it's here, outside, nearby, or far away. Read on and discover adverb of place definition, types, meaning, and a worksheet to practice.
Table of Contents
Adverbs of Place, which are sometimes also known as spatial adverbs and place adverbials, are a type of adverb that we use to refer to a location or a place in a sentence to show where something happens or where something is about something else. For example, “the children are upstairs.” Here, “upstairs” is the adverb of place because it shows where the kids are.
Additionally, spatial adverbs can also be used for words that often mean the same thing as a short phrase that shows place or direction. For example:
The word "homeward" means "toward home.”
So, "homeward" is the adverb because it is telling us both where (home) and direction (toward). Just keep in mind that they do not always show direction; sometimes they just show a place. Lastly, to put the adverb of place meaning in simple terms, these are words that describe the direction or location in a sentence and answer the question “where.”
To understand them better, let’s take a look at a few examples of adverbs of place in a sentence.
Note: Prepositional phrases can also function as adverbs of place. For example, in the park, on the roof, at the store, toward the ceiling.
The adverbs of place are further divided into three types based on their functions. Those that express position, distance, direction, or relative position. Let’s take a look below:
These types of place adverbials are used to describe a location where the actual action of a sentence is happening. For example, here, there, upstairs, indoors, outside.
Adverbs of distance are used to show or describe how far away the action is happening or the object is. For example, nearby, everywhere, far away, nowhere, close. Here are a few examples of these types of adverb of place sentences to understand them better:
These types of adverbs of Place show the direction of movement and answer the question "In what direction?" For example, forward, backwards, up, down, north, east, south, west, and away.
Relative position adverbs show the location of something in a sentence about something else. Above, below, behind, between.
In the form of correct adverb of place sentences, it is really important to understand their placement. This will also help in avoiding unintentionally altering the meaning of the sentence.
1. After the verb or object:
This is the most common position, and they are generally found after the object or the main verb of the sentence. Do keep in mind that adverbs of direction typically appear after the direct object of a transitive verb.
2. At the beginning of a sentence:
We can also use adverbs of place at the beginning of the sentence, especially in writing or storytelling, for emphasis or a smoother flow. Here are a few examples of adverbs of place at the beginning of the sentence:
3. At the End of the Sentence:
To show more emphasis or set the context of the location, we can also use adverbs of place at the end of the sentence. For example:
4. If there is no object:
We generally place the adverb of place right after the verb if there is no object. Some examples of adverb of place sentences with no object are:
Now that you have a better understanding of adverb of place definition, their placement, and types, let’s look at some of the most common spatial adverbs along with their examples in a sentence.
| Adverb of Place | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Here | Please come here and sit down. |
| There | She is waiting there by the gate. |
| Everywhere | We looked everywhere, but couldn't find it. |
| Nowhere | There's nowhere to park in this area. |
| Outside | The kids are playing outside. |
| Inside | It’s warm inside, let’s go in. |
| Upstairs | He went upstairs to take a nap. |
| Downstairs | Breakfast is ready downstairs. |
| Nearby | A pharmacy is located nearby. |
| Away | The dog ran away when it heard thunder. |
| Abroad | She studied abroad for two years. |
| Above | The clock is hanging above the door. |
| Below | The cellar is below the kitchen. |
| Behind | Your desk stands behind mine. |
| In front | He parked in front of the building. |
| Overseas | Many products are shipped overseas. |
| Back | He came back after a week. |
| Around | We walked around for hours. |
Here is a worksheet for you to solve. This adverbs of place exercises will help you build a strong foundation of the adverb and reinforce correct usage with the help of repetition.
Exercise 1: Identify and Explain
In this exercise, you have to read each sentence carefully and underline the adverb of place.
1. He moved the boxes upstairs before the guests arrived.
2. You’ll find the manager’s office down the hall.
3. The children ran everywhere after hearing the news.
4. Please stay inside until the storm passes.
5. The hikers finally reached the camp above the cliffs.
6. The cat was hiding somewhere under the couch.
7. They’ve lived abroad for several years now.
8. Don’t leave your bags there; it’s not safe.
9. Someone is standing just outside the door.
10. The books are kept below the television cabinet.
Answer Key
Exercise 1: Identify and Explain
1. He moved the boxes upstairs before the guests arrived.
2. You’ll find the manager’s office down the hall.
3. The children ran everywhere after hearing the news.
4. Please stay inside until the storm passes.
5. The hikers finally reached the camp above the cliffs.
6. The cat was hiding somewhere under the couch.
7. They’ve lived abroad for several years now.
8. Don’t leave your bags there; it’s not safe.
9. Someone is standing just outside the door.
10. The books are kept below the television cabinet.
Exercise 2: Spot the Error and Correct It
Another one of our adverbs of place exercises is to spot the error.
Each of the sentences below contains an error in the use or placement of an adverb of place that you need to find and correct.
1. She walked the dog every morning in the park nearby.
2. He left his phone inside accidentally.
3. The manager is sitting the office outside.
4. We looked under the bed and the closet in.
5. There are beautiful flowers growing above the garden.
6. You should put your coat outside it’s raining.
7. The kids are playing where happily.
8. He lives since 2018 abroad.
9. Please come quickly here!
10. A strange noise came from upstairs the kitchen.
Answer Key
Exercise 2: Spot the Error and Correct It
1. She walked the dog every morning in the nearby park.
2. He accidentally left his phone inside. (or: He left his phone inside by accident.)
3. The manager is sitting outside the office.
4. We looked under the bed and in the closet.
5. There are beautiful flowers growing in the garden. (“Above” is incorrect unless referring to a hanging or vertical location.)
6. You should put your coat inside, it’s raining.
7. The kids are playing happily outside.
8. He has lived abroad since 2018.
9. Please come here quickly!
10. A strange noise came from upstairs in the kitchen.
Summing up, adverbs of place are an important part of the English grammar, which helps us add necessary detail about the location and answer the critical question “where?” in a sentence. But they play a big role in not just showing where something is located, but also help our speech be more vivid and engaging. If you need help understanding more about them or other English grammar structures, then you can connect with our experts at Gradding.com for tailored learning.
1. What is the Difference Between a Preposition and an Adverb of Place?
Prepositions are used to connect a noun or a pronoun to another word in a sentence to show a relationship, such as location or time. Whereas, an adverb of place is used to modify the verb and tell us where something happens. For example, “She looked inside,” here, inside is the adverb of the pace because it is telling where she looked, and it can stand alone.
2. How Adverbs of Place Function in Action?
Adverbs of place function in action by modifying the main verb and describe where an action takes place. They modify the verb by giving information about location, direction, or distance. For example:
3. How do I Identify an Adverb of Place in A Sentence?
To identify the adverb of place in a sentence, look for words that describe where an action is occurring or where the object is located. It can be done by asking “where?” about the verb or subject. If the word answers that question and isn’t followed by a noun, it's likely an adverb of place. Some adverbs of place include: here, there, outside, inside, nearby, above, below, etc.
4. Can Adverbs of Place Come at The Beginning of a Sentence?
Yes, adverbs of place can be used at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis or stylistic effect. For example:
5. Do Adverbs of Place Always Follow the Verb?
No, adverbs of place do not always follow the verb. Even though they majorly come after the main verb or object, their position can vary depending on emphasis or sentence structure. For example:
We are available in :
BangaloreAhmedabadJaipurHyderabadKeralaPuneChandigarhMumbaiGurgaonChennaiKolkataTrivandrumNoidaKochiCalicutKottayamKollamThrissurIndoreUdaipurdisclaimer:logos and other registered trademarks of universities used on this platform are held by their respective owners. Gradding does not claim ownership or association on them, and their use is purely for informational and illustrative purposes.
