Grammar & Punctuation – Optional adverbials.

More often an adverbial is not essential to the grammar of the clause it is in. In each case of the sentences that follow the adverbial is in bold type.
He found a secret passage behind the fireplace.
She is usually a very happy child.
Last week Mr and Mars Holt came to see us.
In each case if you remove the adverbial the clause is still grammatical and still makes sense. As the examples show, adverbials can occur in different positions in the clause.
Sometimes they can be moved to a different position:
He found a secret passage behind the fireplace.
Behind the fireplace he found a secret passage.
This does not mean that they can be placed anywhere in the clause. The following arrangement is impossible:
He behind the fireplace found a secret passage.
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