Table of Contents

Adverbs of place

Paaris friends  Our daughters live nearby but they're abroad at the moment.


Definition

Adverbs of place tell us about movement and location.


Construction

The word order can vary but these are the most usual:

 

Construction

Examples

 

After the main verb

 

He went out.

They're running away.

I don't like walking uphill.

 

 

After the object

 

 

 

 

Is it far?

We put the rubbish outside.

I can't find my keys anywhere.

 

 

Note that 'here' and 'there' can also be placed at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis. For example:

Here comes Liz. ['here' + verb + noun]

Here she comes. ['here' + pronoun + verb]

 

There goes my last €10!

There it goes!


Uses

We use them with verbs to answer the question, 'Where?'

 

Use

Examples

 

To indicate location

 

The canteen is downstairs.

We live here in the summer.

I'm staying indoors today.

 

 

To indicate movement

 

It's too cold to go out.

I put it there but now I can't find it.

Let's go through now.

 

 

Some adverbs can indicate both location and movement. For example:

 

He's out at the moment.

He went out five minutes ago.


Examples

Note that this is not a complete list.   

 

Adverb

Meaning

Examples

 

here

there

 

Near

To or at a distance

 

 

Come here.

Put it there.

 

backward(s)
forward(s)

upward(s)
downward(s)
inward(s)
outwards

northwards
southwards

 

 

In a specific direction

 

[Note that 'towards' is a preposition, not an adverb, and therefore requires a noun, e.g. He walked towards me.]

 

It's easier to walk forwards than backwards.

The crowd moved forwards.

They were tired but continued upwards.

The garden goes downwards.

The chairs are in a circle so everyone faces inwards.

This door opens outwards.

Drive northwards for 50km, then turn left in the village and head southwards for 3 km.

 

anywhere

somewhere

everywhere

nowhere

elsewhere

 

 

To or in a non-specific location

 

Let's have dinner somewhere special tonight.

I looked everywhere for Frances but couldn't find her anywhere.

We have nowhere to put the new cabinet.

The room was booked so we had to go elsewhere.

 

away

 

To or at a distance from somewhere

 

The film was so scary, I had to look away!

My husband's away this weekend.

She walked/ran/drove away.

 

 

in

out

 

Can mean 'here' or 'not here'

 

He's out at the moment - can I take a message?

He'll be in this afternoon.

 

 

indoors

outdoors

 

Into or inside a building

Into or in the open air

 

It rained so we stayed indoors.

The children went outdoors to play.

 

 

upstairs

downstairs

 

To or on a higher floor

To or on a lower floor

 

Martin's office is upstairs.

They walked downstairs.

 

 

uphill

downhill

 

Towards the top of a hill

Towards the bottom of a hill

 

 

Going uphill is hard work but I love cycling downhill.

 

ahead

 

Further forward

 

 

Walk ahead until you reach the traffic lights.

 

nearby

 

Not far from a place

 

Is there a good restaurant nearby?

 

 

abroad

 

To or in another country

 

He often travels abroad on business.

 

north

south

east

west

 

 

To or towards the north, south east, west

 

This train goes north.

The weather got warmer as we drove south.

 

back

 

In, into or towards a previous place or position

 

 

Can you bring back the file that you took?

I'm just going to the post office - I'll be back soon.

 

left

right

 

On or to the left/right

 

At the roundabout, turn left and then bear right.

Keep left as you walk down the escalator.

'Here' and 'there'

We can use 'here' and 'there' with a preposition when we don't need to mention a specific place because it is obvious or we indicate the place with a gesture. For example:

 

            The file is over there. [the speakers points to a place]

I put it under here. [under this desk, table, bed etc.]

Look up there - is it a plane? [the speaker indicates a part of the sky by a look or gesture]


Adjectives

Some adverbs of place can also be adjectives. For example:

 

            We have a downstairs bathroom.

            There are lots of places to visit in the nearby towns.


Prepositions

Some adverbs of place are also prepositions of place. The difference is that adverbs are used alone and prepositions require a noun. For example:

 

            We can't smoke inside. [adverb]

            We can't smoke inside the building. [preposition]

 

            They looked up. [adverb]

            They looked up the road. [preposition]

 

If you are not sure how to use them in a sentence, look at examples in a good dictionary.

 

See also prepositions of place.