That’s Not English. That’s Chaos
Understanding Adverbial Phrase Placement
When learning English at the professional level, learners often produce sentences that are grammatically understandable but structurally unnatural. A recent real-life example from one of my group lessons:
“I’m using right now my computer.”
It’s intelligible, yes—but it’s not English. It’s chaos. It also happens more than you think. Are you guilty of this mistake?
Come on, fess up. No worries, I’m here to help. So, let’s break it down and fix it up.
The disruption comes from improper adverbial phrase placement. And while it may seem like a small issue, these structural missteps can interrupt clarity and professionalism—especially in high-stakes environments like presentations, meetings, and written reports.
What Is an Adverbial Phrase?
An adverbial phrase is a group of words that function together as an adverb, modifying a verb, adjective, or sentence. These phrases often answer when, where, how, or to what extent.
In this case, “right now” is an adverbial phrase of time, indicating when the action occurs.
The Standard Word Order in English
English follows a relatively fixed sentence pattern:
Subject + Verb + Object + Adverbial Phrase
Examples:
• She’s reviewing the contract right now.
• They’ll call you back later this afternoon.
• We’re finalizing the slides at the moment.
What’s Wrong With “I’m Using Right Now My Computer”?
Let’s break it down:
• Subject: I
• Verb: am using
• Adverbial phrase: right now
• Object: my computer
By placing “right now” between the verb and the object, the sentence disrupts expected word order:
Incorrect: I’m using right now my computer.
Correct: I’m using my computer right now.
Also correct: Right now, I’m using my computer. (emphasizes timing)
English expects the verb and its object to remain tightly linked. Placing an adverbial in the middle feels unnatural to native speakers—especially in professional speech.
Why This Error Happens
In many languages—Turkish, German, French, Arabic—adverbial phrases are more flexible in their placement. English, however, maintains stricter word order rules, particularly when it comes to verb-object unity.
How to Fix It
Keep adverbial time phrases like “right now” either at the end or beginning of the sentence.
End (neutral emphasis)
I’m using my computer right now.
Beginning (timing emphasized)
Right now, I’m using my computer.
Avoid placing the adverbial between the verb and its object.
Final Thought
Understanding how and where to place adverbial phrases—especially those indicating time—is one of the subtle but essential skills that elevate professional English.
It’s not just about avoiding mistakes. It’s about learning rhythm, clarity, and presence. At Learn-Hive, this is the kind of detail we specialize in—because real fluency is never chaotic. It’s structured, intentional, and confidently delivered.