adverbs - "It is time now" or "It is now time"?




It is time now



or



It is now time



Which of these expressions is grammatically correct?



Answer



The position of certain time adjuncts in English is very flexible. Assuming your sentence is standing alone, now fits in every position: Now it is time. It now is time. It is now time. It is time now.


The default position of a time adjunct is at the end of the clause, so bringing it forward from that position gives it greater emphasis. Compare:



I played tennis yesterday.


Yesterday I played tennis.



Note that yesterday fits only in these two positions, whereas frequency adjuncts such as sometimes fit in three places:



Sometimes I play tennis.


I sometimes play tennis.


I play tennis sometimes.



As you see, the rules governing the position of adverbs in English are rather complex.


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