The adverb 'now'

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hello! How are you?

Thanks in advance!

Example: What the devil are you doing in
my bedroom (now) ?

I am afraid I should omit ‘now’, but imagine
that person was doing something in my
kitchen, for instance, before, and I ask
him that question.

‘What in hell are you doing in
my bedroom now?’

Is ‘now’ redundant now? :roll:

Thanks a lot!

2

Hi Jesus

I would omit now. Otherwise it sounds a bit like you were expecting the person in your bedrooom later (rather than now).

You could add “now” to the beginning, but then it would be more like an exclamation of surprise:

Now, what the devil are you doing in my bedroom?

Amy

3

:lol:

Anyway, who would want to go back to that bedroom later (or ever, for that matter), after such a blunt and rude remark :roll: ?

I would say (if I was really very annoyed):

And now, (just) what do you think you’re doing in my bedroom?

4

:lol: :lol: :lol:

How right you are, Conchita!

5

Hello! How is it going?

Honestly, I always hesitate about the adverb
‘now’. I don?t know when I should use it,
and specially where I should place it.

I understood the examples, but… imagine this:

He wasn?t well-off before.

But one day, he becomes well-off.

I say:

1.-‘He is well-off NOW’

2.-?NOW he is well off’

Can I place the adverb ‘now’ in any
of these positions?

Do I mean the same? Do I mean
in both sentences
‘he is well-off at present’?

Thanks again!

6

Hi Jesus

Both of those are OK and mean the same thing.

You can pretty much put the word “now” anywhere you want in that particular sentence (except for between “well” and “off”). :lol:

Amy