Also

David asks:
Would you please tell me which of the following statements is considered proper:
1- We can also take the bus.
2- We also can take the bus.
3- We can take the bus, also.

"Also" is an adverb, and adverbs are usually clearest when they're close to the verbs they modify. In the examples you give, the verb is "can take"—"can" is an auxiliary verb, helping to make the verb more precise.

All three versions you offer are understandable, and you could even add a fourth: "Also, we can take the bus." But I'd go with number 1. "Also" is close to "take," the main verb. Number 2 is OK, but speak it aloud: We AL so can TAKE the BUS. The sentence stumbles a bit, compared to We can AL so TAKE the BUS, which is easier to speak and read.

Comments

[David]

Dear Teacher,
In example number (2) if the sentence starts out like this:
John and sue can take the bus. We also can tkake the bus. then would not that be better than saying Wecan also take the bus??
Thank You
David

[Crawford Kilian]

You're right, David. If the context shows that "also" refers to the persons, not to the form of transport, then "also" should be close to the names. In the example you give, if John and Sue can take the bus, then so can we--"We also".

If the "also" refers to choices of transportation, then it should be closer to those choices: We can go by car or train. We can also take the bus.

Thanks for your question!

[Gordon]

or get rid of the also altogether and just say

"we could take the bus"

also seems to me to be for the case when you must use a variety of transport to reach your destination, such as ,

We take the Shin-kansen?

Ah, but you must also take the local bus.

[Salim Saleh Baoum]

i need to know the way to speak English language very well.

thank you