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Which of the following sentences are grammatically correct in written text?

  1. You also are allowed to see your son.
  2. You are also allowed to see your son.
  3. Also, you are allowed to see your son.
  4. You are allowed to see your son also.
Nathan Tuggy
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Hakan
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    Another such wonder word which can change the meaning of the sentence depending on its placement is *'only'*. Try it. – Maulik V Aug 20 '14 at 09:15
  • Please read here for reference: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/also-as-well-or-too; A little different perspective with the highest scored answer. – Flonne Dec 05 '18 at 02:40

4 Answers4

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All are grammatically correct, but can have slightly different meanings.

You also are allowed to see your son.

This could mean that in addition to other things that you are allowed to do, you are allowed to see your son. Depending on context, it could mean that in addition to others being allowed, you are too. E.g. "Your son's wife is allowed to see him. You also are allowed to see him."

You are also allowed to see your son.

Pretty much the same as the previous. We would be less likely to use this form to say #2 above, i.e. that you are allowed along with others who are allowed. This would more likely mean #1, in addition to other things, you are also allowed, etc.

Also, you are allowed to see your son.

In addition to other things, you are allowed to see your son. This differs from the first two in that it can be used when the other things are not permissions, while the first two would generally be used only to discuss several different permissions. That is, for example:

You are allowed to have a lawyer present during questioning. You are also allowed to see your son.

Versus:

Your deposit will be refunded. Also, you are now allowed to see your son.

Finally,

You are allowed to see your son also.

This one is most different. It would normally be used if there are specifically others that you are allowed to see, and your son is one of those. Like, "You are allowed to see your daughter. You are allowed to see your son also." You wouldn't use this form with other permissions or with other things that are not permissions.

But note that if you put a comma between "son" and "also", then it becomes the same as "Also, you are ..."

Jay
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  • thank you @Jay! Can we also use "then" as the same way like : "we then separate section into two subsections" and "then, we separate section into two subsections" ? – Hakan Jan 23 '14 at 22:46
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    Grammatically it functions in much the same way. It doesn't mean the same thing: "then" indicates that there is a sequence, while "also" does not. "Jack went to school in France. Also, he was born there," makes sense. "Jack went to school in France. Then he was born there" does not. Also, grammar Nazis frown on beginning a sentence with a conjunction, and "Then ..." is basically functioning as a conjuction. "Also ..." is arguably also, but I think is less likely to arouse the ire of English teachers. – Jay Jan 24 '14 at 16:12
  • Actually, though I don't disagree with Jay's answer, it's too long-winded and too tedious to read. Read here for compact reference: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/also-as-well-or-too – Flonne Dec 05 '18 at 02:43
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You also are allowed to see your son and you are also allowed to see your son are correct, according to e.g. this site.

This English.SE answer says that also is often used with the verb.

I don't really know whether You are allowed to see your son also is correct, but it looks/sounds like it isn't.

And Also, you are allowed to see your son sounds/reads strange, but looks like it's correct.

Community
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Renan
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The place that "also" takes in a sentence decides what the sentence would mean: to further explain, even if words in a sentence do not change, it is the particular place which "also" occupies in the sentence that the meaning of the sentence gets changed. Let me try to spell out a simple rule how the placing of "also" in a sentence changes its meaning: "also" when appears in a sentence qualifies the following word which denotes an object or action (or inaction) or, where there is no such following word, the preceding such word. This rule does not apply in the case where "also" appears in the beginning of a sentence followed by a comma or where "also" appears in the end of a sentence preceded by a comma. In this case, the entire sentence gets qualified by "also". This, I think, clears all doubts. However, as already explained above, none of the sentences which the question cites is grammatically incorrect.

Dinesh Kumar Garg
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You are allowed to see your son also is incorrect, because also is never used at the end of a sentence. Instead it is required to use too at the end. It would be You are allowed to see your son, too. Other versions seem correct to me.

saa
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  • Unfortunately, this is plain wrong, IMHO: http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/93012/is-it-grammatical-to-finish-a-sentence-with-also Should you be able to find a good grammar reference that supports your statement, please edit your answer. – Stephie Oct 20 '15 at 07:52
  • This answer is incorrect. 'Also' is often used at the end of a sentence. – Chenmunka Oct 20 '15 at 08:06
  • I almost always hear the usage of 'also' in the end of a sentence when speaking with Indian (native of India) people. In America/Britain, especially the native English speaker (i.e.: the Caucasian) rarely puts also in the backburner, except if you want to connect the previous clause. – Flonne Dec 05 '18 at 02:37
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    I think this column might be worth reading; it has a lot of good information. It refutes one of the myths found in this answer also. – J.R. Jan 23 '21 at 13:54