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In Italian the adverb usually appears adjacent to the word which it relates. Usually, the adverb is placed before the adjective (sono troppo stanco, rather than sono stanco troppo) and after the verb (abita lontano, rather than lontano abita).

However, there is more freedom in placement when using adverbs of manner. In fact, the following phrases express the same sentiment:

improvvisamente scoppiò un temporale
suddenly a thunderstorm broke out


scoppiò improvvisamente un temporale
suddenly a thunderstorm broke out

scoppiò un temporale, improvvisamente
suddenly a thunderstorm broke out

In other instances the position of the adverb can change the rest of the sentence. Notice the difference between:

stranamente, Carlo dorme (=è strano che Carlo dorma);
Strangely, Charles asleeps (=it's strange that Charles sleeps);

in which the adverb of judgment refers to the entire sentence and

Carlo dorme stranamente (=in modo strano);
Charles sleeps strangely (=in a strange way);

in which stranamente, in this case an adverb of manner, refers only to the verb. Here are other examples in which the position of the adverb changes the meaning of the phrase:

sinceramente, non so se risponderti
frankly, I do not know whether to answer you
non so se risponderti sinceramente
I do not know whether to answer you truthfully

non ci crederai, ma davvero mi sentivo stanco
you won't believe this, but indeed I felt tired
mi sentivo davvero (=molto) stanco
I felt really (=very) tired

dammi anche un libro da leggere
also give me a book to read
dammi un libro anche da leggere (oltre che da studiare)
give me a book to read (as well as to study) too

Assai can precede or, less commonly, follow the adjective (or adverb): assai svelto, svelto assai; assai presto, presto assai.

The sequence "adverb + verb", occurring mainly in literary language and poetry, has the effect of giving emphasis to the first linguistic element:

molto si prodigò per il bene della comunità; volli, sempre volli, fortissimamente volli.