Placement It Should Usually Be Early Two schools of thought seem to exist on the placement of adverbs with compound verbs. The other approach, subscribed to here, is that the adverb works more mellifluously after the first part of the compound verb. Here's an attempt at a mnemonic formula to help keep them separate. His headache affected his ability to concentrate.
Verbs are words of action.
Aspirin had the desired effect, and he aced the exam. So much for the most common situations. She effected a revolution with her challenge to the grading system. But we can leave that one to the social scientists. Seems foolproof for the two basic meanings.