Can the adverb multe be located anywhere?

Question

I wonder whether the adverb 'multe' can be located anywhere in the below context.

Ili multe ŝatas pastaĵojn.

Ili ŝatas multe pastaĵojn.

Ili ŝatas pastaĵojn multe.

Are the above three sentences the same meaning and are all grammatically correct?

Putting 'multe' at the beginning obviously looks and sounds very awkward, so I excluded it.

Answer 1

Let me begin by stating that an adverb is a modifier and that there are different kinds of modifiers.

An adjective attribute can be either before or after its main word, i.e. bela domo or domo bela. The former way is nowadays more common.

Prepositions and particles go before their main word, i.e. antaŭ la domo, ankaŭ mi. The exception is the particle mem which goes after its main word, i.e. ni mem.

When it comes to adverbs, the recommended position is the same as with most modifiers, before the expression it modifies. The modified expression can vary from a single word (which even can be another adverb) to a whole subclause (see PMEG for further info).

Note, that when there are two adverbs modifying the same expression, the expression is usually a single word and the adverbs surround it. For instance ĉu vi ofte kuras rapide?

Ili multe ŝatas pastaĵojn.

Here multe modifies the verb, so it intensifies the liking.

Ili ŝatas multe pastaĵojn.

Here multe stands before the object, but does not modify it, because there is no da, i.e. the example phrase does not mean the same as Ili ŝatas multe da pastaĵoj. Therefore it must modify the preceding verb.

When it comes to the intensity, the speaker's and listener's native languages play a role. If after a verb is a normal, neutral position for an adverb in the speaker's language, the speaker's intention may be "normally intensified". If not, the intention might be "specially emphasised intensity". Add to this the listener's perception, and you realise that the perceived nuance might not be the same as the intended. In practise the nuance difference is mostly negligible.

Ili ŝatas pastaĵojn multe.

The last position indeed relates to all the preceding. As Joop Eggen already pointed out, multe in this position can be perceived to refer to time, i.e.≈ Ili ofte ŝatas pastaĵojn, but this is a special trait of multe. Should you use tre, *Ili ŝatas pastaĵojn tre* would be considered erroneous use.

Conclusion

There is some leeway where to put an adverb. Before the expression it modifies is suitable for all kinds of expressions (e.g. before a subclause) and likely perceived by many as the most Esperanto-ish style. After a single main word is also common and in many cases equally fine. Any other position is highly emphasising, perhaps triggers a special meaning of the adverb or is bad style, if not outright wrong.

Even if PMEG recommends using and some respected authors use commas to associate an adverb to a particular part of a sentence, I would avoid this kind of use. Not counting mathematics the comma rules in Esperanto are not steadfast and speakers of different languages can have varying views about their use.

Answer 2

An adverb can precede an other adverb, a verb or stand as its own clause.

It theoretically stresses other aspects. However national languages are often biased to a specific usage style. So the stressing might not have done perfectly.

Above tre might have been better than multe which is more quantitive.

• Before the verb: that the preference is large.
• After the verb: that the preference is large (as opposed to less), the adverb is emphasized by its special position. This would even be more so, when the adverb stood at the start.
• The last position relates to all the preceding. Here multe could mean ofte, often.

Note: this all is about nuances, style. So conscientiously use it in poetry or essays, but before-the-verb or separately is just fine. It should not make language less fluent.

Answer 3

Kvankam la tri ordoj ĝustas, mi sugestas aldoni komojn, kiam la adverbo venas post la tuta frazo ŝati pastaĵojn multe aŭ kiam ĝi apartigas verbon kaj objekton ŝati multe pastaĵojn (iel komenta frazo). Ankaŭ PMEG konsilas tion.

Ili ŝatas, multe, pastaĵojn.
Ili ŝatas pastaĵojn, multe.

Jen kelkaj ekzemploj de uzo de tiuj helpaj komoj en Tekstaro:

Tiuj “sofistoj” havis, kompreneble, nenion komunan (Ivo Lapenna)

ni ekspedas al vi hodiaŭ, malrapidire, keston (Fundamenta Krestomatio)

kiam ni ĝuas, ekzemple, muzikon (Kabe)

Notu ke kvantaj vortoj kiel multe, sufiĉe kaj kelke, estas specialaj adverboj, kiuj ankaŭ povas roli kiel subjekto kaj kiel objekto. Tial en viaj ekzemplaj supraj frazoj la ordo iom pli gravas ol kun aliaj adverboj (ni diru rapide, subite, feliĉe), ĉar la rolo povus ne esti unuavide tiel evidenta.