no deberías nunca salir con ella

Question

This is a strange example and not covered in the explanation. When is it customary to insert a word between two verbs? When else can this occur?

Silvia Piriz · Accepted Answer

Hola Devin P.
When it comes to negative adverbs like "nunca", there is some flexibility with word order — and not only in modal verb constructions.
In sentences with modal verbs (like deber, poder, querer, etc.), you can often place nunca:

before the conjugated verb: Nunca deberías salir con ella.

between the conjugated verb and the infinitive: No deberías nunca salir con ella.

or after the infinitive: No deberías salir nunca con ella.

All of these are grammatically correct and commonly used.
But this flexibility isn’t only limited to modal verbs. In non-modal constructions, you can also find:
Nunca salgo con ella.
No salgo nunca con ella.
So yes — you can place nunca after the conjugated verb even without a modal. That said, inserting nunca between the conjugated verb and the infinitive (like in no deberías nunca salir) is mostly seen with modal verbs or similar verb structures. With simple one-verb sentences, it would sound unnatural to break them up like that.
Hope this helps clarify the pattern!
Buen finde
Silvia

Silvia Piriz · Answer

Hola Allison! The case you are talking about is actually covered in our lesson. When using the negative "nunca" with modal verbs, this can be placed into different orders within the sentence and all of them are correct. Silvia.

Devin Prowell · Answer

Can the negative always be placed be placed between the conjugated verb and the infinitive, or is this only the case with modal verbs?