Really aren't or aren't really?

[Martin]

Sorry, but this is driving me crazy. I can't seem to find the proper usage. For example:

"You really aren't looking very hard."

vs.

"You aren't really looking very hard."

The first sentence seems correct to be but I really want to know why. I'm finding other similar types of verbiage - especially from this book I'm reading that was originally published in 1935.

TIA!

[kmacnchs]

okay, off the top of my head, what are you having "really" modify? aren't or looking? that is where I would determine where to put it...but I'm not sure one is "wrong"...hmmm...

I would say sentence 1 seems righter :D

[forty-two]

I believe they are both correct. Really is an adverb, and they can go almost anywhere.

All these are correct, iirc:
"Really, you aren't looking very hard."
"You really aren't looking very hard."
"You aren't really looking very hard."
"You aren't looking very hard, really."

Where to place it depends on what part of the sentence you want to emphasize.

[April in CA]

Good Afternoon!
The first sentence most likely sounds correct (or at least more correct!) to you because the adverb comes before the verb phrase. "Aren't looking" is a verb phrase (the words work together as a single verb), so adverbs modifying the phrase should come before or after it, rather than between the words. Something like that might show up on a test, so it is good to know. However, the second sentence sounds okay to the ear because we speak so casually. We often split our verb phrases in speech without being bothered by it a bit, so it sounds normal to us even if it is not technically correct usage. Just my thoughts - hope they are helpful!
Blessings,
April

[Martin]

Thanks! Especially to April for the explanation. I run into similar issues but unfortunately cannot remember what some of the parts of speech are so looking up the answers for myself proves difficult. For example, I have not heard "verb phrase" in a long time.

I like to use "Grammer Girl". It has some great stuff but difficult to search.

And there's so much improper usage of the English language that sadly, it is becoming accepted as correct. How scary is that!