20 - ] Grammar American & British .
Adverbs .
What Is an Adverb?
An adverb is a part of speech that provides greater description to
a verb, adjective, another adverb, a phrase, a clause, or a sentence.
An adverb is a word that modifies (describes) a verb (he sings
loudly), an adjective (very tall), another adverb (ended too quickly), or even
a whole sentence (Fortunately, I had brought an umbrella). Adverbs often end in
-ly, but some (such as fast) look exactly the same as their adjective
counterparts.
Adverbs are a very broad collection of words that may describe how,
where, or when an action took place. They may also express the viewpoint of the
speaker about the action, the intensity of an adjective or another adverb, or
several other functions. Use these pages about the grammar of adverbs in
English to become more precise and more descriptive in your speaking and
writing.
Adverbs in English
Adverbs modify, or tell us more about, other words. Usually adverbs
modify verbs, telling us how, how often, when, or where something was done. The
adverb is placed after the verb it modifies.
Examples
The bus moved slowly.
The bears ate greedily.
The car drove fast.
Sometimes adverbs modify adjectives, making them stronger or
weaker.
Examples
You look absolutely fabulous!
He is slightly overweight.
You are very persistent.
Some types of adverbs can modify other adverbs, changing their
degree or precision.
Examples
She played the violin extremely well.
You're speaking too quietly.
A great way to pick out an adverb from a sentence is to look for
the word ending in -ly. Although that's not universally true, it's a good place
to start. Also, given their function, these fundamental elements of the English
language are usually placed right before or after the verb in the sentence.
Adverbs are intensifiers and they can even come in the form of an
adverb phrase. That just means you're looking at two or more words that act as
an adverb. Let's take some time to dive (v.) deeply (adv.) into these popular
modifiers.
Defining an Adverb
What is an adverb? Well, first, it's important to understand the
words adverbs work closely with, starting with verbs, adjectives, and
other adverbs.
A verb is a word that expresses action or a state of being, i.e.
jump, run, swim, ski, fish, talk.
An adjective is a word that describes or clarifies a noun, i.e.
pretty, happy, silly, sunny.
A noun is a person, place or thing - in its simplest definition,
i.e. girl, dog, mom.
Once you see a few examples, it'll be easy to see how adverbs
function in a sentence. To simplify things, they explain the action.
Here are some examples of adverbs modifying verbs:
He runs quickly.
She walks slowly.
Adverbs can also modify adjectives or other adverbs. They provide
more information about that other descriptive word. For example:
He runs very quickly.
In this sentence, the adverb "very" is describing the
adverb "quickly" ("very quickly" can be used as an adverb
phrase).
An incredibly pretty girl sat down next to me.
In this sentence, the adverb "incredibly" is describing
the adjective "pretty."
Identifying an Adverb
So, you can tell whether or not a word is an adverb by considering
its function in the sentence. If it is describing a verb, adjective or other
adverb it's an adverb.
Let's talk a little bit more about that -ly ending. We've compiled
a list of 100 adverbs, and you'll see that many of them end in -ly. While
that's a popular way to identify these modifiers, it's important to remember
that isn't universally true. Don't forget adverbs such as "always",
"often", "sometimes", "seldom", and
"never." You've also got conjunctive adverbs such as
"also," "besides," "meanwhile," and
"likewise."
But, since the -ly form is very common let's keep the party going
with a few more examples:
The dog messily ate his dinner.
I happily handed in my test.
She quickly washed the dishes.
You can tell that these words are adverbs because they're
describing the verbs in the sentence and they end in -ly.
Many high-frequency words are also adverbs. For example,
"very," "much," "more," and "many" can
all be adverbs.
The puppy's behavior was very bad.
The much smarter boy won the spelling bee.
I so want to go to that concert tonight.
Forming
adverbs from adjectives.
In most cases, an adverb is formed by adding -ly to an adjective
Adjective
|
Adverb
|
cheap
|
cheaply
|
quick
|
quickly
|
slow
|
slowly
|
If the adjective ends in -y, replace the y with i and add -ly
Adjective
|
Adverb
|
easy
|
easily
|
angry
|
angrily
|
happy
|
happily
|
lucky
|
luckily
|
If the adjective ends in -able, -ible, or -le, replace the -e with
-y.
Adjective
|
Adverb
|
probable
|
probably
|
terrible
|
terribly
|
gentle
|
gently
|
If the adjective ends in -ic, add -ally. Exception: public ->
publicly
Adjective
|
Adverb
|
basic
|
basically
|
tragic
|
tragically
|
economic
|
economically
|
Some adverbs have the same form as the adjective: early, fast,
hard, high, late, near, straight, & wrong
Examples
It is a fast car.
He drives very fast.
This is a hard exercise.
He works hard.
We saw many high buildings.
The bird flew high in the sky.
Well is the adverb that corresponds to the adjective good.
Examples
He is a good student.
He studies well.
She is a good pianist.
She plays the piano well.
They are good swimmers.
They swim well.
Comparative
and superlative adverbs
With adverbs ending in -ly, you must use more to form the
comparative, and most to form the superlative.
Adverb
|
Comparative
|
Superlative
|
quietly
|
more quietly
|
most quietly
|
slowly
|
more slowly
|
most slowly
|
seriously
|
more seriously
|
most seriously
|
Examples
The teacher spoke more slowly to help us to understand.
Could you sing more quietly please?
With short adverbs that do not end in -ly comparative and
superlative forms are identical to adjectives: add -er to form the comparative
and -est to form the superlative. If the adverb ends in e, remove it before
adding the ending.
Adverb
|
Comparative
|
Superlative
|
hard
|
harder
|
hardest
|
fast
|
faster
|
fastest
|
late
|
later
|
latest
|
Examples
Jim works harder than his brother.
Everyone in the race ran fast, but John ran the fastest of all.
Some adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms.
Adverb
|
Comparative
|
Superlative
|
badly
|
worse
|
worst
|
far
|
farther/further
|
farthest/furthest
|
little
|
less
|
least
|
well
|
better
|
best
|
Examples
The little boy ran farther than his friends.
You're driving worse today than yesterday !
He played the best of any player.
Adverbs
of place
Adverbs of place tell us where something happens. Adverbs of place
are usually placed after the main verb or after the clause that they modify.
Adverbs of place do not modify adjectives or other adverbs. Some examples of
adverbs of place: here, everywhere, outside, away, around
Examples
John looked around but he couldn't see the monkey.
I searched everywhere I could think of.
I'm going back to school.
Come in!
They built a house nearby.
She took the child outside.
Here and There
Here and there are common adverbs of place. They give a location
relative to the speaker. With verbs of movement, here means "towards or
with the speaker" and there means "away from, or not with the
speaker".
Sentence Meaning
Come here! Come towards
me.
The table is in here. Come
with me; we will go see it together.
Put it there. Put it in a
place away from me.
The table is in there. Go
in; you can see it by yourself.
Here and there are combined with prepositions to make many common
adverbial phrases.
Examples
What are you doing up there?
Come over here and look at what I found!
The baby is hiding down there under the table.
I wonder how my driver's license got stuck under here.
Here and there are placed at the beginning of the sentence in
exclamations or when emphasis is needed. They are followed by the verb if the
subject is a noun or by a pronoun if the subject is a pronoun.
Examples
Here comes the bus!
There goes the bell!
There it is!
Here they are!
Adverbs
of place that are also prepositions
Many adverbs of place can also be used as prepositions. When used
as prepositions, they must be followed by a noun.
Word
|
Used as an adverb of place, modifying a verb
|
Used as a preposition
|
around
|
The marble rolled around in my hand.
|
I am wearing a necklace around my neck.
|
behind
|
Hurry! You are getting behind.
|
Let's hide behind the shed.
|
down
|
Mary fell down.
|
John made his way carefully down the cliff.
|
in
|
We decided to drop in on Jake.
|
I dropped the letter in the mailbox.
|
off
|
Let's get off at the next stop.
|
The wind blew the flowers off the tree.
|
on
|
We rode on for several more hours.
|
Please put the books on the table.
|
over
|
He turned over and went back to sleep.
|
I think I will hang the picture over my bed.
|
Adverbs of place ending in -where
Adverbs of place that end in -where express the idea of location
without specifying a specific location or direction.
Examples
I would like to go somewhere warm for my vacation.
Is there anywhere I can find a perfect plate of spaghetti around
here?
I have nowhere to go.
I keep running in to Sally everywhere!
Adverbs of place ending in -wards
Adverbs of place that end in -wards express movement in a
particular direction.
Examples
Cats don't usually walk backwards.
The ship sailed westwards.
The balloon drifted upwards.
We will keep walking homewards until we arrive.
Be careful: Towards is a preposition, not an adverb, so it is
always followed by a noun or a pronoun.
Examples
He walked towards the car.
She ran towards me.
Adverbs of place expressing both movement & location
Some adverbs of place express both movement & location at the
same time.
Examples
The child went indoors.
He lived and worked abroad.
Water always flows downhill.
The wind pushed us sideways.
Adverbs
of time
Adverbs of time tell us when an action happened, but also for how
long, and how often. Adverbs of time are invariable. They are extremely common
in English. Adverbs of time have standard positions in a sentence depending on
what the adverb of time is telling us.
Adverbs that tell us when
Adverbs that tell us when are usually placed at the end of the
sentence.
Examples
Goldilocks went to the Bears' house yesterday.
I'm going to tidy my room tomorrow.
I saw Sally today.
I will call you later.
I have to leave now.
I saw that movie last year.
Putting an adverb that tells us when at the end of a sentence is a
neutral position, but these adverbs can be put in other positions to give a
different emphasis. All adverbs that tell us when can be placed at the
beginning of the sentence to emphasize the time element. Some can also be put
before the main verb in formal writing, while others cannot occupy that
position.
Examples
Later Goldilocks ate some porridge. (the time is important)
Goldilocks later ate some porridge. (this is more formal, like a
policeman's report)
Goldilocks ate some porridge later. (this is neutral, no particular
emphasis)
Adverbs that tell us for how long
Adverbs that tell us for how long are also usually placed at the
end of the sentence.
Examples
She stayed in the Bears' house all day.
My mother lived in France for a year.
I have been going to this school since 1996.
In these adverbial phrases that tell us for how long, for is always
followed by an expression of duration, while since is always followed by an
expression of a point in time.
Examples
I stayed in Switzerland for three days.
I am going on vacation for a week.
I have been riding horses for several years.
The French monarchy lasted for several centuries.
I have not seen you since Monday.
Jim has been working here since 1997.
There has not been a more exciting discovery since last century.
Adverbs
that tell us how often ( Adverbs Of Frequency )
Adverbs that tell us how often express the frequency of an action.
They are usually placed before the main verb but after auxiliary verbs (such as
be, have, may, & must). The only exception is when the main verb is
"to be", in which case the adverb goes after the main verb.
Examples
I often eat vegetarian food.
He never drinks milk.
You must always fasten your seat belt.
I am seldom late.
He rarely lies.
Many adverbs that express frequency can also be
placed at either the beginning or the end of the sentence, although some cannot
be. When they are placed in these alternate positions, the meaning of the
adverb is much stronger.
Adverb that can be used in two positions
|
Stronger position
|
Weaker position
|
frequently
|
I visit France frequently.
|
I frequently visit France.
|
generally
|
Generally, I don't like spicy foods.
|
I generally don't like
spicy foods.
|
normally
|
I listen to classical music normally.
|
I normally listen to
classical music.
|
occasionally
|
I go to the opera occasionally.
|
I
occasionally go to the opera.
|
often
|
Often, I jog
in the morning.
|
I often jog
in the morning.
|
regularly
|
I come to this museum regularly.
|
I regularly come to this
museum.
|
sometimes
|
I get up very early sometimes.
|
I sometimes get up very early.
|
usually
|
I enjoy being with children usually.
|
I usually enjoy being with children.
|
Some other adverbs that tell us how often express the exact number
of times an action happens or happened. These adverbs are usually placed at the
end of the sentence.
Examples
This magazine is published monthly.
He visits his mother once a week.
I work five days a week.
I saw the movie seven times.
Using Yet
Yet is used in questions and in negative sentences to indicate that
something that has not happened or may not have happened but is expected to
happen. It is placed at the end of the sentence or after not.
Examples
Have you finished your work yet? (= simple request for information)
No, not yet. (= simple negative answer)
They haven't met him yet. (= simple negative statement)
Haven't you finished yet? (= expressing surprise)
Using Still
Still expresses continuity. In positive sentences it is placed
before the main verb and after auxiliary verbs such as be, have, might, will.
If the main verb is to be, then place still after it rather than before. In
questions, still goes before the main verb.
Examples
She is still waiting for you.
Jim might still want some.
Do you still work for the BBC?
Are you still here?
I am still hungry.
Order
of adverbs of time
If you need to use more than one adverb of time in a sentence, use
them in this order:
1: how long 2: how often 3: when
Examples
1 + 2 : I work (1) for five hours (2) every day
2 + 3 : The magazine was published (2) weekly (3) last year.
1 + 3 : I was abroad (1) for two months (3) last year.
1 + 2 + 3 : She worked in a hospital (1) for two days (2) every
week (3) last year.
Adverbs
of manner
Adverbs of manner tell us how something happens. They are usually
placed either after the main verb or after the object.
Examples
He swims well.
He ran quickly.
She spoke softly.
James coughed loudly to attract her attention.
He plays the flute beautifully. (after the direct object)
He ate the chocolate cake greedily. (after the direct object)
An adverb of manner cannot be put between a verb and its direct
object. The adverb must be placed either before the verb or at the end of the
clause.
Examples
He ate greedily the chocolate cake. [incorrect]
He ate the chocolate cake greedily. [correct]
He greedily ate the chocolate cake. [correct]
He gave us generously the money. [incorrect]
He gave us the money generously. [correct]
He generously gave us the money. [correct]
If there is a preposition before the verb's object, you can place
the adverb of manner either before the preposition or after the object.
Examples
The child ran happily towards his mother.
The child ran towards his mother happily.
Adverbs of manner should always come immediately after verbs which
have no object (intransitive verbs).
Examples
The town grew quickly after 1997.
He waited patiently for his mother to arrive.
These common adverbs of manner are almost always placed directly
after the verb: well, badly, hard, & fast
Examples
He swam well despite being tired.
The rain fell hard during the storm.
The position of the adverb is important when there is more than one
verb in a sentence. If the adverb is placed before or after the main verb, it
modifies only that verb. If the adverb is placed after a clause, then it
modifies the whole action described by the clause. Notice the difference in
meaning between the following sentences.
Example
|
Meaning
|
She quickly agreed to re-type the letter.
|
the agreement is quick
|
She agreed quickly to re-type the letter.
|
the agreement is quick
|
She agreed to re-type the letter quickly.
|
the re-typing is quick
|
He quietly asked me to leave the house.
|
the request is quiet
|
He asked me quietly to leave the house.
|
the request is quiet
|
He asked me to leave the house quietly.
|
the leaving is quiet
|
Literary usage
Sometimes an adverb of manner is placed before a verb + object to
add emphasis.
Examples
He gently woke the sleeping woman.
She angrily slammed the door.
Some writers put an adverb of manner at the beginning of the
sentence to catch our attention and make us curious.
Examples
Slowly she picked up the knife.
Roughly he grabbed her arm.
Adverbs
of degree
Adverbs of degree tell us about the intensity of something. Adverbs
of degree are usually placed before the adjective, adverb, or verb that they
modify, although there are some exceptions. The words "too",
"enough", "very", and "extremely" are examples of
adverbs of degree.
Adverb of degree
|
Modifying
|
Example
|
extremely
|
adjective
|
The water was extremely cold.
|
quite
|
adjective
|
The movie is quite interesting.
|
just
|
verb
|
He was just leaving.
|
almost
|
verb
|
She has almost finished.
|
very
|
adverb
|
She is running very fast.
|
too
|
adverb
|
You are walking too slowly.
|
enough
|
adverb
|
You are running fast enough.
|
Usage of
"enough"
Enough can be used as both an adverb and as a determiner.
Enough as an adverb
Enough as an adverb meaning 'to the necessary degree' goes after
the adjective or adverb that it is modifying, and not before it as other
adverbs do. It can be used both in positive and negative sentences.
Examples
Is your coffee hot enough?
This box isn't big enough.
He didn't work hard enough.
I got here early enough.
Enough is often followed by "to" + the infinitive.
Examples
He didn't work hard enough to pass the exam.
Is your coffee hot enough to drink?
She's not old enough to get married.
I got here early enough to sign up.
Enough can also be followed by "for someone" or "for
something".
Examples
The dress was big enough for me.
She's not experienced enough for this job.
Is the coffee hot enough for you?
He didn't work hard enough for a promotion.
Enough as a determiner
Enough as a determiner meaning 'as much/many as necessary' goes
before the noun it modifies. It is used with countable nouns in the plural and
with uncountable nouns.
Examples
We have enough bread.
You have enough children.
They don't have enough food.
I don't have enough apples.
Usage of
"too"
"Too" is always an adverb, but it has two distinct
meanings, each with its own usage patterns.
Too meaning "also"
Too as an adverb meaning "also" goes at the end of the
phrase it modifies.
Examples
I would like to go swimming too, if you will let me come.
Can I go to the zoo too?
Is this gift for me too?
I'm not going to clean your room too!
Too meaning "excessively"
Too as an adverb meaning "excessively" goes before the
adjective or adverb it modifies. It can be used in both affirmative and
negative sentences.
Examples
This coffee is too hot.
He works too hard.
Isn't she too young?
I am not too short!
Too is often followed by "to" + the infinitive.
Examples
The coffee was too hot to drink.
You're too young to have grandchildren!
I am not too tired to go out tonight.
Don't you work too hard to have any free time?
Too can also be followed by "for someone" or "for
something".
Examples
The coffee was too hot for me.
The dress was too small for her.
He's not too old for this job.
Sally's not too slow for our team.
Usage of
"very"
Very goes before an adverb or adjective to make it stronger.
Examples
The girl was very beautiful.
The house is very expensive.
He worked very quickly.
She runs very fast.
If we want to make a negative form of an adjective or adverb, we
can add "not" to the verb, we can use an adjective or adverb of
opposite meaning, or we can use "not very" with the original
adjective or adverb. The meanings of the phrases are not identical. Usually the
phrase using "not very" is less direct, and thus more polite, than
the other phrases.
Examples
Original phrase
|
Opposite meaning with "not"
|
Opposite meaning with "not very"
|
Opposite meaning with an opposite word
|
The girl was beautiful.
|
The girl was not beautiful.
|
The girl was not very beautiful.
|
The girl was ugly.
|
He worked quickly.
|
He did not work quickly.
|
He did not work very quickly.
|
He worked slowly.
|
Difference in
meaning between "very" and "too"
There is a big difference in meaning between "too" and
"very". "Very" expresses a fact while "too"
suggests there is a problem.
Examples
He speaks very quickly.
He speaks too quickly for me to understand.
It is very hot outside.
It is too hot outside to go for a walk.
Other adverbs used like "very"
Some common adverbs are used in the same way as "very" to
heighten the degree of adjectives and adverbs.
Expressing very strong feelings Expressing
strong feelings Expressing somewhat
doubtful feelings
extremely, terribly, amazingly, wonderfully, insanely especially, particularly, uncommonly,
unusually, remarkably, quite pretty,
rather, fairly, not especially, not particularly
The movie was amazingly interesting.
|
The movie was particularly interesting.
|
The movie was fairly interesting.
|
She sang wonderfully well.
|
She sang unusually well.
|
She sang pretty well.
|
The lecture was terribly boring.
|
The lecture was quite boring.
|
The lecture was rather boring.
|
Inversion
with negative adverbs
Normally the subject goes before the verb, however, some negative
adverbs can cause an inversion when placed at the beginning of the clause. The
order is reversed and the verb goes before the subject. This inversion is only
used in writing, not in speaking.
Adverb
|
Normal word order
|
Inversion
|
Never
|
I have never seen such courage.
|
Never have I seen such courage.
|
Rarely
|
She rarely left the house.
|
Rarely did she leave the house.
|
Not only
|
She did not only the cooking but the cleaning as well.
|
Not only did she do the cooking, but the cleaning as well.
|
Scarcely
|
I scarcely closed the door before he started talking.
|
Scarcely did I close the door before he started talking.
|
Seldom
|
We seldom cross the river after sunset.
|
Seldom do we cross the river sunset.
|
Adverbs
of certainty
Adverbs of certainty express how certain we feel about an action or
event. Adverbs of certainty go before the main verb unless the main verb is 'to
be', in which case the adverb of certainty goes after.
Examples
He definitely left the house this morning.
He surely won't forget.
He is probably in the park.
He is certainly a smart man.
If there is an auxiliary verb, the adverb of certainty goes between
the auxiliary and the main verb.
Examples
He has certainly forgotten the meeting.
He will probably remember tomorrow.
He is definitely running late.
Sometimes these adverbs of certainty can be placed at the beginning
of the sentence.
Examples
Undoubtedly, Winston Churchill was a great politician.
Certainly, I will be there.
Probably, he has forgotten the meeting.
When the adverb of certainty surely is placed at the beginning of
the sentence, it means the speaker thinks something is true, but is looking for
confirmation.
Examples
Surely you've got a bicycle.
Surely you're not going to wear that to the party.
Viewpoint
and commenting adverbs
There are some adverbs and adverbial expressions which tell us
about the speaker's viewpoint or opinion about an action, or make some comment
on the action. These adverbs are different from other adverbs because they do
not tell us how an action occurred. Commenting and viewpoint adverbs modify
entire clauses rather than single verbs, adverbs, or adjectives. There is no
real distinction between commenting adverbs and viewpoint adverbs, except in
their sentence placement. Many adverbs that can be used as viewpoint adverbs
can also be used as commenting adverbs. However, in some cases, an adverb is far
more common as one or the other.
Sentence placement
Viewpoint adverbs are placed at the beginning, or more rarely, at
the end of the sentence. They are usually separated from the rest of the
sentence by a comma. Commenting adverbs are placed before the main verb unless
the verb "to be" is used, in which case placement can be either
before or after the verb. In some cases, commenting adverbs placed before the
main verb will also be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas,
although in most cases they will not be. In the examples below, viewpoint and
commenting adverbs are shown in the correct sentence placements. When a
sentence placement is unusual, stilted, or too formal for spoken language, it
is marked with an asterisk.
Viewpoint or commenting adverb
|
At the start of a sentence
|
Before the main verb
|
At the end of a sentence
|
clearly
|
Clearly, he doesn't know what he is doing.
|
He clearly doesn't know what he is doing.
|
He doesn't know what he is doing, clearly.
|
obviously
|
Obviously, you are acting silly.
|
You are obviously acting silly
|
You are acting silly, obviously.
|
personally
|
Personally, I'd rather go by train.
|
I'd personally rather go by train.
|
I'd rather go by train, personally.
|
presumably
|
Presumably, he didn't have time to go to the post office.
|
He presumably didn't have time to go to the post office.
|
He didn't have time to go to the post office, presumably.
|
seriously
|
Seriously, I can't give this speech.
|
I seriously can't give this speech.
|
I can't give this speech, seriously.
|
surely
|
Surely you tried to get here on time.
|
You surely tried to get here on time.
|
You tried to get here on time, surely.
|
technically
|
Technically, we cannot fly to Mars and back.
|
We technically cannot fly to Mars and back.
|
We cannot fly to Mars and back, technically.
|
undoubtedly
|
Undoubtedly, he has a good reason not to come.
|
He undoubtedly has a good reason not to come.
|
He has a good reason not to come, undoubtedly.
|
bravely
|
Bravely, I kept on walking.
|
I bravely kept on walking.
|
*I kept on walking, bravely.
|
carelessly
|
Carelessly, she threw her book into the pond.
|
She carelessly threw her book into the pond.
|
*She threw her book into the pond, carelessly.
|
certainly
|
Certainly you should be there.
|
You certainly should be there. / You should certainly be there.
|
You should be there, certainly.
|
cleverly
|
Cleverly, Sally hid the jellybeans.
|
Sally cleverly hid the jellybeans.
|
*Sally hid the jellybeans, cleverly.
|
definitely
|
*Definitely, you are smart.
|
You defintely are smart. / You are definitely smart.
|
*You are smart, definitely.
|
foolishly
|
Foolishly, they cried out.
|
They foolishly cried out.
|
They cried out, foolishly.
|
generously
|
Generously, he donated the money.
|
He generously donated the money.
|
*He donated the money, generously.
|
stupidly
|
Stupidly, they played in the street.
|
They stupidly played in the street.
|
*They played in the street, stupidly.
|
obviously
|
Obviously, we are lost.
|
We are obviously lost. / *We obviously are lost.
|
We are lost, obviously.
|
kindly
|
Kindly, she fed the cat first.
|
She kindly fed the cat first.
|
She fed the cat first, kindly.
|
luckily
|
Luckily, you got here on time.
|
You luckily got here on time.
|
You got here on time, luckily.
|
fortunately
|
Fortunately, we found the boat.
|
We fortunately found the boat.
|
We found the boat, fortunately.
|
naturally
|
Naturally, you cannot be in the circus now.
|
You naturally cannot be in the circus now.
|
You cannot be in the circus now, naturally.
|
wisely
|
Wisely, she stayed home to take a nap.
|
She wisely stayed home to take a nap.
|
She stayed home to take a nap, wisely.
|
confidentially
|
Confidentially, I never gave him the envelope.
|
I never gave him the envelope, confidentially.
|
|
theoretically
|
Theoretically, we could send astronauts to Mars.
|
We could theoretically send astronauts to Mars. / We
theoretically could send astronauts to Mars.
|
We could send astronauts to Mars, theoretically.
|
truthfully
|
Truthfully, I don't like chocolate much.
|
I truthfully don't like chocolate much.
|
I don't like chocolate much, truthfully.
|
disappointingly
|
Disappointingly, she got fourth place.
|
She disappointingly got fourth place.
|
She got fourth place, disappointingly.
|
thoughtfully
|
Thoughtfully, I turned away.
|
I thoughtfully turned away.
|
I turned away, thoughtfully.
|
simply
|
*Simply, I don't want to come.
|
I simply don't want to come.
|
|
unbelievably
|
Unbelievably, she showed up late again.
|
She unbelievably showed up late again.
|
She showed up late again, unbelievably.
|
unfortunately
|
Unfortunately, there is no more room.
|
There is unfortunately no more room. / There unfortunately is no
more room.
|
There is no more room, unfortunately.
|
Relative
adverbs
The relative adverbs where, when & why can be used to join
sentences or clauses. They replace the more formal structure of preposition +
which used to introduce a relative clause.
Formal structure, preposition + which More common structure using a relative adverb
That's the restaurant in which we met for the first time.
|
That's the restaurant where we met for the first time.
|
That picture was taken in the park at which I used to play.
|
That picture was taken in the park where I used to play.
|
I remember the day on which we first met.
|
I remember the day when we first met.
|
There was a very hot summer the year in which he was born.
|
There was a very hot summer the year when he was born.
|
Tell me the reason for which you came home late.
|
Tell me (the reason) why you came home late.
|
Do you want to know the reason for which he is angry with Sally?
|
Do you want to know (the reason) why he is angry with Sally?
|
Interrogative
adverbs
The interrogative adverbs why, where, how, & when are placed at
the beginning of a question. These questions can be answered with a sentence or
a prepositional phrase. After an interrogative adverb in a question, you must
invert the subject and verb so that the verb comes first.
Examples
Why are you so late? There was a lot of traffic.
Where is my passport? In the drawer.
How are you? I'm fine.
When does the train arrive? At 11:15.
Uses of how
How can be used to form questions in four different ways. How can
be used by itself to mean "in what way".
Examples
How did you make this sauce?
How do you start the car?
How can I get to your house?
How can be used with adjectives to ask about the degree of an
attribute.
Examples
How tall are you?
How old is your house?
How angry is mother?
How can be used with much and many to ask about quantity. Much is
used with uncountable nouns and many is used with countable nouns.
Examples
How many people are coming to the party?
How much flour do I need?
How much are these tomatoes?
How can be used with other adverbs to ask about the frequency or
degree of an action.
Examples
How quickly can you read this?
How often do you go to London?
How loudly does your brother scream?
Common
Errors with Adverbs and Adjectives
Since adverbs and adjectives both modify other words, people often
mistakenly use an adjective when they should use an adverb and vice versa. For
example, the following sentence is incorrect:
He behaved very bad on the field trip.
This is incorrect because "bad" is an adjective being
used to describe "behaved," which is a verb. It should read:
He behaved very badly on the field trip.
On the other hand, this would be correct:
His behavior was bad on the field trip.
Here, the adjective "bad" is correctly describing the
noun "behavior."
Good and Well
The words good and well are common triggers to the adverb vs.
adjective confusion. It's important to remember this:
Good is an adjective that modifies nouns.
For example: That good boy (n.) just gave his little sister a hug.
Well is an adverb that modifies verbs or even adjectives.
For example: He listens (v.) well.
That well educated (adj) woman went on to marry a celebrity.
Adverb Practice
To practice what you've learned here, see if you can identify the
adverb in each of the following sentences. (Answers at the bottom of the page.)
Jim will miss the wonderfully friendly people at work.
Joe walked slowly and steadily up the hill.
Becky ate quickly and then felt sick.
Jill is very late.
Clark wanted to see the great, big house.
Answers to Adverb Practice:
Jim will miss the wonderfully friendly people at work.
Wonderfully is the adverb, which modifies the adjective friendly,
which modifies the noun people.
Joe walked slowly and steadily up the hill.
Slowly and steadily are both adverbs, describing the way Joe
walked.
Becky ate quickly and then felt sick.
Quickly is the adverb here, modifying the verb ate.
Jill is very late.
Very is an adverb modifying late, which is an adjective modifying
Joe.
Clark wanted to see the great, big house.
Great is an adverb modifying "big," which is an adjective
modifying the noun "house."
Exercises
Adverbs
and Adjectives 1
1) John held the plate
(careful / carefully) .
2) Julia is a (careful / carefully) person.
3) I ran (quick / quickly) to the station.
4) The journey was (quick /
quickly) .
5) You look (tired / tiredly) .Didn't you sleep well?
6) The baby rubbed her eyes (tired / tiredly) .
7) She sang (happy / happily) .
8) You sound (happy / happily) .
9) I speak English (well / good) .
10) Her English is (well / good) .
11) She cooks (terrible /
terribly) .
12) He is a (terrible / terribly) cook.
13) The music was (beautiful / beautifully) .
14) She plays the piano (beautiful / beautifully) .
15) That was a (clever / cleverly ) answer.
16) She answered (clever / cleverly).
17) Your flat seems (tidy / tidily) today.
18) He put the dishes away (tidy / tidily) .
19) He spoke (warm / warmly) .
20) She is a very (warm / warmly) person.
Find the adjective in the first sentence and fill in the blanks
with the corresponding adverb.
James is careful. He drives ……………
The girl is slow. She walks …………….
Her English is perfect. She speaks English ……………
Our teacher is angry. She shouts …………….
My neighbor is a loud speaker. He speaks …………….
He is a bad writer . He writes ………………..
Jane is a nice guitar player. He plays the guitar……………..
He is a good painter . He paints ………………
She is a quiet girl. She does her job ………………..
This exercise is easy. You can do it …………………
Conjunctive adverbs are used mostly in writing. Using these in
every-day conversations would be a little too formal. Choose the best, most
natural-sounding conjunctive adverb (adverbial conjunction) for each sentence:
1. You need to work harder; ________________, you'll get fired.
otherwise
moreover
instead
2. We wanted to go to Portugal; ________________, we went to Brazil.
instead
accordingly
otherwise
3. He is a very weak president; ________________, most people
support him.
otherwise
instead
nevertheless
4. We wanted to go to the beach; ________________, it started to
rain and we stayed at home.
otherwise
however
namely
5. She is a very smart woman; ________________, it is not at all
surprising that she got the job.
nevertheless
similarly
therefore
6. He has a terrible voice; ________________, he will go down in
history as the worst singer ever.
undoubtedly
otherwise
still
7. John has very little money; ________________, his brother Jacob
is a millionaire.
in contrast
nonetheless
similarly
8. Roberta didn't have all the ingredients to bake a cake;
________________, she decided to prepare something else.
finally
indeed
therefore
9. He couldn't tell her the truth; ________________, he lied.
finally
similarly
instead
10. I really don't know why he came; ________________, I would tell
you.
otherwise
instead
in contrast
Conjunctive adverbs are used mostly in writing. Using these in
every-day conversations would be a little too formal. Choose the best, most
natural-sounding conjunctive adverb (adverbial conjunction) for each sentence:
1. He tried his best; ________________, he couldn't pass the exam.
still
otherwise
subsequently
2. I will try to get a discount; ________________, I won't buy this
TV.
subsequently
otherwise
still
3. He is a very unlikeable person; ________________, most people
seem to like him.
otherwise
subsequently
still
4. We got to the beach; ________________, we swam in the ocean.
then
nevertheless
besides
5. He is great tennis player; ________________, he couldn't beat
Roger Federer.
then
besides
nevertheless
6. I totally disagree with his interpretation; ________________,
he's no authority on the subject.
then
besides
nevertheless
7. George makes a lot of money; ________________, he's a very
stingy person.
nevertheless
then
besides
8. Frank didn't give his brothers presents; ________________, he
gave each of them an envelope with $50.
subsequently
instead
also
9. I don't like her face; ________________, she smokes, which is
something I hate.
instead
also
subsequently
10. James finished his degree at Oxford University;
________________, he settled in London and took up a position with a large
international bank.
instead
also
subsequently
Choose the correct adverb
Q1 - He works ........
hardly
hard
Q2 - He followed the lecture ........
closely
close
Q3 - They ........ do any work
hardly
hard
Q4 - She ........ refused to help
flat
flatly
Q5 - It's supposed to be a secret, but it is ........ known
widely
wide
Q6 - The dentist asked her to open her mouth ........
widely
wide
Q7 - That idiot ........ crashed into us
near
nearly
Q8 - He always comes ........
late
lately
Q9 - She's been coming here every day ........
late
lately
Q10 - Pensioners can travel ____ on local buses
free
freely
Q11 - The road runs ........ the town center
nearly
near
Q12 - No one laughed; the joke fell ........
flat
flatly
Q13 - She's ........ thought of by her colleagues
high
highly
Q14 - Feeling ran ........ during the conflict
high
highly
Q15 - Homeless people have to sleep ........
roughly
rough
Q16 - The police treated the hooligans ........
rough
roughly
Q17 - He's driving ........ behind us
right
rightly
Q18 - Everybody was ....... worried about his drink problem
right
rightly
Write the correct answer for each gap below,
1. Jack spoke ………….. to the audience urging them to elect him
president of the union. He knew he had a chance of winning the election.
2. Melanie …………….. ate her lunch. She knew the meeting was………. and
she didn't want to be late.
3. Sophie lived in Thailand for several years. She speaks Thai …………..,
and she knows the culture very ……………
4. The…………… humid weather made it difficult to enjoy the tropical
beach. Miriam seemed more ……………. than relaxed.
5. The entrance examination is……………… challenging. Very few people
make it……….. into the
medical school.
6. This airline's lack of
organization is …………… astounding. I have been very ………………
up to this point, but I am
going to lose my temper if you don't find my baggage immediately.
7. The young girl sings well for someone ……………..her age. Her
performance was …………….
to say the least.
8. The skies became surprisingly…………………. as the moon moved between
the Earth and the Sun. As the eclipse progressed, the people in the streets
stood …………… waiting for the sun's warmth to return.
9. Although Beth speaks …………….. and seems quite , she is the
leading expert in her field. Don't underestimate her abilities.
10. After the medieval cathedral was ………………. burnt down last year,
the city
rebuilt it stone for stone.
It looks exactly the same as it did before the fire.
11. We noticed changes in
Diane's personality; she became …………… and withdrawn from her friends and
family. We finally realized that we had to do something about her drinking
problem before it was too late.
12. Nicole grew …………. from the hours of overtime at work. It became
quite……….. that she needed a long vacation.
13. The tomato plants grew ……………. in the rich soil. Mrs. Cara
intended to use the homegrown tomatoes …………..to make her tempting lasagna.
14. Mr. Taher donated
$1,000,000 to the law school's scholarship fund. With this money, they will be
able to help low-income students cope with the ………….. cost of education.
15. Tim is known for his sense of humor. Last Saturday, when he
told the joke about the fireman and the school teacher, everybody there started
laughing …………….
Choose the correct answer.
Q1 - The book's ____ fantastic.
very
utterly
Q2 - It's ____ good.
very
utterly
Q3 - It's ____ brilliant.
very
quite
Q4 - They did it ____ well.
very
totally
Q5 - It's ____ nice.
very
totally
Q6 - It's _____ hot.
very
utterly
Q7 - The lecture was ____ wonderful.
extremely
absolutely
Q8 - The dinner was _____ delicious.
totally
absolutely
Q9 - She's a _____ skilled operator.
totally
highly
Q10 - He's ____ lazy.
extremely
totally
For each question, choose the most natural position for the adverb
out of the different possible sentences.
1. Quickly
I quickly opened and read
the letter before they returned.
I opened and read quickly
the letter before they returned.
I opened and read the
letter before they returned quickly.
2. Always
Always I am happy when
it's my birthday.
I am happy always when
it's my birthday.
I am always happy when
it's my birthday.
3. Often
My sister gets up often
at 6am.
Often my sister gets up
at 6am.
My sister often gets up
at 6am.
4. Ever
Have you been ever to
Russia?
Have you ever been to
Russia?
Have you been to Russia
ever?
5. Still
I'm still waiting for
Kathryn to arrive.
Still I'm waiting for
Kathryn to arrive.
I'm waiting still for
Kathryn to arrive.
6. Hardly
I want to go and speak to
that man - hardly I know him.
I want to go and speak to
that man - I know him hardly.
I want to go and speak to
that man - I hardly know him.
7. Actually
No wine for me. I actually
don't like any alcoholic drinks.
No wine for me. I don't
actually like any alcoholic drinks.
No wine for me. I don't
like actually any alcoholic drinks.
8. Just
As I just saw him take
the money, the police arrived.
Just as I saw him take
the money, the police arrived.
I saw him just take the
money, the police arrived.
Exercise on
Comparison of Adverbs
Fill in the correct adverb form (comparative or superlative) of the
adjectives in brackets.
1- ]I speak English (fluent ) now than last year. ( more fluently )
2- ] She greeted me (polite) of all.
3- ] She smiled (happy) than
before.
4- ]This girl dances (graceful) of all.
5- ] Could you write (clear) ?
6- ] Planes can fly (high) than birds.
7- ] He had an accident last year. Now, he drives (careful) than before.
8- ] Jim can run (fast) than John.
9- ] Our team played (bad) of all.
10- ]He worked (hard) than
ever before.
Ever
and Never Exercise 1
Put in 'ever' or 'never'
1) This is the only time the children have…………been to the theatre.
2) She hardly………….. gets up early.
3) She has ………….bought a car before.
4) I've …………….tried Malaysian food.
5) Do you ………………see Lucy?
6) The food was as delicious as …………..
7) If you …………..come to the UK, give me a call!
8) They don't ………………eat meat.
9) Have you ……………been to New Zealand?
10) She was feeling better than…………
11) I don't ……………..study at the weekend.
12) Nobody…………..helps me!
13) I've …………….been to Barcelona.
14) She ……………….takes any exercise at all.
15) The children had …………….been on an aeroplane.
16) We ………………….go to the cinema.
17) I ………………saw such a big cake before!
18) They had ……………….had such a wonderful meal.
19) Have you ………………seen such a lovely picture?
20) She'd ……………….spoken English before she came to London.
21) This is the best party I've …………….been to.
22) I've ………………been to South America.
23) Doesn't she …………….come to London?
24) She's wanted to be a writer ………………since she was a teenager.
25) I never…………….want to see you again!
QUIZ
ON ADVERBS
For each question, you will be asked to select the most appropriate
order of modifiers or the only appropriate placement of modifier(s).
1. Select the sentence in which usually appears in an appropriate
position.
She usually shops for clothes at the local thrift store.
Usually she shops for clothes at the local thrift store.
She shops for clothes at the local thrift store usually.
Either "A" or "B" is fine.
2. Select the sentence with the most appropriate order of adverbial
phrases.
She leaves the island during the months of December and January
after dark.
She leaves the island after dark during the months of December and
January.
Either "A" or "B" is fine.
3. Select the sentence with the most appropriate order of adverbs
and adverbial phrases.
Christina prays at St. Matthew's Church fervently for her
grandmother's recovery.
Christina prays fervently for her grandmother's recovery at St.
Matthew's Church.
Christina prays fervently at St. Matthew's Church for her
grandmother's recovery.
Any one of the above is fine.
4. Select the sentence with the most appropriate order of adverbial
phrases.
Juan made an appointment to see his doctor at two o'clock on the
first Thursday of July next summer.
Juan made an appointment next summer to see his doctor next July at
two o'clock on the first Thursday.
Either "A" or "B" is fine.
5. Select the sentence with the most appropriate order of
modifiers.
My father was born in Cleveland in the backroom of a bakery.
My father was born in the backroom of a bakery in Cleveland.
Either "A" or "B" is fine.
6. Select the sentence with the most appropriate order of
modifiers.
Dry the car carefully with a soft fluffy towel.
Dry the car with a soft fluffy towel carefully.
Carefully dry the car with a soft fluffy towel.
Either "A" or "C" is fine.
7. Select the most emphatic position for the adverbial modifier of
this sentence.
Rarely do we see this kind of talent on a small-town high school baseball
team.
We rarely see this kind of talent on a small-town high school
baseball team.
"A" and "B" are equally emphatic.
8. Select the sentence with the most appropriate order of adverbial
modifiers.
He found the golf clubs that his father had used to win the U.S.
Open in the car trunk.
In the car trunk, he found the golf clubs that his father had used
to win the U.S. Open.
9. Select the sentence with the most appropriate position for the
adjectival modifier.
These miniature roses only grow to be an inch across.
These miniature roses grow to be only an inch across.
Either "A" or "B" is fine.
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