Adverbs

1. Adverbs All you want to know & then some! http://amerenglish.tripod.com amerenglish63@yahoo.com

2. Adverbs Introduction To Adverbs Types Of Adverbs Confusing Cases Formation Of Adverbs Spelling Of Adverbs Other Information About Adverbs Quiz On Adverbs

3. ADVERBS Adverbs are words used to describe or modify verbs. Adverbs give more information about a verb. Use adverbs to make your writing more interesting. • Adverbs are words that modify • a verb (He drove slowly. — How did he drive?) • an adjective (He drove a very fast car. — How fast was his car?) • another adverb (She moved quite slowly down the aisle. — How slowly did she move?) • As we will see, adverbs often tell when, where, why, or under what conditions something happens or happened. Adverbs frequently end in -ly; however, many words and phrases not ending in -ly serve an adverbial function and an -ly ending is not a guarantee that a word is an adverb. The words lovely, lonely, motherly, friendly, neighborly, for instance, are adjectives: • That lovely woman lives in a friendly neighborhood.

4. Adverbs are words like tomorrow, daily, badly, once and too. They tell us more about other words, especially verbs. The child smiled sweetly. (The adverb sweetly modifies the verb smiled.) She walked slowly. (The adverb slowly modifies the verb walked.) He talked politely. (The adverb politely modifies the verb talked.) Sometimes adverbs modify adjectives. It was a very important question. (The adverb very modifies the adjective important.) You are so sweet. (The adverb so modifies the adjective sweet.)

5. Adverbs can also modify other adverbs. He walked very slowly. (The adverb very modifies the adverb slowly.) She sang extremely well. (The adverb extremely modifies the adverb well.)

6. Kinds of Adverbs Focusing Adverbs Adverbs of Manner Adverbs of Place Adverbs of Frequency Adverbs of Time Adverbs of Purpose

7. Formation of Adverbs Most adverbs are formed by adding -ly to their corresponding adjectives. Examples are: kindly (kind), slowly (slow), hardly (hard), sweetly (sweet) etc. • She is very beautiful (adjective). • She is beautifully (adverb) dressed. • He is a strange (adjective) person. • He behaved strangely (adverb).

8. Points to be noted 1. If the adjective ends in -y, replace it with -i and then add -ly. 2. If the adjective ends in -able, -ible, or -le, replace the -e with -y.

9. 3. If the adjective ends in -ic, add -ally. This rule, however, has an exception. The adverb formed from public is publicly, and not publically.

10. Explanation. Position. Points To Be Noted Adverbs of Manner

11. Explanation Adverbs of manner say how something happens or is done. Examples are: happily, angrily, slowly, carefully, fast etc. • She walked slowly. • John drove carefully. • The soldiers fought bravely.

12. Position Adverbs of manner normally go in end position (at the end of a clause). • She sang well. • He talked loudly. • She walked slowly. • He managed it skillfully. • She speaks English well.

13. An adverb of manner modifying an adjective or another adverb normally goes before it. She is seriously ill. I was terribly busy.

14. Points To Be Noted 1. Adverbs of manner can come in mid position if the adverb is not important to the meaning of the verb. She angrily tore up the letter. (The manner in which she tore up the letter is not important.) His health slowly began to improve. 2. If there is a preposition before the object, we can place the adverb either before the preposition or after the object. The man walked happily towards his home. The man walked towards his home happily.

15. Points To Be Noted - Continued 3. To emphasize the point, sometimes, an adverb of manner is placed before the main verb. • He gently woke up the woman. 4. Some writers put adverbs of manner at the beginning of a sentenceto catch our attention. • Happily Tom went home. • Slowly he walked away.

16. Adverbs of Place Adverbs of Place tell us where something happens. Examples are: upstairs, here, there, nearby, everywhere, in, out etc. • She looked for him everywhere. • Please come in. • They bought a house nearby. • He lives here. • The boss has gone out. • He was seen nowhere.

17. Certain adverbs of place express both movement and location. Examples are: ahead, abroad, overseas, uphill, downhill, sideways, indoor, outdoors etc. My parents live abroad. They climbed uphill. She fell backwards.

18. Position They are normally placed at the end of a clause. • She took him out. • They all went away. • We went ahead. • The children were playing upstairs. • He jumped out.

19. They can also come at the beginning of a clause. This is common in literary writing. • On the hilltop an old castle stood majestically. • At around the corner there is a big banyan tree. • Out he jumped. • Upstairs the children were playing.

20. Adverbs of Indefinite Frequency Explanation Position Points To Be Noted

21. Explanation Adverbs of indefinite frequency tell us how often something happens. Common examples are: always, ever, usually, normally, often, frequently, seldom, never etc. • I am never late for office. • Have you ever been to the US? • I often work late.

22. Position Adverbs of indefinite frequency go in mid position. They are normally placed after the auxiliary verbs and before other verbs. When there are two auxiliary verbs, the adverb goes after the first. • I always get up early. (adverb + main verb) • I am seldom late for work. (is/am/are/was/were + adverb) • We frequently visit them. (adverb + main verb) • I often read comics. (adverb + main verb) • I have never seen a dolphin. (auxiliary verb + adverb + main verb)

23. Points to be noted 1. Usually, normally, often, frequently, sometimes and occasionally can also go at the beginning or end of a clause. We visit them occasionally. Often we trust the wrong person.

24. Note: 2. Always, ever, rarely, seldom and never can go only in mid position. • They never admitted their fault. • You can always trust him. However, always and never can begin imperative clauses. • Always look before you leap. • Never ask her about her age.

25. Focusing Adverbs Focusing adverbs point to a particular part of a clause. Most common examples are: also, just, even, only, mainly, mostly, either, neither etc. Position As focusing adverbs point to a particular part of a sentence, the meaning conveyed often depends upon their position. It is best to place them in front of and next to the word or words modified by them. Compare: • Only John helped me to buy the house. (= Only John and no one else helped me.) • John only helped me to buy the house. (= John helped me to buy the house, but didn't actually buy it for me.)

26. Exceptions Too and as well are exceptions to this rule. They normally go in end position. She not only speaks English; she speaks French as well. He not only sings; he plays the piano too.

27. Adverbs of Purpose Adverbs of Certainty Adverbs of Degree

28. Adverbs of Degree Adverbs of Degree tell us about the degree or extent of an action, quality or manner. Examples are: almost, little, enough, much, too, partly, fully, so, rather, quite, nearly, just, too, hardly, scarcely, very etc. • She is very beautiful. • I am extremely sorry. • She is quite strong. • They are fully prepared.

29. Position Adverbs of degree normally come in mid position with the verb. They are placed after the auxiliary verbs and before other verbs. If there are two auxiliary verbs, the adverb comes after the first. • He had hardly begun. (auxiliary verb + adverb + main verb) • My work is almost finished. (is/am/are/was/were + adverb) • I just asked. (adverb + main verb) • She hardly realized what she was doing. (adverb + main verb) • He is entirely right. (is/am/are/was/were + adverb) • She was rather busy. (is/am/are/was/were + adverb)

30. An adverb of degree qualifying an adjective or another adverb normally goes before it. She is very beautiful. Those mangoes were very sweet. I am extremely sorry. Enough is an exception to this rule. It is placed after the adjective or adverb it qualifies. You are not old enough to marry. This is good enough to be true.

31. Adverbs of Certainty Adverbs of certainty express how certain or sure we feel about an action or event. Common examples are: certainly, definitely, probably, undoubtedly, clearly, obviously etc. He is undoubtedly a great leader. There is clearly something wrong. She is definitely taller than you.

32. Position Adverbs of certainty usually go in mid position. They are placed after auxiliary verbs and before other verbs. When there are two or more auxiliaries, the adverb goes after the first. • He is undoubtedly a great leader. (is/am/are/was/were + adverb) • She will probably come. (auxiliary verb + adverb + main verb) • It will certainly rain this evening. (auxiliary verb + adverb + main verb) • I certainly feel better today. (adverb + main verb) • You have definitely been working too hard. (first auxiliary + adverb + second auxiliary + other verb)

33. Exceptions Perhaps and may be are exceptions to this rule. They usually go at the beginning of a clause. Perhaps she will come. May be you are right.

34. Adverbs of Time and Definite Frequency Adverbs of time and definite frequency tell us when something happens. Examples are: today, yesterday, later, now, all day, not long, for a while, since, last year, sometimes, frequently, never, often, yearly etc. shall go there tomorrow. You must get up early. I have seen him before. Let us start now.

35. Position Most of them go in end position. • I met him yesterday. • He died last year. • They are leaving for England tomorrow. • He visits us daily. • I haven't seen him lately. Initial position is also common. Yesterday I met him. Tomorrow I am leaving for the US.

36. Exceptions Finally, already, soon, and last can also go in mid position. • She has finally got a job. • They soon realized their mistake. Still and just can only go in mid position. • I just asked. • He is still working for the same firm. Note: Note that a mid position adverb is placed after the auxiliary verbs and before other verbs. When there are two auxiliary verbs, the adverb normally comes after the first.

37. Adjectives or Adverbs? Confusing cases Some words ending in -ly are adjectives, and not normally adverbs. Common examples are: costly, cowardly, deadly, friendly, likely, lively, lonely, lovely, silly, ugly and unlikely. • She has a lovely daughter. • Don't be silly. • It was a lively discussion.

38. Some adverbs and adjectives have the same form. Examples are: fast, hard, high, late, near, straight, wrong, daily, early, leisurely etc. • It is a fast (adjective) car. • A fast (adjective) car goes fast (adverb). • He drove fast (adverb). • Hard (adjective) work pays. • You must work hard (adverb). • He is an early (adjective) riser. • I got up early (adverb) today. • It is easy (adjective). • Take it easy (adverb)

39. Spelling of Adverbs Most of adjectives can be converted to adverbs, just adding -ly, to the end of the adjective. • correct - correctly • easy - easily Adjectives that end in -y, change the -y to -i, and add -ly. • lucky - luckily • happy - happily Adjectives that end in -ble, drop the -e, and -add -ly. • respectable - respectably • comfortable - comfortably

40. Adjectives that end in -ic, change the -ic to -al, and add -ly. • problematic - problematically • hectic - hectically There are exceptions to the rule. • public - publicly Adjectives that end in -e, just add -ly. • rude - rudely • live - lively Exception:

41. Note: Adjectives that end in -le, drop the -e, and add -ly. • accountable - accountability • predictable - predictablbly Please note not all words that end in -ly, are not adverbs. • elderly • friendly

42. Other Information About Adverbs Position Of Adverbs Adjuncts, Disjuncts, and Conjuncts More Notes On Adverb Order Numbered Lists & Do Without Viewpoint, Focus, and Negative Adverbs Inappropriate Adverb Order Order Of Adverbs Some Special Cases

43. Using Adverbs in a Numbered List Within the normal flow of text, it's nearly always a bad idea to number items beyond three or four, at the most. Anything beyond that, you're better off with a vertical list that uses numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.). Also, in such a list, don't use adverbs (with an -ly ending); use instead the uninflected ordinal number (first, second, third, fourth, fifth, etc.). First (not firstly), it's unclear what the adverb is modifying. Second (not secondly), it's unnecessary. Third (not thirdly), after you get beyond "secondly," it starts to sound silly. Adverbs that number in this manner are treated as disjuncts.

44. Adverbs We Can Do Without Here is some advice on adverbs that we can eliminate to the benefit of our prose: intensifiers such as very, extremely, and really that don't intensify anything and expletive constructions ("There are several books that address this issue.")

45. Positions of Adverbs One of the hallmarks of adverbs is their ability to move around in a sentence. Adverbs of manner are particularly flexible in this regard. This is something I have always stressed to my students, adverbs do not always go in one position only. • Solemnly the minister addressed her congregation. • The minister solemnly addressed her congregation. • The minister addressed her congregation solemnly.

46. The following adverbs of frequency appear in various points in these sentences: • Before the main verb: I never get up before nine o'clock. • Between the auxiliary verb and the main verb: I have rarely written to my brother without a good reason. • Before the verb used to: I always used to see him at his summer home. Indefinite adverbs of time can appear either before the verb or between the auxiliary and the main verb: • He finally showed up for batting practice. • She has recently retired.

48. Order of Adverbs There is a basic order in which adverbs will appear when there is more than one. It is similar to The Royal Order of Adjectives, but it is even more flexible.

49. More Notes on Adverb Order As a general principle, shorter adverbial phrases precede longer adverbial phrases, regardless of content. In the following sentence, an adverb of time precedes an adverb of frequency because it is shorter (and simpler): • Dad takes a brisk walk before breakfastevery day of his life. A second principle: among similar adverbial phrases of kind (manner, place, frequency, etc.), the more specific adverbial phrase comes first: • My grandmother was born in a sod houseon the plains of northern Nebraska. • She promised to meet him for lunchnext Tuesday.

50. Bringing an adverbial modifier to the beginning of the sentence can place special emphasis on that modifier. This is particularly useful with adverbs of manner: • Slowly, ever so carefully, Jesse filled the coffee cup up to the brim, even above the brim. • Occasionally, but only occasionally, one of these lemons will get by the inspectors.