ADVERBS
What is an Adverb?
An adverb can modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb, a phrase, or a clause. An adverb indicates manner, time, place, cause, or degree and answers questions such as "how," "when," "where," "how much".
While some adverbs can be identified by their characteristic "ly" suffix, most of them must be identified by untangling the grammatical relationships within the sentence or clause as a whole. Unlike an adjective, an adverb can be found in various places within the sentence.
In the following examples, each of the highlighted words is an adverb:
In this sentence, the adverb "quickly" modifies the verb "made" and indicates in what manner (or how fast) the clothing was constructed.
Similarly in this sentence, the adverb "patiently" modifies the verb "waited" and describes the manner in which the midwives waited.
In this sentence the adverb "boldly" modifies the adjective "spoken."
Here the adverb "more" modifies the adverb "expeditiously."
In this example, the adverb "unfortunately" modifies the entire sentence.
While some adverbs can be identified by their characteristic "ly" suffix, most of them must be identified by untangling the grammatical relationships within the sentence or clause as a whole. Unlike an adjective, an adverb can be found in various places within the sentence.
In the following examples, each of the highlighted words is an adverb:
- The seamstress quickly made the mourning clothes.
In this sentence, the adverb "quickly" modifies the verb "made" and indicates in what manner (or how fast) the clothing was constructed.
- The midwives waited patiently through a long labour.
Similarly in this sentence, the adverb "patiently" modifies the verb "waited" and describes the manner in which the midwives waited.
- The boldly spoken words would return to haunt the rebel.
In this sentence the adverb "boldly" modifies the adjective "spoken."
- We urged him to dial the number more expeditiously.
Here the adverb "more" modifies the adverb "expeditiously."
- Unfortunately, the bank closed at three today.
In this example, the adverb "unfortunately" modifies the entire sentence.
Types of adverbs:
ADVERBS OF MANNER
These answer the question how? This adverb usually comes after the direct object or if there is no direct object, after the verb:
ADVERBS OF PLACE These answer the question where? This adverb usually comes after the object, otherwise after the verb:
Note: somewhere, anywhere, follow the same rules as some and any:
ADVERBS OF TIME These answer the question when? This adverb usually comes either at the very beginning of the sentence or at the end.
Note: yet and still: yet should be placed at the end of the sentence.
Compare these two sentences:
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ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY
These answer the question how many times? This adverb comes after the verb 'to be':
Comes after the first auxiliary in a tense consisting of more than one verb:
Note: with 'used to' and 'have' the frequency adverb is usually placed in front:
ADVERBS OF DEGREE - these answer the question to what extent? This adverb can modify an adverb or an adjective and comes before the word it modifies:
The following adverbs of degree can also modify verbs: almost, nearly, quite, hardly, scarcely, barely, just They follow the same pattern as frequency adverbs in terms of where they are placed:
INVERSION If you begin a sentence with one of the following, the normal word order changes - the verb comes first followed by the subject: never, seldom, scarcely ..... when, no sooner ..... than, nowhere, in no circumstances, on no account, only then, not only
Usual word order with different adverbs: MANNER PLACE TIME
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