Lecture One adverbs
Adverbs
An adverb is a word that modifies (qualities or limits) a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
*Many adverbs end in –ly.
*Adverbs answer any of these four questions: where? How? When? To what extent?
*Adverbs make writing more specific and more exact.
*Here are some adverbs that do not end in –ly:
Again almost alone already also always away even ever here just later never not now nowhere often perhaps quite rather seldom so sometimes somewhat somewhere soon then there today too very yesterday yet
Adverbs modify verbs:
-John ate quickly. (How did he eat?)
-I walk there.( where did I walk?)
-Anna will eat soon. (When will Anna eat?)
Adverbs modify adjectives:
-Rex is very happy. (Very modifies the adj happy and answers the question , to what extent?)
-The program was too unrealistic. (Too modifies the adj unrealistic and answers the question, to what extent?)
Adverbs modify other adverbs
-Warren walks too quickly. ( too modifies the adverb quickly and answer the question, how quickly?)
-He moved rather recently. ( rather modifies the adverb recently and answers the question, how recently)
An adverb can also modifies a sentence:
-Honestly, I cannot attend the wedding.
-Tomorrow, I’ll talk to our instructor about the project, pr you can talk to her today.
Kind of adverbs: There are different kinds of adverb expressing different meaning. The following are some of the common ones.
1-Adverbs of time; An adverb of time tells us when something is done or happens. We use it at the beginning or at the end of a sentence. We use it as a form of emphasis when we place it at the beginning . Adverbs of time include afterwards, already, always, immediately, last month, now, soon, then, and yesterday.
-He collapsed and died yesterday.
-Last week we were stuck in the lift for an hour.
2-Adverb of place: An adverb of place tells us where something is done or happens. We use it after the verb, object or at the end of a sentence. Adverbs of place include words such as above, below, here, outside, over there, under, upstairs.
-We can stop here for lnch.
-They rushed for their lives when fire broke out in the floor below.
3-Adverbs of manner: An adverb of manner tells us how something is done or happens. Most adverbs of manner end in –ly such as badly, happily, sadly slowly, quickly, and others that include well, hard, fast…etc.
-The brothers were badly injured in the fight.
-They had to act fast to save the others floating in the water.
4-Adverbs of degree: An adverb of degree tells us the level or extent that something is done or happens. Words of adverb of degree are: almost, much, nearly, quit, really, so, too, very …etc.
-It was too dark for us to find our way out of the cave.
-The referee had to stop the match when it began to rain very heavily.
5-Adverb of frequency: An adverb of frequency tells us how often something is done or happens. Words used as adverbs of frequency include again, almost, always, ever, frequently, generally, hardly ever, nearly, nearly always, never, occasionally, often, rarely, seldom, sometimes, twice, usually, and weekly.
-He hardly ever say something nice to his son.
-They complained that she never smiled back.
-Peter seldom reads the Bible.
Position of Adverbs
Adverbs occupy different positions in a sentence:
1-At the beginning of a sentence before the subject
-Sometimes she gives me a lift to work.
-Suddenly all the lights went out.
2-After the auxiliary verb and before the main verb
-The father was tragically killed in a road accident.
-We do occasionally go bird-watching.
3-After the auxiliary verb ( be) that is used as the main verb
-She is always quick to point out other people faults.
*Forms of Adverbs :There are three form of adverbs:
*adverbs formed by adding –ly to an adjective.
-She had a quick walk = she walked quickly.
*Adverbs that share identical words with an adj.
- He found the exam hard= he failed his exam as he didn’t try very hard
*Adverbs not derived from an adjective or any other word. Such as: as, even, how, never, next, now, rather, so, soon, still, then, too, etc.
-He doesn’t even know where the Pacific Ocean is.