Ingles B1-Unit 3 - Adverbs PDF
Ingles B1-Unit 3 - Adverbs PDF
Ingles B1-Unit 3 - Adverbs PDF
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Contents
WHAT IS AN ADVERB? 4
FORM OF ADVERBS 5
KINDS OF ADVERBS 11
Adverbs of Frequency 11
Adverbs of Manner 12
Adverbs of Place 12
Adverbs of Time 12
Adverbs of Duration 12
Adverbs of Purpose 12
Adverbs of degree 12
Adverbs of probability 13
Relative adverbs 13
Adverbs of frequency 15
Adverbs of manner 17
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Connecting adverbs: 17
Negative adverbs 20
Interrogative adverbs 21
ORDER OF ADVERBS 22
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What is an adverb?
Basically, most adverbs tell you how, where, when, why, how or to what extent something is done
or something happens. In other words, they describe, among other things, the manner, place, or
time of an action:
Type Adverb Example
Manner slowly Jane drives slowly.
Place here The party is going to take place here.
Time yesterday I called him yesterday.
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Form of Adverbs
Adverbs frequently end in “-ly” (formed from words adding the suffix “-ly”):
quick quickly
sudden suddenly
intelligent intelligently
rare rarely
usual usually
To form an adverb from an adjective ending in [consonant] +“y”, change the “y” to “i” before adding
“-ly”:
angry angrily
busy busily
Exceptions: shy > shyly; sly > slyly
To form an adverb from an adjective ending in [vowel] +“y”, in most cases, “-ly” is simply added:
coy coyly
grey greyly
Exception: gay > gaily
To form an adverb from an adjective ending in [consonant] + “-le”, drop the “e” before adding “-ly”:
Feeble feeblely > feebly
Simple simplely > simply
However, adjectives ending in [vowel] + “le”, add “ly” to form the adverb: agile > agilely; sole >
solely.
Exception: whole > wholly
To form an adverb from an adjective ending in “-ue”, drop the final –e before “-ly”:
Due duely > duly
True truely > truly
When the adjective ends in “ic”, the syllable “al” is usually added before the “-ly” ending:
Dramatic dramatically
Scientific scientifically
Specific specifically
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Some adjectives ending in “-ly” need no changes: heavenly.
But many words (fast, hard, straight) and phrases not ending in “-ly” can have an adverbial function.
The following table gives examples of adverbs of manner, location, time and frequency which have
the same forms as the corresponding adjectives.
The “-ly” ending is not a guarantee that a word is an adverb. Have a look at the following adjectives:
ADJECTIVE EXAMPLE
likely It is likely to rain later.
lively They had a lively debate.
lovely She is so lovely.
lonely I'm afraid you must be feeling just a little bit lonely.
motherly Most prisoners had dreadful childhoods, with little or none, motherly love.
friendly You will probably find the people here very friendly.
neighbourly Their purpose is to achieve peace and good neighbourly relations.
These adjectives have no corresponding adverbs. When it is desired to use one of these words to
modify a verb, a prepositional phrase with the function of adverb of manner may be used: “in a
friendly manner”.
Prepositional phrases frequently have adverbial functions (telling place and time, modifying the
verb):
They lived in Switzerland (Place) during the war (Time).
And Infinitive phrases can act as adverbs (usually telling why):
The students ran to catch the bus (Purpose).
Some adverbs have two forms, one that ends in “-ly” and one that doesn't. In certain cases, the two
forms have different meanings:
He arrived late. (Antonym of “early”)
Lately, he couldn't seem to be on time for anything. (Synonym of “recently”)
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The following table gives examples of pairs of adverbs which are closely related, but which have
different meanings:
Adverbs (as well as adjectives) can be accompanied by premodifiers: She runs very fast.
The best way to tell if a word is an adverb is to try making a question, for which the answer is the
word. If the question uses “how”, “where” or “when”, then the word is probably an adverb. Here is
an example:
It should be noted that many adverbs, such as sometimes, never, here, there, now, then, first, again,
yesterday and daily have no comparative or superlative forms.
Comparative forms
Like adjectives, adverbs can have comparative and superlative forms to show degree:
The student who reads fastest will finish first.
We often use “more” and “most”, “less” and “least” to show degree with adverbs:
She worked less confidently after her accident.
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The “as – as” construction can be used to create adverbs
that express equality:
He can't run as fast as his sister.
When comparing two things you need to put “than” between the adverb and what is being
compared: Jill did her homework faster than Jack.
Progressive comparisons
The comparative forms of adverbs can be used in progressive
comparisons. For adverbs with the ending “-er”, the following
construction is used:
[comparative form of adverb] + and + [comparative form of
adverb] (Spanish translation: “cada vez más + [adjectivo]”)
The plane flew higher and higher.
The team performed better and better.
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The meanings expressed in these examples can also be expressed as follows:
The plane flew increasingly high.
The team performed increasingly well.
For adverbs which form the comparative with “more”, the following construction is used:
more and more + [positive form of adverb]
He solved the problems more and more easily.
We visited them more and more frequently.
The + [comparative form of adverb or adjective] + [1st part of comparison], + the + [comparative
form of adverb or adjective] + [2nd part of comparison]. (Spanish translation: cuanto más… más)
The human brain is unique in that it is the only container of which it can
be said that the more you put into it, the more it will hold.
Glenn Doman. American scientist.
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Superlative forms
The rule for forming the superlative of an adverb is if it has the same form as an adjective: the +
superlative form of adverb + of:
He jumped the highest of all the boys in the class.
Our team plays the best of all the teams in the league.
They sing the most sweetly of all the choirs I have heard.
In the case of adverbs which form the superlative with the ending “-est”, the superlative is
sometimes preceded by a possessive adjective, instead of by the definite article, the:
He ran his fastest.
I did my best.
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Kinds of adverbs
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Adverbs of Manner tell us how an action is or should be performed:
She moved slowly and spoke quietly.
Often these adverbs are formed by adding -ly to the end of an adjective.
Many adverbs are gradable, that is, we can intensify them. To do this we use adverbs of degree.
These include:
Your test was almost perfect.
She did it extremely well.
This hotel has been highly recommended.
The baby made them immensely happy.
The weather today is moderately hot.
That story is partially true.
I feel perfectly well.
He is totally unpredictable.
I’m very well, thanks.
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Adverbs of probability tell us the likelihood of something happening.
We will certainly win the game.
They include certainly, definitely, doubtless, maybe, perhaps, possibly, probably.
Relative adverbs
Adjectival clauses (those that carry out or perform the same function as adjectives) are sometimes
introduced by what are called the relative adverbs: “where”, “when”, and “why”.
Although the entire clause is adjectival (performing the same function as an adjective) and will
modify a noun, the relative word itself fulfils an adverbial function (modifying a verb within its own
clause).
The relative adverb “where” will begin a clause that modifies a noun of place:
My entire family now worships in the church where my great grandfather used to be minister.
The relative pronoun "where" modifies the verb "used to be", but the entire clause ("where my great
grandfather used to be minister") modifies the word "church."
Positions of Adverb
If we have several adverbs together, the usual word order is: Manner - Place - Frequency - Time –
Purpose. Usually only one adverb at a time can occupy the beginning position or the middle position
in a clause. However, more than one adverb at a time can occupy the end position in a clause. (See
this chapter below)
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If a group of words (having a subject and verb) acts as an adverb (modifying the verb of a sentence),
it is called an adverb or adverbial clause:
When this class is over, we're going to the movies.
In English we never put an adverb between the verb and the object.
An intensifier is an adverb which is used to modify adjectives and adverbs adding a greater or
lesser emphasis to the meaning: fairly, quite, rather, so, too, very… An intensifier is not usually used
to modify verbs.
As a general rule, these adverbs immediately precede the words they modify:
The package is extremely large.
Buses depart quite regularly.
Downtoners:
I kind of like this college.
Joe sort of felt betrayed by his sister..
We can improve on this to some extent.
The boss almost quit after that.
The school was all but ruined by the storm.
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When “enough” is used as an adjective
modifying a noun, it precedes the noun: Do we
have enough apples to make a pie?
However, when “ago” is used with a noun, it
follows the noun: That happened six months ago.
The reason for this may be found in the history of
the word. “Ago”, formerly spelled “agone”, was
originally a past participle.
Adverbs of frequency
Adverbs of frequency may occupy:
The beginning position:
Often the wind blows less strongly at night.
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Adverbs of frequency which consist of single words most often occupy this position,
which varies depending on the type of verb used in the sentence. Adverbs in the middle
position occupy the locations indicated below:
1. They follow the Simple Present and Simple Past of the verb “to be”:
We are always on time.
2. They precede the Simple Present and Simple Past of verbs other than “to be”:
He rarely makes a mistake.
4. They precede the first auxiliary, or the Simple Present or Simple Past of the verb “to
be”, in short answers:
Have you seen this movie before? No, I never have.
In negative statements, and negative questions with “not”, adverbs in the middle
position usually follow the word “not”:
Negative Statement: They do not often miss the bus.
Question with Not: Does he not usually know the answers?
In affirmative questions, and negative questions with the contraction “n't”, adverbs in
the middle position usually follow the subject of the clause:
Affirmative Question: Is it always this cold in February?
Negative question with contraction (“n't”): Doesn't he usually know the answers?
It should be noted that the adverbs daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and annually usually
do not occupy the middle position of a clause.
Adverb phrases and clauses of frequency usually occupy either the beginning or end position of a
clause:
Once in a while, I like to try something new.
We visited the museum as often as we could.
Adverbs of time
Adverbs of time usually occupy:
the beginning position of a clause: Today I will go to the library.
the end position of a clause: I will go to the post office tomorrow.
In the end position, adverbs of time usually follow adverbs of manner and adverbs of location.
With a few exceptions, such as “now”, “then” and “once”, most adverbs of time may not occupy the
middle position of a clause. The adverbs “now”, “then” and “once” may occupy any of the three
positions in a clause:
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Now it is time to leave.
It is now time to leave.
Adverb phrases and clauses of time usually occupy either the beginning or end position of a clause:
At nine o'clock, the train will leave.
I will call you when I am ready.
Adverbs of manner
Adverbs of manner
most often occupy the end position: they follow an intransitive verb, or the
direct object of a transitive verb:
We waited patiently for the play to begin.
I sold the strawberries quickly.
Adverbial phrases and clauses of manner usually occupy the end position of a clause.
We arrived on foot.
We finished the work as quickly as we could.
Adverbial phrases and clauses of manner are sometimes placed at the beginning of a clause, for
emphasis: As quickly as we could, we finished the work.
Connecting adverbs:
They are often used to connect the ideas expressed by the clauses in which they occur
to ideas expressed in previous clauses: however, nevertheless, therefore. A connecting
adverb is usually separated by commas from the rest of the sentence.
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Connecting adverbs are often placed at the beginning of a clause:
I would like to go skiing. However, I have too much work to do.
She was very busy; nevertheless, she found time to go swimming.
The adverb however may occupy any of the three positions in a clause:
However, it has stopped snowing.
It has, however, stopped snowing.
It has stopped snowing, however.
Connecting adverbial phrases are most often placed at the beginning of a clause: As a result, I
decided to study hard.
Adverb phrases and clauses of purpose usually occupy the end position of a
clause, and follow any other adverbs, or adverb phrases or clauses:
I went to the store yesterday to buy a coat.
I need to buy a new coat soon because my old one is worn out.
Adverb phrases or clauses of purpose are sometimes placed at the beginning
of a clause, for emphasis, usually followed by a comma:
To reach the airport on time, we had to complete the trip in two hours.
Because it was such a beautiful day, I decided to go for a walk.
Adverbs of place, and adverb phrases and clauses of place, most often occupy
the end position of a clause, where they precede adverbs of time and adverbs of
purpose:
I am going there tomorrow.
He left his bicycle in the driveway last night.
If the verb of a sentence is not a verb of movement (or motion), the most usual order of
the different types of adverb in the end position of a clause is as follows:
When the verb of a clause is a verb of movement (or motion), any adverb/adverbial of
place (or location) is usually placed immediately after the verb.
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I will go to the library by bus tomorrow to return the book.
Location Manner Time Purpose
The most usual position of adverbs following a verb: the order of the adverbs following
the two types of verb is the same except for the relative order of the adverb of location
and the adverb of manner.
Adverbs and adverb phrases and clauses of place are sometimes located at the
beginning of a clause, for emphasis:
Here, the glacier deposited soil and rocks.
On the way to school, she saw a robin building its nest.
Adverbs of place (or location) usually cannot be placed in the middle position of a
clause.
If the subject of the verb is a personal pronoun, the subject must precede the verb:
When the subject follows the verb, care must be taken to make sure that the verb
agrees with its subject:
Here is one of the examples.
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There are his aunt and uncle.
In the first example, the verb “is” is singular to agree with the singular subject “one”. In
the second example, the verb “are” is plural to agree with the plural subject “his aunt
and uncle”.
In affirmative statements with this construction, the subject follows the verb:
There are only twenty-four hours in a day.
There seems to be a message for you.
In questions with this construction, “there” follows the verb in the case of the Simple
Present or Simple Past of the verb “to be”; otherwise, “there” follows the first auxiliary.
In the case of the Simple Present and Simple Past of verbs other than “to be”, the
auxiliary “to do” must be used:
Is there a post office near here? [Simple Present]
Were there many people on the train? [Simple Past]
Can there be any doubt about it? [Follows the first auxiliary]
Do there seem to be any maple trees in this forest? [Simple Present/Simple Past of other
verbs]
Negative adverbs
Negative adverbs include:
Adverbs with an explicit negative meaning, such as never, not and nowhere, as well as
Adverbs with an implied negative meaning, such as hardly, scarcely and seldom.
Double negatives: there is a rule that a clause containing one negative word expresses
a negative meaning, but a clause with two negative words expressed an affirmative
meaning. In this second case, it is considered that one of these words negates the other,
so that an affirmative meaning results. The presence of two negative words in a clause is
referred to as a double negative. In some dialects of English, clauses with two negative
words may express a negative meaning.
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Negative adverb / auxiliary verb + subject
adverbial phrase +
Never before was I so eager to reach home.
Little did we think we would meet again.
Seldom had they tasted such a delicacy.
Scarcely had we left the house, when it began to rain.
Not for many years was the true story known.
No sooner did the bell ring than the children ran out of the school.
Seldom were there* more than five ducks on the pond.
Rarely had there* been more swans on the lake than there were that day.
*Note that “there” behaves like the subject, following the auxiliary verb.
Interrogative adverbs
The adverbs “how”, “when”, “where” and “why” can be used as interrogative
adverbs at the beginning of direct questions.
How are you?
When is he coming?
Where were you?
Why did you say that?
“How”, “when”, “where” and “why” can also be used at the beginning of
subordinate clauses:
Be ready to start when you hear the signal.
He camped close to where the brook flows into the lake.
“How”, “when”, “where” and “why” can also be used at the beginning of
indirect questions:
I want to know how he did that.
I wonder when they will arrive.
Please tell me where the school is.
I will ask why she left early.
As pointed out previously, inverted word order is not used in indirect questions. Thus,
the subject of an indirect question precedes the verb:
We should find out how the information was transmitted.
Ask her when she will be here.
I wonder where they are.
Please find out why he could not come with us.
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Order of Adverbs
There is a basic order in which adverbs will appear when there is more than one.
It is similar to the order of adjectives, but it is even more flexible.
In practice, it would be highly unusual to have more than two or three (at the most) adverbial
phrases. Because the position of adverbs is so flexible, one or two of them would probably move to
the beginning of the sentence:
Every afternoon (Frequency) before supper (Time), Dad impatiently (Manner) walks into town (Place)
to get a newspaper (Purpose).
When that happens, the introductory adverbial modifiers are usually set off with a comma.
Dad takes a brisk walk before breakfast (Time) every day of his life (Frequency).
A second principle: among similar adverbial phrases of kind (manner, place, frequency, etc.)
the more specific adverbial phrase comes first:
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.
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