Adverbs

ADVERBS
Kinds of adverbs
1. Adverbs of manner (how?)

2. Adverbs of place (where?)
3. Adverbs of time (when?)
4. Adverbs of fequency (how often?)
5. Adverbs of degree (to what extent?)
6. Intensifiers (reveal attitudes)
7. Focus adverbs (focus attention)
8. Viewpoint adverbs and connectives (help us to present
information in a coherent fashion)
How to identify an adverb
1. One-word adverbs ending in “ly”

Many adverbs, particulary those of manner, are formed from adjectives by the addition of –ly:
e.g. patient – patiently
Some adverbs of frequency are also formed in this way:
e.g usual – usually
Adverbs of degree are also formed like that:
e.g. Near – nearly
Viewpoint adverbs also end in –ly:
e.g. Fortunately
2. One-word adverbs not ending in “ly”
Many adverbs cannot be identified by their endings. These include adverbs which have the
same form as the adjectives
e.g. fast (adv. of manner), there (adv. Of place), then (adv. Of time), often (adv. Of frequency),
perhaps (viewpoint adv.), however (connectives)
Position of adverbs in the sentence
There are different places where you can put the adverb in a
sentence.
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:
-She speaks Italian beautifully.
-He works well.
-You must drive your car carefully.
-Eat quietly.
ADVERBS OF PLACE - these answer the question where?
! This adverb usually comes after the object, otherwise after
the verb:
-We saw you there.
-We were sitting here.
-We looked everywhere.
! Note: somewhere, anywhere, follow the same rules as

some and any:
-Have you seen my glasses anywhere?
-I'm sure I left them somewhere.
-I can't find them anywhere.
ADVERBS OF TIME - these answer the question when?
! This adverb usually comes either at the very beginning of the
sentence or at the end.
-Afterwards we decided to go by car. I've done that journey before.
! Note: yet and still: yet should be placed at the end of the
sentence. Still should be placed before the verb, except with the
verb 'to be' when it comes after.
-We haven't started yet.
-He still wears old-fashioned clothes.
-She is still a student.
-Compare these two sentences:
-The train still hasn't arrived.
-The train hasn't arrived yet.
ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY - these answer the question how many
times?
! This adverb comes after the verb 'to be':
-She is always honest.
! Comes before simple tenses of all other verbs:

-They sometimes spend the whole of Saturday fishing.
! Comes after the first auxiliary in a tense consisting of more than one
verb:
-I have often wondered how they did that.
-I can sometimes go without food for days.
! Note: with 'used to' and 'have' the frequency adverb is usually placed
in front:
-We always used to look forward to the school holidays.
-He never has any trouble with his old car.
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 bottle is almost full, nearly empty.
-They should be able to pass their exams quite easily.
! 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:
-I quite understand.
-We had almost reached the hut when the rain started.
-I am just beginning a new course.
Exercises
Activity 1.
Read the text, find the adverbs and group them according to type.
-Manner:
-Place:
-Time:
-Frequency:
-Degree:
-Intensifyers:
-Focus:
-Viewpoint, connectives:
I had a nightmare the other night. I dreamt I was bungee jumping, that's when you throw yourself off a bridge
and your feet are attached to an elasticated rope that pulls you back again. I didn't do the jump properly, in fact, I did it
extremely badly because I fell only a few metres and was dangling dangerously just below the bridge for ages.
Then I woke up and thanked my lucky stars enthusiastically that it had been only a dream. I lay quietly in bed the
following morning and wondered how I had come to have such a terrible dream. Never would I contemplate the idea of
jumping off a bridge with or without an elasticated cord. Then I remembered I had seen a film on the television the night
before showing some students bungee jumping. The funny thing about this strange sport is that you often see people jumping
off but you never see them come back. As I said, in no circumstances could I be persuaded to do it for the simple reason that I
am terrified of heights. I remember once sitting petrified at my desk at work listening to a colleague describing how he had
jumped out of a plane by parachute on one occasion in order to raise some money for charity, I can recall how I almost fell off
my chair in fear. No sooner had he finished telling his story than I had to get up and go and lie down quietly in a darkened
room. I can still remember one incident that illustrates my fear of heights — I haven't got over it yet and it's still very vivid in
my mind.
I never have to find an excuse to go to the seaside. I always agree to it when someone suggests going to the coast. I
never can resist the sight and smell of the sea. A trip had been planned for the weekend. I always used to pack the night before
one of these trips and invariably I rarely slept in anticipation of the event. That's what comes of working in a large city day in
day out. We set off early and reached our destination quite quickly at about 11 a.m. Hardly had we finished our morning coffee
in a small cafe when it started to rain really heavily. Then we decided to drive around to the front and watch the sea as it
pounded violently against the beach. We were just going to abandon the whole idea of staying there any longer when the sun
made an appearance suddenly.
As quickly as the rain had started equally as speedily it stopped. We all got out of the car and walked slowly up the
cliff at the end of the town. Usually you get a magnificent view of the bay at the top but on this particular afternoon rarely had I
seen so much mist. And that, in a manner of speaking, was my down fall. Although I knew this particular piece of land quite
well, the fog had obscured the edge of the cliff and although I was walking very slowly as I always do on high ground, I stepped
on a piece of grass which I thought was solid but soon discovered was anything but. I slipped immediately and began to descend
almost as if I was nearly doing a slow motion bungee jump only this time I was the right way up. With a jolt I stopped abruptly
and realized I was going nowhere. Only then did I start to panic. I could hear the sea but I didn't dare look down and I started
to yell as loud as I could. I waited patiently on my little edge for at least half an hour while I was being assured that help would
come soon.
Eventually a rope was dropped down to me and I gradually hoisted myself up to the top of the cliff. By now the
mist had cleared completely and I took a quick look down to discover that I had only been about half a metre from the beach.
But I thought I'd conceal that information subtly.
After all, it would have spoilt the hero's welcome I received.
Activity 2.
Fill in the blanks with the suitable adverb using the word in paranthesis:
1. This has been an _____ complemantary remark for you. (unusual)
2. We had an ______ day boating on the lake. (enjoyable)
3. Her faith in the power of God is _________ strong. (questionable)
4. Lots of Americans fought _______ in World War I in Europe. (voluntary)
5. He behaved rather ________ under the circumstances. (suspicious)
6. I’m glad you have so _______ explained things to her. (tactical)
7. She is trembling _______ at tomorrow’s prospects. (anxious)
8. She ________ tiptoed across the room for fear they might hear her. (cautious)
9. He nodded to me in a _______ way. (friend)
10. I am _______ at a loss but I’ll come to my senses, that’s a promise. (moment)

Adverbs

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Adverbs

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What are the different types of adverbs discussed in the passage?

How can adverbs be identified according to the passage?

ADVERBS

1. Adverbs of manner (how?)

1. One-word adverbs ending in “ly”

ADVERBS OF MANNER - these answer the question how?

! Note: somewhere, anywhere, follow the same rules as

! Comes before simple tenses of all other verbs:

! The following adverbs of degree can also modify verbs: almost,

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