Adverbs

Functions of Adverbs

Adverbs have three typical functions:

o 1-Adverbial: Modifying a verb or a whole clause

Example: He always (adverbial of time) drives carefully (adverbial of manner).

o 2-Modifier: Modifying an adjective, adverb, or a number of other constructions

Example: He is an extreme ly careful driver.

o 3-Complement of a preposition: Acting as a complement of a preposition

Example: I haven't been here before now.

 Adverb Modifiers
A- Modifying Adjectives

Adverbs typically precede the adjective: rather tall for a ten-year-old

Exception: enough is placed after its adjective: This just isn't good enough!

too and how are exceptional: When they modify an adjective in a noun phrase, the indefinite article
is placed after the adjective: He's too good an actor to forget his lines.

B- Modifying Adverbs

Adverbs may premodify another adverb: You seem to be smoking rather heavily these days.

enough is the only postmodifying adverb: Oddly enough, nothing valuable was stolen.

C-Modifying Prepositional Phrases

Adverbs may modify a prepositional phrase: His parents are dead against his hitchhiking.

Example: He threw it right through the window.

D-Modifying Determiners, Pronouns, or Numerals

Adverbs may modify a determiner, pronoun, or numeral: He has hardly any friends.

Example: Nearly everybody came to his party.

o Adverb Placement
 1-Modifying Noun Phrases

A few degree words can modify noun phrases: rather, such, what (in exclamations)

Example: The place was in rather a mess.

 2-Modifying Nouns

Some adverbs denoting place or time postmodify nouns: his journey home, the meeting yesterday
  Adverb Complement of a Preposition
o Place Adverbs

Place adverbs occur with prepositions: around, down, from, in, near, out (of), over, round, through,
up

Example: I don't know anybody around here.

o Time Adverbs

Time adverbs occur with prepositions: since, till, from, after, for, until

Example: I haven't eaten since yesterday.

o Conjunct Adverbs and Conjunctions

Some adverbs functioning as conjuncts resemble coordinators: so, yet

These adverbs cannot be transposed with their clause in front of the preceding clause

 Adverb and Preposition

Some adverbs can be used as prepositions: around, down, from, in, near, out (of), over, round,
through, up

Example: They turned on the light.

 Correspondence between Adjective and Adverb

A correspondence often exists between constructions containing adjectives and constructions

containing the corresponding adverbs

Example: He liked Mary considerably.

o Categories of Adverbs

Category Example

Adverbs of Time soon, yesterday, lately, now

Adverbs of Frequency often, never, repeatedly

Adverbs of Manner carefully, silently, vividly, slowly

Adverbs of Place around, downstairs, somewhere, here

Adverbs of Degree almost, completely, very, extremely, rather

Focusing Adverbs especially, mainly, even, also, only, particularly

Comment Adverbs obviously, frankly, stupidly, apparently

Linking Adverbs consequently, furthermore, however

Adverbs of Quantity a lot, a little, much## Adverb Placement in Sentences 📚

Adverbs can be placed in different positions within a sentence, depending on their function and the
emphasis desired.
  General Overview

Adverbs can be categorized into several types, including:

Time adverbs (e.g. yesterday, tomorrow, now)

Frequency adverbs (e.g. often, usually, always)

Manner adverbs (e.g. quickly, loudly, wisely)

Degree adverbs (e.g. very, extremely, highly)

Focusing adverbs (e.g. only, just, even)

Attitude markers/Comment adverbs (e.g. fortunately, unfortunately, surprisingly)

 Adverb Placement Rules

"A good rule of thumb is that we do not put adverbs between verbs and their direct objects or
between verbs and non-finite or that-clauses."

Here are the general placement rules for adverbs:

Adverb Type Placement

Time, place, and focusing adverbs Before a whole clause

Attitude markers/Comment adverbs Before the verb

Manner, degree, and frequency adverbsBefore the main verb and after an auxiliary verb

Adverbs of time, place, and manner At the end of a clause

Adverbs of degree and frequency Before an adjective or adverb

Examples

Before a whole clause: "And nowadays, when families complain of jealousy in their children..."

Before the verb: "We never got the chance..."

Before the main verb and after an auxiliary verb: "could never find a way..."

At the end of a clause: "a way of handling it successfully..."

Before an adjective or adverb: "properly jealous; very good"

 Types of Adverbs

Time Adverbs

Time adverbs can be divided into three classes according to their meaning:
Type Example

Time - when tomorrow, now, recently, again, then, once

Time frequency weekly, ever, normally, always, sometimes

Time duration since, temporarily

Frequency Adverbs

Frequency adverbs indicate how often an action occurs.

Type Example

Time frequency weekly, ever, normally, always, sometimes

Manner Adverbs

Manner adverbs describe the way an action is performed.

Type Example

Mannerquickly, loudly, wisely

Degree Adverbs

Degree adverbs modify adjectives or other adverbs.

Type Example

Degree very, extremely, highly

Focusing Adverbs

Focusing adverbs draw attention to a particular part of the sentence.

Type Example

Focusing only, just, even

Attitude Markers/Comment Adverbs

Attitude markers/comment adverbs express the speaker's attitude towards the information.

Type Example

Attitude markers/Comment fortunately, unfortunately, surprisingly

Note: Adverbs can have different placements and functions depending on the context and the

emphasis desired.## Adverbs of Frequency 💭

Adverbs of frequency describe how often an action or event occurs. They can be divided into two
categories: adverbs of definite frequency and adverbs of indefinite frequency.

o Adverbs of Definite Frequency

Weekly

Yearly

Constantly

A lot

Adverbs of Indefinite Frequency

Always

Usually

Often

Sometimes

Occasionally

Seldom

Rarely

Never

 Position of Adverbs of Indefinite Frequency

Adverbs of indefinite frequency can be placed in different positions in a sentence, depending on the
emphasis and meaning.

Position Example Emphasis

Mid position She often comes home after midnight. Frequency

Front position Sometimes, I have to stay up late. Time

End position I go there occasionally. Frequency

Special Cases

Always and Never cannot normally be used in mid position.

Always and Never can begin imperative clauses.

Never ask her about her marriage.

In formal, literary English, adverbs of indefinite frequency with a negative meaning can go in front
position.

Never had we been treated like that before.

Seldom is that pop group out of the news.

If there is no auxiliary verb, we use do.

Rarely did she see him after they broke up.

o Adverbs of Manner 🎨

Adverbs of manner describe the way in which an action or event takes place.

Examples

Abruptly

Clearly

Differently

Nicely

Peacefully

Systematically

Willingly

 Position of Adverbs of Manner

Adverbs of manner can be placed in different positions in a sentence, depending on the emphasis
and meaning.

Position Example Emphasis

End of a clause You spoke convincingly. Manner

After an object You described everything convincingly. Manner

After an adverbial You described everything to the board convincingly. Manner

Before a subject Carefully, she put it on the shelf. Manner

Before a verb She put it carefully on the shelf. Manner

Between an object and an adverbial She put it carefully on the shelf. Manner

Special Cases

We generally avoid placing adverbs of manner between a verb and its object.
Adverbs of manner can also modify an adjective.

The dog lay peacefully asleep.

 Adverbs of Place 📍

Adverbs of place describe the location or position of an action or event.

Examples

Overhead

Abroad

Ashore

Away

Downstairs

Downtown

Midway

Nearby

There

Westward

Upwind

 Position of Adverbs of Place

Adverbs of place are usually placed at the end of a clause.

Position Example Emphasis

End of a clause Come and sit here. Place

Special Cases

Adverbs of direction (movement) come before adverbs of position.

The children are running around upstairs.

The common adverbs of place, such as in and up, which are used as adverbs and as prepositions are
sometimes called adverb particles.

 Adverbs of Degree 🔥

Adverbs of degree describe the extent or degree of an action or event.

Examples

Strongly

Absolutely

Completely

Tremendously

Definitely

Totally

Radically

Deeply

Entirely

Utterly

Somewhat

Really

Slightly

Simply

Pretty

Nearly

Hardly

Scarcely

More

Most

Almost

Less

Half

 Position of Adverbs of Degree

Adverbs of degree can be used before adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs to give information about
the extent or degree of something.

Position Example Emphasis

Before an adjective They're extremely happy. Degree

Before a verb I really hate travelling by bus. Degree

Before another adverb He agreed somewhat reluctantly. Degree

Special Cases

Very and Too:

Before an adjective or another adverb, we use very to mean to a high degree, and too to mean more
than enough or more than is wanted or needed.

Compare: The weather was very hot in Majorca. and It's too hot to stay in this room.

Very and Very Much:

We don't use very before verbs, but we can use very much before some verbs to emphasize how we
feel about things.

Compare: I very much agree with the decision. and We very much enjoyed having you stay with us

 Adverbs of Quantity 💡

Adverbs of quantity indicate the extent or degree of an action or a situation.

A Little, A Lot, Much

A little is used in affirmative statements to indicate a small amount.

A lot is used in affirmative and negative statements, as well as in questions.

Much is used in negative and question forms.

Statement A Little A Lot Much

Affirmative She cried a little. She cried a lot. -

Negative - She doesn't eat a lot. She doesn't eat much.

Question - Do they complain about the service a lot? Do they complain about the
service much?

Adverbs of Degree 📈

Adverbs of degree indicate the extent or degree of an action or a situation.

 Placement of Adverbs of Degree

Adverbs of degree are usually placed immediately before the word they modify.

When the verb phrase contains a modal verb (e.g. can, may, might, should), the adverb can be
placed before the modal verb or before the main verb, depending on which word it qualifies.

 Focusing Adverbs 🔍

Focusing adverbs draw attention to a particular word or phrase in a sentence.

Examples of Focusing Adverbs

Especially, even, particularly, specifically

Just, merely, only, purely

Also, either, too

Chiefly, mainly, mostly, notably, primarily

Positions of Only and Even

In formal or careful English, only and even are placed before the word or phrase they focus on.

In informal English, the word or phrase is stressed to indicate focus.

 Comment Adverbs 💬

Comment adverbs express the speaker's attitude or opinion about what they are saying.

Examples of Comment Adverbs

Apparently, clearly, definitely, obviously

Astonishingly, frankly, generally, honestly, interestingly

Luckily, naturally, personally, sadly, seriously, surprisingly

 Position of Comment Adverbs

Comment adverbs can be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.

 Viewpoint Adverbs 👀

Viewpoint adverbs indicate the perspective or point of view from which a statement is made.

Examples of Viewpoint Adverbs

Financially, biologically, chemically, environmentally, ideologically

Logically, morally, politically, technically, visually, spiritually

Speaking

Speaking can be added to viewpoint adverbs to mean "from a [viewpoint] point of view".

 Linking Adverbs 🔗

Linking adverbs connect ideas or sentences and show their relationship.

Examples of Linking Adverbs

Moreover, besides, then, next, anyway, however, rather, yet, still, though, nonetheless, therefore,
thus

 Position of Linking Adverbs

Linking adverbs are usually placed at the beginning of a sentence.

Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs 📊

Comparison of adjectives and adverbs involves expressing different degrees of a quality or quantity.

Degrees of Comparison

Higher degree: expressed using -er and -est forms, or their periphrastic equivalents with more and
most.

Same degree: expressed using as and so.

Lower degree: expressed using less and least.

Comparative and Superlative Forms

Adjective Comparative Superlative

tall taller tallest

beautiful more beautiful most beautiful

clever cleverer/more clever cleverest/most clever

Idiomatic Expressions

As light as a feather, as hard as iron

As can be used in idiomatic phrases to indicate a quality or state.## Comparing Adjectives and

Adverbs 📊

Introduction

Comparing adjectives and adverbs is an essential part of communication in English. In this section,
we will explore the different ways to compare adjectives and adverbs, including the use of -er and -
est, more and most, and less and least.

Comparative Adjectives

Adjectives with One Syllable

Adjective Comparative Superlative

big bigger biggest

cold colder coldest

old older oldest

Note: Adjectives with one syllable usually form their comparative and superlative forms using -er
and -est.

Adjectives with Two Syllables

Adjective Comparative Superlative

happy happier happiest

cloudy cloudier cloudiest

gentle gentler gentlest

Note: Adjectives with two syllables usually form their comparative and superlative forms using -er
and -est, but some may use more and most.

Adjectives with Three or More Syllables

Adjective Comparative Superlative

beautiful more beautiful most beautiful

interesting more interesting most interesting

difficult more difficult most difficult

Note: Adjectives with three or more syllables usually form their comparative and superlative forms
using more and most.

Superlative Adjectives

Irregular Forms

Adjective Comparative Superlative

good better best

far farther/further farthest/furthest

old older oldest

Note: Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

Using The

When using superlative adjectives, we usually use the before the adjective.

Example: This is the best book I've ever read.

Comparative Adverbs

Adverbs with One Syllable

Adverb Comparative Superlative

fast faster fastest

loud louder loudest

bright brighter brightest

Note: Adverbs with one syllable usually form their comparative and superlative forms using -er and -
est.

Adverbs with Two Syllables

Adverb Comparative Superlative

quickly more quickly most quickly

loudly more loudly most loudly

wisely more wisely most wisely

Note: Adverbs with two syllables usually form their comparative and superlative forms using more
and most.

 Special Cases

Using Less and Least

We use less and least to compare quantities.

Example: I drink less coffee than I used to.

Using More and Most

We use more and most to compare quantities.

Example: I have more friends than I used to.

Using No

We use no to say that something has no more of a quality than something else or than it had before.

Example: I have no more time to waste.##

Comparative and Superlative Forms 📊

WAYS OF INTENSIFYING AND DOWNTONING COMPARATIVE FORMS

We use a range of words and expressions before comparative forms to make them seem stronger or
weaker.

Intensifiers Downtoners

far* slightly

considerably a little

much hardly

a great deal barely

a bit*

quite

by far

 any is used for emphasis in front of comparatives in negative clauses, questions, and

conditional clauses: 📝 "He wasn't any taller than Jane." = "He was no taller than Jane." 📝 "Is
that any clearer?" "If it will make you any happier, I'll give up."

 COMPARATIVE MEANING RELATIVELY, MORE THAN AVERAGE

Comparatives can suggest ideas like relatively, more than average. Used in this way, comparatives
make a less clear and narrow selection than superlatives.

📝 "They put on two classes: one for the cleverer students and one for the slower learners." 📝 "The
cleverest students were two girls from York."

 WAYS OF EMPHASISING SUPERLATIVE FORMS

We use a range of words and expressions before the superlative form of adjectives to make them
seem stronger.

Emphasizers

simply

easily

altogether

quite

by far and away

📝 "She's easily the best candidate." 📝 "It was simply the most wonderful performance I ever heard."
  SPECIAL PATTERNS WITH COMPARATIVE

1-Double Comparatives

We use these patterns with and to express a continuing increase, or to emphasize the speed or
inevitability of a process.

📝 "The traffic's getting worse and worse." 📝 "The plant grew taller and taller."

2-Comparing exact measurements

We use these patterns with exact measurements to compare things.

📝 "It's thirty percent bigger." 📝 "She can walk three times further than you."

3-The + Comparative

We use this pattern to say that a change in one thing goes with a change in another.

📝 "The better the joke, the louder the laugh." 📝 "The older you get, the more difficult it becomes to
find a job.

 SENTENCE ADVERBS 📚

Sentence adverbs are adverbs or adverbial phrases that comment on a whole sentence or part of a
sentence.

Uses of Sentence Adverbs

Organizing information

Commenting

Giving examples

Changing the subject

Rephrasing

Summarizing

Examples of Sentence Adverbs

By and large

Generally speaking

However

Moreover

In other words
On the whole##

Adverb Placement 📚

Exercise 3: Choose the correct adverb

Sentence Options

1. Clarice .. opened the door to the secret compartment. A) slowly, B) last week, C) probably

2. We don't . know the identity of the ma sked stranger. A) still, B) really, C) certainly

3. You can . see the coast from this point. A) definitely, B) just, C) as well

4. Our next door neighbours go there .. A) as well, B) hardly ever, C) a lot

... ...

Answer Key

C) probably

A) still

A) definitely

B) hardly ever

... (rest of the answer key)

Exercise 4: Improve sentence structure by rearranging adverbs

Note: Put a tick if no improvement is needed.

Original Sentence Improved Sentence

1. We together walked to the end of the garden. We walked together to the end of the
garden.

2. So far in my new job I have mainly had to deal with complaints. ✓

3. I just have bought a new car. I have just bought a new car.

... ...

Exercise 5: Rewrite sentences with adverbs in brackets

Example: My parents hardly ever allowed us to stay up late on weekdays.

Original Sentence Rewritten Sentence

0. Taking advantage of a gap between the players, Owen kicked the ball (into the net/just before half
time/skillfully). Taking advantage of a gap between the players, Owen skillfully kicked the ball into
the net just before half time.
1. Foxes (often/be seen/can) scavenging (on the streets of London/at night). Foxes can often be
seen scavenging on the streets of London at night.

... ...

Exercise 6: Write very, very much, or (very) much

Definition:

Very is used to emphasize a degree or extent. It is often used with adjectives and adverbs. Very
much is used to emphasize a large quantity or degree. Much is used to indicate a large quantity or
extent.

Original Sentence Rewritten Sentence

1. She's not sleeping well because she's worried about work. She's not sleeping very well because
she's worried about work.

2. You could try phoning him, but I doubt that he'll be at home. You could try phoning him, but I
very much doubt that he'll be at home.

... ...

Exercise 7: Put even, only, or alone in the most appropriate place

Definition:

Even is used to indicate a surprising or unexpected situation. Only is used to indicate a limitation or a
single option. Alone is used to indicate that someone or something is isolated or separate.

Original Sentence Rewritten Sentence

1. When he died, .. even .. his political enemies agreed that he was a good man. When he died, even
his political enemies agreed that he was a good man.

2. I didn't expect her to do anything, but when I came down Ella had tidied up and made tea. I
didn't expect her to do anything, but when I came down, Ella alone had tidied up and made tea.

... ...