Adverbs

Word Classes (Parts of Speech)

1. Definition
- Are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
e.g (verbs)
They’ll arrive soon. (when)
Note: Here, the adverb soon, modifies the verb arrive. It tells when the arrival will occur.

Put the flowers here. (where)
Note: Here, the adverb here, modifies the verb put. It tells where the flowers should be placed.

She dances awkwardly. (how)
Note: Here, the adverb awkwardly, modifies the verb dances. It tells how she dances.

Cynthia travels frequently. (how often)
Note: Here, the adverb frequently, modifies the verb travel. It tells how often Cynthia travels.

e.g (adjectives)

Kareem Abdul Jafar is extremely tall.
Note: Here, the abverb extremely, modifies the adjective tall. It tells us how tall Kareem is.

e.g (adverb)

Anthony sings quite exquisitely.
Note: Here, the adverb quite, modifies the adverb exquisitely. It indicates how exquisite Anthony’s singing is.

2. Creating Adverbs
· Add –ly to an adjective to make an adverb.
· Change the ‘y’ of adjectives that end with ‘y’ to ‘i’ before adding
-ly.

Adjective + ly = adverb
e.g angry – angrily

3. Adjective ending with -ly
· They remain as adjectives – homely, lonely, lovely, manly, womanly

4. Categories of Adverbs

Time: Again, early, never, now often, soon, then, today, tomorrow
Location or direction: Above, away, below, down, here, in, inside, out, there, up
Manner: Cheerfully, cunningly, fast, quickly, right, slowly, well
Degree: Almost, entirely, little, much, rather, too, very
Reason: So, why
Number: First, once, second, twice, third, thrice


5. Adjective or adverb?

Is early an adjective?

Answer: It is both an adjective and adverb.
e.g We stopped at Bob’s Pancake House for an early lunch. (adjective)
We rose early. (adverb)

Other words that can be either adjective or adverb: cowardly, deep, early, friendly, hard, kindly, lively, leisurely, long, loud, only and timely.


6. Positioning the Adverb

- Depends on what type of word it modifies and on how the speaker wishes to communicate his
or her idea.

- When an adverb modifies and adjective or another adverb, the modifying adverb will precede the word modified.
e.g We are quite happy with the new apartment.
Note: Here, the adverb quite, modifies the adjective happy.

Other links: http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammar/adverbs.html