CHAPTER EIGHT Adverbs 10

10 SUMMARY

10.1 ADVERB FORMATION

Adverbs that end in ‘–ly’ are formed by adding ‘–ly’ to:

an adjective: careful – carefully, beautiful – beautifully
a present participle: willing – willingly, glowing – glowingly
a past participle: assured – assuredly, affected – affectedly

When adjective ends in:

-able/-ible - final –e is replaced with –y: horrible – horribly, terrible – terribly
-y - final –y is replaced with –ily: happy – happily, lucky – luckily
-ic - final –ic is replaced with –ically: economic – economically, ironic – ironically

10.2 ADVERBS AS MODIFIERS (ADVERBS IN ADVERBIAL FUNCTIONS)

An adverb modifies a verb:
He walked quickly.
I accepted new task willingly.
Mike snored melodically.

An adverb modifies an adjective:
They were really unhappy.
My brother is completely fearless.
I know she is very careful.

An adverb modifies an adverb:
He is almost always hungry.
John plays tennis very well.
You never can work too carefully.

An adverb modifies a clause:
Perhaps you are correct, but not at first glance.
Surely he will be on time, but I hope not.
Probably they’d think we were crazy, but who cares.

An adverb modifies a sentence:
Suddenly, she went home.
Finally, he will be on time.
Today, we can take a vacation.

10.3 ADVERB CLASSIFICATION BY THEIR FUNCTION

Adverbs of manner – answer the question 'How?':
I watch them closely.
I play well.
List: carefully, cheerfully, fast, quicly, slowly, inadequately, healthy

Adverbs of time – answer the question 'When?':
I arrive late for most appointments.
Lately, I have had many sleepless nights.
List: early, never, now, often, recently, soon, then, today, tomorrow

Adverbs of place (location, direction) – answer the question 'Where?':
Have you ever gone there?
I will meet you outside.
List: above, away, below, down, downstairs, here, inside, there, up

Adverbs of degree – answer the question 'How much?':
I am too tired to play tennis tonight.
He is completely tired from the journey.
List: almost, entirely, little, much, rather, totally, very, too

Adverbs of frequency – answer the question 'How often?':
He rarely goes by himself.
She constantly finishes her job first.
List: always, never, usually, frequently, sometimes, occasionally

Interrogative adverbs – used at the beginning of questions:
Why are you so angry?
When does the movie start?
List: why, where, how, when

10.4 CONJUNCTIVE (CONNECTING) ADVERBS

They connect the ideas expressed in different clauses or sentences. Some of the most common conjunctive adverbs: accordingly, also, anyhow, furthermore, however, moreover, otherwise, still, and therefore.

Use of conjunctive adverb between two independent clauses requires a semicolon before the adverb and comma after it:
I want to sleep; however, I need to study.

If conjunctive adverb is used at the beginning of a sentence, comma is used to set it off. Note that the period takes the place of a semicolon:
The day was over. Therefore, I went to sleep.

If conjunctive adverb is placed within a clause, commas are used to set it off:
The day is over. I will, therefore, go to sleep.

10.5 ADVERBS AS INTENSIFIERS

as emphasizers:
I really like him.
I literally wrecked my car.

as amplifiers:
He completely abandoned the city.
I absolutely refuse to leave.

as down toners:
I somewhat like it.
He almost quit that job.

10.6 ADVERB POSITION

At the front (prior to the subject):
Today we will study adverbs.
Lately, I have had lots of phone calls.

At the center of the sentence (between the subject and the verb):
He seldom goes to movies.
I hardly noticed her.

At the end of the sentence:
I learn English slowly.
I study adverbs now.

10.7 COMPARISON OF ADVERBS

Like adjectives, adverbs have three forms of comparison: positive, comparative & superlative:

Positive degree expresses the quality without comparison.
Comparative degree compares two verbs, adjectives, or adverbs.
Superlative degree compares three or more verbs, adjectives or adverbs.

Most adverbs are compared by using another adverb:
I dance gracefully.
More or less - to express the comparative degree:
I dance more gracefully.
Most or least - to express the superlative degree:
I dance most gracefully.

10.7.1 SUFFIX COMPARISON

Some adverbs are compared using a suffix –er (the comparative forms) and –est (the superlative forms):
I will arrive soon.
I will arrive sooner.
I will arrive soonest.

10.7.2 IRREGULAR COMPARISON

positive - comparative - superlative
bad/badly - worse - worst
far - farther/further - farthest/furthest
late/lately - later - latest
little - less - least
much - more - most
well - better - best

10.7.3 BEYOND COMPARISON

Some adverbs are never compared. They express qualities unsuitable for comparison:
again, almost, before, ever, never, here, there, now, then, there, thus, too, twice, very.