Adverbs
Lesson-1
An
adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb. It adds
something to the verb, adjective or another adverb. The examples are:
1. The
nightingale sang melodiously.
‘melodiously’ modifies the verb ‘sang’.
2. Nightingale
is very melodious singer’
‘very’ modifies the adjective ‘melodious’
3. The
nightingale sings quiet melodiously.
‘quite’ modifies the adverb melodiously
Ø Rules
for placing the ‘adverbs’ that modifies adjectives and other adverbs
1. An adverb
that modifies and adjective comes just before the adjective as in example 2
above. Look at the examples below.
They had an extremely useful discussion.
(‘extremely modifies the adjective ‘useful’)
His behavior was shockingly rude.
(‘shockingly’ modifies the adjective rude)
2. An adverb
that modifies another adverb comes just before it. They usually tell to what
extent.
Look at these examples below.
He was speaking quite loudly.
‘quite’ tells us to what extent he was speaking loudly (loudly
modifies the verb ‘speaking’
She replied rather bashfully.
‘rather tells us to what extent she replied bashfully (bashfully
modifies the verb ‘replied’
Exercise based on Lesson-1
Pick out the adverbs and modified words in the sentences below.
Also write which part of speech the modified word is: verb, adjective or
adverb. Examples have been given
Sentences
|
Adverbs
|
Modified words (part of speech)
|
She sometimes visits me.
|
sometimes
|
Visits (verb)
|
She speaks fast.
|
||
They are extremely angry with him
|
||
The story is rather interesting
|
||
He ran very fast
|
||
It was an amazingly brilliant success
|
||
These mangoes are almost ripe
|
||
She thinks logically
|
||
The tree was very tall
|
||
They performed well in the exams
|
Lesson-2
Kinds of Adverbs
An
adverb answers on of the five questions about the word it modifies
1. When? (Adverb
of time). Example: The meeting began late.
2. Where?
(Adverb of place). Example: They hold a meeting at home.
3. How often?
(Adverb of frequency). Example: He rarely visits me.
4. How/In what
manner? (Adverb of manner). Example: He spoke softly.
5. To what
extent/degree? (Adverb of degree). Example: Weather is very good.
Note:
The adverbs ‘not’ and ‘never’ indicate to what extent and when. They also give
negative meaning to sentences.
Examples:
He does not invite his classmates
They never arrive in
time.
Exercise No.1 based on Lesson-2
Sort
the adverbs and adverb phrases and write them in appropriate column. One
example is given for each type.
never,
almost, today, rarely, soon, fast, in the city, next day, after lunch, at the
village, somewhere, heavily, well, slowly, at night, hardly, once a month,
there, seriously, now, quite
Adverb
of time
|
Adverb
of place
|
Adverb
of frequency
|
Adverb
of manner
|
Adverb
of degree
|
now
|
there
|
Once a
month
|
slowly
|
quite
|
Exercise No.2 based on Lesson-2
Read
the following sentences. Pick out the adverbs and identify the type of each.
1.
The gusts are coming tomorrow.
2.
They like coming here.
3.
They often make this trip.
4.
She writes quite beautifully.
5.
They always welcome us warmly.
6.
He seldom gets angry.
7.
My father has gone out.
8.
The project is almost ready.
9.
Stop it now.
10. They will
arrive soon.
Lesson-3
Position of Adverbs
The
position of an adverb in a sentence determines the meaning.
If
an adverb is placed after a phrase or clause, it is considered to modify that
clause or phrase. The meaning changes accordingly.
Examples: They instantly gave up the plan to
strike.
They up the
plan to strike instantly.
The leader annoyingly
denied that he had made such a statement.
The leader
denied that he had made such a statement annoyingly.
Adverbs can be placed in one of the three
positions, viz. front position (at the beginning of a sentence), mid position (close
to the verb), and end position (at the end of the sentence).
Front Mid End
|
Then the girl slowly
walked away.
Soon the child dramatically
screamed again.
|
If the
sentence contains one or more auxiliary verbs, the adverbs are placed after the
first auxiliary. If there is no auxiliary, the adverbs come before the main
verb.
Example: I have often told him to be careful.
The records have definitely been
damaged.
It can easily be explained to them.
I occasionally visit the place.
If any form of the verb ‘to be’ is used, the
adverbs are placed after the verb. I other cases adverbs are normally placed
before simple tenses of other verbs.
Examples: We
are always on the schedule.
He is never rude.
You are certainly a better candidate.
He sometimes comes to this shopping
mall.
Note: When
there is a stress on the verb ‘to be’ or on the auxiliary, then the adverbs
usually comes before it.
Example: You
certainly are a better candidate.
You really have made a difference
If there is
an object, the adverbs are generally placed after the object. But if the object
is very long, we usually put the adverb before the verb.
Adverb Verb Object Adverbs
|
He signed the document yesterday.
He read the paper quickly.
He carefully
looked at the entire collection of specimens
|
When an
adverb modifies an adjective or another adverb, the adverb is normally placed
before it. Example: Do not drive so fast. It is very dangerous.
Positions of Different kinds of Adverbs
Adverb of manners (e.g. sadly, well, fast,
carefully, quickly)
An adverb of manner usually goes in end
position, but an adverb that ends in ‘ly’ can sometimes go in mid position.
Example: He was driving fast.
She
apologized politely./She politely apologized.
Adverb of
place (e.g. away, here, there, somewhere, nowhere)
These are generally placed after the verb or
after the object if there is one.
Examples: Her cousin lives here.
I have met
him somewhere.
Adverbs of
time (e.g. afterwards, now, soon, today)
They are
generally placed in front position or in the end position.
Examples: I met him recently.
Eventually they settled in their hometown.
He signed in the dotted line yesterday.
Soon he became the richest man of the city.
Adverbs of frequency (e.g. always, never,
sometimes, usually)
An adverb of frequency usually goes in mid
position.
Examples: She is always on time.
He sometimes
feels neglected
Adverbs such as often, sometimes, normally,
usually, and occasionally can also go in front or end position.
Examples:
Usually there is no dissenting voice.
He feels
neglected sometimes.
Sentence
Adverbs
When an
adverb is intended to modify the entire sentence, it is normally placed at the
beginning of the sentence.
Example: Generally the employees like
to maintain the status quo. Maybe they feel secure that way.
A sentence adverb modifies the whole
sentence, rather than any particular word. It can go in the front, mid or end
position.
Examples: Fortunately, his initial
response was favorable.
He had probably
no other proposals.
He is very
excited, of course.
Positions of More Than One Adverbs in a Sentence
If
there are two or more adverbs after a verb, the adverb of manner comes first
followed by adverbs of place and time.
The
order will be as follows:
Subject+Verb how(adverb) where(adverb) where(adverb
|
He replied
calmly at the court yesterday
He signed
the pact quietly in his office in the evening
|
Adverbs
of time can also be in front position.
Example:
Every day of the weak he visited his mother when she was in hospital.
Exercise No.1 base on Lesson-3
Put the
adverbs/adverb phrases given in brackets into the most appropriate positions
1. Amir wrote the slogans (on the
wall, clearly)
2.
He went (in the morning there)
3.
I will wait (till tomorrow,
eagerly)
4.
She works (in the kitchen, hard,
the whole day)
5.
Peace prevailed (gradually,
everywhere)
6.
He donated money (at the event,
generously, in the morning)
7.
The old man walked (in the
evening, to the market, slowly)
8.
A change occurred (two years ago,
in the entire organization, gradually)
9.
Haris came (in the morning,
hurriedly, into the room)
10.
He gave up his claim
(unwillingly, recently, at the meeting)
Lesson-4
Inversion of the Verb
Certain
adverb and adverb phrases can be placed first in a sentence for emphasis and
then followed by the inverted form of the verb.
Read
the following sentences.
I have never
seen such a dismal sight.
Never have I seen
such a dismal sight.
We can hope to regain their faith in us only
by treating them well.
Only by treating them well, can we hope to regain their faith in us.
So, Under, No Sooner
So is an adverb. It can be used with an inverted verb.
Examples:
She shouted so loudly that every one turned around to see.
So loudly did she shout, that everyone turned
around to see.
We cannot allow the situation to deteriorate under
any circumstances.
Under no circumstances can we allow the situation
to deteriorate.
No sooner is
comparative form. If it begins the sentence, the verb must ne inverted.
Example: As
soon as he finished the work, he left the office.
No sooner had he finished the work then he
left the office.
Exercise No.1 based on Lesson-4
Rewrite
the following sentences using the words given in brackets at the initial
position followed by an inversion of verbs.
1. Their
cooperation was not seen. (nowhere)
2. As soon as
they reached home, it started raining. (no sooner)
3. He could not
get a decent job anywhere. (nowhere)
4. One does not
face such a plight always. (seldom)
5. He had never
faced such a hardship in his life. (scarcely ever)
Rewrite the following grammatically incorrect
sentences in the correct form.
1. Rarely does
he refused an invitation to dinner.
2. Not even for
one day did they stayed at her house.
3. As soon as
they reach the station they bought the tickets.
4. Hardly ever
did Irfan resisted the temptation to gorge.
5. Not until
the company improved its reputation did the sales picked up.
Lesson-5
Adverbs and Adjectives
Adverbs
modify verbs whereas adjectives qualify nouns.
Transform
the adjectives into adverbs and rewrite the sentences. One has been done for
you.
1.
He speaks in a kind manner.
He speaks
kindly.
2.
They make frequent changes to the
timetable.
3.
This is remarkable achievement of
theirs.
4.
There was a sharp rise in the
price index.
5.
Finally the issue has courageous
settlement.
6.
He presented a ridiculous
argument.
7.
They have done systematic
arrangements.
8.
Haris is an efficient worker.
9.
The dog gave loud bark
10. Her speech
was pathetic.
Ra
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