ADVERB
Adverb is a part of speech that modifies or describes a verb, an adjective and another adverb.
Kinds of Adverbs
1. Adverbs of Manner
Adverbs of Manner tell us the manner or way in which something happens. They answer the question
"HOW?".
Adverbs of Manner mainly modify verbs. An adverb of manner tells us how something is done or happens.
Most adverbs of manner end in –ly such as badly, happily, sadly, slowly, quickly, and others that include
well, hard, fast.
Examples:
1. My brothers badly needed this money. (How did my brothers need this money?)
2. They had to act fast to save the others floating in the water. (How did they have to act?)
3. At the advanced age of 88, she still sang very well. (How did she still sing?)
4. He speaks slowly. (How does he speak?)
5. They helped us cheerfully. (How did they help us?)
6. James Bond drives his cars fast. (How does James Bond drive his cars?)
2. Adverbs of Time
Adverbs of Time tell us something about the time that something happens. Adverbs of Time mainly modify
verbs. They can answer the question "WHEN?":
We use adverb of time at the beginning or at the end of a sentence. We use them as a form of emphasis when
we place it at the beginning. Adverbs of time include afterwards, already, always, immediately, last month,
now, soon, then, and yesterday.
Examples:
1. He collapsed and died last week. (When did he collapse and die?)
2. His factory was burned down a few months ago. (When was the factory burned?)
3. Last week, we were stuck in the elevator for an hour. (When were we stuck in the elevator?)
4. He came yesterday. (When did he come?)
5. I want it now. (When do I want it?)
3. Adverbs of Place
Adverbs of Place tell us the place where something happens. They answer the question "WHERE?". Adverbs
of Place mainly modify verbs.
We use adverbs of place after the verb, direct object or at the end of a sentence.
Adverbs of place include words such as above, below, here, outside, over there, there, under, upstairs.
Prepositional phrases also function as an adverb of place.
Examples:
1. We can stop here for lunch. (Where can we stop for lunch?)
2. The schoolboy goes to the library. (Where does the schoolboy go?)
3. They rushed for their lives when fire broke out in the floor below. (Where did they rush?)
4. Please sit here. (Where should I sit?)
5. They looked everywhere. (Where did they look?)
6. Two cars were parked outside. (Where were two cars parked?)
7. PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES: Greg lives along the river. (Where does Greg live?)
You should go to the office. (Where should you go?)
4. Adverbs of Frequency
An adverb of frequency tells us how often something is done or happens. Words used as adverbs of
frequency include again, almost, always, ever, frequently, generally, hardly ever, nearly, nearly always,
never, occasionally, often, rarely, seldom, sometimes, twice, usually, and weekly.
Adverbs of frequency can answer the question "HOW OFTEN?":
Examples:
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1. They hardly ever say something nice. (How often do they say something nice?)
2. While overseas, he frequently phoned home. (How often did he phone home?)
3. She is not nearly always right although she thinks she is always right. (How often is she not right?)
4. He complained that she never smiled back. (How often did she smile back?)
5. We only write to each other very occasionally. (How often do we write to each other?)
6. Peter seldom reads the Bible. (How often does Peter read the Bible?)
7. Sometimes he stays late in the office to complete his work. (How often does he stay late in the office?)
8. Our cat was bitten twice by the same dog. (How often was our cat bitten?)
9. The man usually proposes marriage. (How often does the man propose marriage?)
10. They deliver the newspaper daily. (How often do they deliver the newspaper?)
11. We sometimes watch a movie. (How often do we watch a movie?)
5. Adverbs of Purpose
Adverbs of purpose tell us the purpose of the action in the sentence. They are introduced by a preposition to
plus base form of the verb. They answer the question “WHY?” or “What is the purpose of the action?”.
Examples:
1. Her parents went to the school to know what happened.
2. My mother went to the market to buy fresh fruits.
3. The students came here to perform.
4. I review my lessons to pass the examination.
5. We organized this party to surprise you.
6. Adverbs of Degree
Adverbs of Degree tell us the degree or extent to which something is done or happens. They answer the
question "HOW MUCH?" or "TO WHAT EXTENT, LEVEL, OR DEGREE?".
Words of adverb of degree are almost, much, nearly, quite, really, so, too, very, etc. They are also called
INTENSIFIERS.
Examples:
1. It was too dark for us to find our way out of the cave. (before adjective)
2. The referee had to stop the match when it began to rain really heavily. (before adverb)
3. Harold’s daughter is quite fat for her age.
4. The accident victim nearly died from his injuries.
5. After all these years, she is still feeling very sad about her father’s death.
6. She entirely agrees with him. (To what extent does she agree with him?)
7. Mary is very beautiful. (To what degree is Mary beautiful? How beautiful is Mary?)
8. He drove quite dangerously. (To what degree did he drive dangerously? How dangerously did he drive?)
Royal Order of Adverbs
The Royal Order of Adverbs dictates the sequence
in which adverbs typically appear within a
sentence. It follows the pattern of Manner, Place,
Frequency, Time, and Purpose. This order ensures
clarity and coherence in writing, allowing readers
to easily understand the relationship between
actions and their circumstances. For example, in
the sentence "The students gathered quietly in the
library every day after school to study for exams,"
the adverbs "quietly" (manner), "in the library"
(place), "every day" (frequency), "after school"
(time), and "to study for exams" (purpose) are
arranged according to the Royal Order, facilitating
smooth comprehension of the students' actions and
intentions.
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