Adverbs
Adverbs answer the questions how, where, when, and to what degree. Adverbs should not be used to modify nouns.
Kinds of Adverb
1. Adverb of manner answers the question how?
* He writes neatly.
* My cousin works hard.
2. Adverb of time answer the question when?
* She is coming tomorrow.
* Please deliver our magazine now.
3. Adverb of place answers the question where?
* Let us meet in the restaurant.
* Here is the book you are looking for.
4. Adverb of frequently answers the question how often?
* He writes to him regularly.
* He visits me every month.
5. An adverb of degree answers the questions how much, how small, how long, to what extent, etc.
These kind of adverbs usually modify adjectives or other adverbs.
* The painting is almost finished.
* The mango is very sweet.
6. An interrogative adverbs asks a question.
* Where are you now?
* How many times have you read the English Grammar Book?
Exercise1: Change the following adjectives to adverbs
1. Careful 6. Slow
2. Fast 7. Merry
3. Weak 8. Graceful
4. Easy 9. Quick
5. Neat 10. Quiet
Exercise 2: complete the sentence by choosing the appropriate adverb.
In the crib | in the park | under the table |
In the playground | in the library | everywhere |
1. The children are .
2. The students are researching .
3. Noise and dirt are .
4. Thru baby lies .
5. The cat sleeps .
Degree of Comparison
Like Adjectives, Adverbs can be used to compare. The three degrees of comparison are: positive, comparative, superlative.
A few adverbs form the comparative degree by adding er to the positive degree.
They form the superlative degree by adding est to the positive degree.
Most adverbs are compared by placing before the positive forms, the words “more” or “less” for the comparative degree and most or least for the superlative degree.
4. Like adjectives, a few adverbs are compared irregularly.
Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
Abruptly | more abruptly | most abruptly |
Awkwardly | less awkwardly | least awkwardly |
Carefully | more carefully | most carefully |
Discreetly | more discreetly | most discreetly |
Efficiently | less efficiently | least efficiently |
Fast | faster | faster |
Far | farther | farthest |
Far | further | furthest |
Favorably | less favorably | least favorably |
Gratefully | less gratefully | least gratefully |
Hard | harder | hardest |
Late | later | latest |
Near | nearer | nearest |
Quick | quicker | quickest |
Slow | lower | slowest |
Soon | sooner | soonest |
Some adverbs are not compared. The following adverbs cannot be used in the comparative or superlative degrees.
Before | ever | here |
Never | no | that |
Now | so | then |
There | thus | too |
Very | past | yes |
By | back | whenever |
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