An Adverb is a word which modifies a verb or an adjective or another adverb.
FOR EXAMPLE
- In the example above ‘danced’ is a verb which is being modified by the adverb “beautifully”.
In the example above ‘beautiful’ is an adjective which is being modified by an adverb ‘very’.
KINDS OF ADVERBS
1. ADVERBS OF MANNER
Adverbs of Manner tell us the manner or the way in which something happens. They answer the question ‘How?’
Adverbs of Manner mainly modify verbs.
· He speaks slowly. (How does he speak?)
· They helped us cheerfully. (How did they help us?)
· James Bond drives his cars fast. (How does James Bond drive his cars?)
2. ADVERBS OF PLACE
Adverbs of place tell us the place where something happens. They answer the question ‘where?’
An adverb of place mainly modifies verbs.
· Please sit here. (Where should I sit?)
· They looked everywhere. (Where did they looked?)
· Two cars were parked outside. (Where were two cars parked?)
3. ADVERBS OF TIME
Adverbs of time tell us something about the time that something happens.
They answer the question ‘when?’ Adverbs of Time mainly modify verbs.
· He came yesterday. (When did he came?)
· I want it now. (When do I want it? )
Or they can answer the question ‘how often?’
· They deliver the newspaper daily. (How often do they deliver the newspaper?)
· We sometimes watch a movie. (How often do we watch a movie?)
4. ADVERBS OF DEGREE
Adverbs of degree tell us the degree or extent to which something happens. They answer the question ’how much?’ or ‘to what degree?’
Adverbs of degree can modify verbs, Adjectives or other Adverbs.
· She entirely agrees with him. (How much does she agree with him?)
· Mary is very beautiful. (To what degree is Mary beautiful? How beautiful is Mary?)
· He drove quite dangerously. (To what degree did he drive dangerously? How dangerously did he drive?)
5. ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY
Adverbs of frequency tell us how many times the action occurs or occurred or will occur.
Examples: Rarely, daily, sometimes, often, seldom, usually, frequently, always, ever, generally, monthly, yearly.
· She never smokes.
· He is always late for class.
· They always come in time.
· Barking dogs seldom bite.
· The employees are paid monthly.
· The employees are paid every month.
There are three degrees of comparison in adverbs the positive, the comparative, the superlative. The adverbs form their comparatives and superlatives using –er and –est and more and most.
Adverbs that end in –ly use the words more and most to form their comparatives abd superlatives.
The one-syllable adverbs use –er in the comparative form and –est in the superlative form.
Adverbs which end in -ly or have three or ‘more’ syllables each form the comparative with more and the superlative with ‘most’.
The comparative form is used to compare two things.
We must not reach there later than 7o’clock.
You speak more loudly than a loudspeaker.
Sirius shines more brightly than all the other stars.
He arrived the earliest, so he had to wait for the others.
Why do you have to speak the most loudly of all the meetings?
Of all the girls, your sister sang the most sweetly.
The tree is more taller than the giraffe. (Incorrect)
The tree is taller than the giraffe. (Correct)
This turkey is the oldest in the farm. (Correct)
Some adverbs form the comparative and the superlative irregularly.
Examples:
Of the two teddy bears, which do you like better?
This has to be the farthest I have ever walked in my life.
