Adverbs are words that modify (1) verbs, (2) adjectives, and (3) other adverbs.
Did you ever return the video? He did not answer but just looked up sadly. Now I surely know the answer. He completely forgot about the video. Luna has already returned it for you.
Notice that the underlined words modify the verbs. For example, ever modifies did return, not modifies did answer, just/up/sadly modify looked, now/surely modify know, completely modifies forgot, already modifies returned.
In this example, the words that modify verbs are known as adverbs.
Now read another passage here, notice the underlined words and say which words they modify
An unusually intelligent group attended the lecture. The professor has an exceptionally keen mind. We have had a surprisingly small amount of participants. The weather was good but the bus to the university was very late. Some participants could catch the train. The train compartments were completely full.
In this passage, unusually modifies intelligent, exceptionally modifies keen, surprisingly modifies small, very modifies late and completely modifies full.
Can you tell what type of words they modify? Yes, the underlined words in this passage modify all the adjectives. The words which modify the adjectives are also known as adverbs.
Below look at another passage and once again identify which words are modified by the underlined words.
The announcer should speak less loudly and he should do much better. He shouldn't change his voice too often. At times he was speaking very slowly. The participants answered the question rather uncertainly.
Here, less modifies loudly, much modifies better, too modifies often, very modifies slowly and rather modifies uncertainly. Now, what type of words are modified here? They (loudly, better, often, slowly, uncertainly, etc.) are all adverbs. The words which modify other adverbs are known as adverbs too.
What is an adverb?
Adverbs are words that modify (1) verbs, (2) adjectives, and (3) other adverbs.
They answer the questions how (manner), when (time), where (place). how much (degree), and why (cause). Why is a common one-word adverb that tells why.
Adverbs that tell us how, when, where, and why always modify the verb. These adverbs can shift location in the sentence without changing meaning or what they modify.
Adverbs that tell us how much modify adjectives or other adverbs. Adverbs that tell how much will come just before the adjectives or adverbs that they modify. These adverbs are also called qualifiers because they strengthen or weaken the words they modify.
Examples: He kicked the ball solidly. (how); He kicked the ball immediately. (when); He kicked the ball forward. (where): He kicked the ball too hard. (how much).
Not and its contraction n't are adverbs. They really modify the entire sentence, but we will have them modify the verb as it is the most important word in the sentence. This is a common practice in grammar books.
Adverbial objectives or adverbial nouns
Adverbial objectives or adverbial nouns are nouns used as adverbs. They usually tell amount, weight, time, distance, direction or value. They can have adjectives modifying them. Example: He waited two days.
Now, read the following lines and find the adverbial nouns in the following sentences and tell what word they modify.
Yesterday Jitu came home. Tomorrow he will walk a mile. He needs some rest now. He usually works mornings and nights. This journey will cost only five dollars.
Here, yesterday/home modify the verb came, tomorrow/mile modify the verb will walk, feet modify the verb landed, mornings/nights modify the verb Works and dollars modifies the verb cost.
Adverbs Used in Comparison
a. The formation of comparative and superlative forms of adverbs
It should be noted that many adverbs, such as sometimes, never here, there, now, then, first, again, yesterday and daily have no comparative or superlative forms.
i. Adverbs used with more and most
Most adverbs used in comparisons, including those formed from corresponding adjectives by adding the ending -ly, form the comparative with the word more, and the superlative with the word most.
For example:
ii. Adverbs used with the endings -er and -est
Adverbs which have the same positive forms as corresponding adjectives generally also have the same comparative and superlative forms as the corresponding adjectives. For example:
The adverb of time soon also uses the endings -er and -est:
Positive Form: Soon
Comparative Form: Sooner
Superlative Form: Soonest
It should be noted that adverbs formed by adding -ity to one-syllable adjectives sometimes used with the endings -er and -est.
We walked slower and slower.
They sang the softest.
However, in modern English, it is generally considered to be more appropriate to write:
We walked more and more slowly.
They sang the most softly.
iii. Irregular adverbs
The irregular adverbs have the same comparative and superlative forms as the corresponding irregular adjectives:
b. Positive forms of adverbs used in comparisons
The constructions employed when adverbs are used in comparisons are very similar to those employed when adjectives are used in comparisons.
i. The construction with 'as ... as'
When used in making comparisons, the positive form of an adverb is usually preceded and followed by as. This construction is summarized below, followed by examples:
If desired, an adverb may be placed before the first occurrence of as:
ii. Ellipsis
Ellipsis is often employed in comparisons using adverbs. For instance, in the second half of such comparisons, instead of repeating the verb, the first auxiliary may be used, or the verb may be omitted entirely. In the following examples, the words which would usually be omitted are enclosed in square brackets. e.g. I can run as fast as you can (run).
He moves as slowly as a snail [moves].
Her eyes shone as brightly as stars [shine].
c. Comparative forms of adverbs used in comparisons
i. The construction with than
When used in making comparisons, the comparative form of an adverb is usually followed by than. This construction is summarized below, followed by examples.
As is the case with comparisons using adjectives, comparisons using adverbs can be combined with phrases or clauses.
e.g.
She performs better in front of an audience than she does in rehearsal.
They walked faster when they were on way to school than they did when they were on way home.
In the first example, the two situations being compared are distinguished by the phrases in front of an audience and in rehearsal.
In the second example, the two situations being compared are distinguished by the clauses when they were on way to school and when they were on way home. The use of ellipsis should be noted.
In the first example, the auxiliary does is used instead of repenting the verb performs. second example, the auxiliary did is used instead of repeating the verb walked.
ii. Progressive comparisons
The comparative forms of adverbs can be used in progressive comparisons. For adverbs with the ending er, the following construction is used:
The meanings expressed in these examples can also be expressed as follows:
The plane flew increasingly high. The team performed increasingly well.
For adverbs which form the comparative with more, the following construction is used:
The meanings expressed in these examples can also be expressed as follows: e.g. He solved the problems increasingly easily.
We visited them increasingly frequently
iii. The construction with less and less
A similar construction, employing the expression less and less, can also be used. The expressions less and less and more and more have opposite meanings.
The meanings expressed in these examples can also be expressed as follows: e.g. He solved the problems decreasingly easily.
We visited them decreasingly frequently.
iv. The construction with ‘The ..., the’
Two clauses, each beginning with the, and each containing a comparative form of an adjective or adverb, can be used together in order to indicate a cause and effect relationship between two different things or events. This construction is summarized below, followed by examples.
The following are further examples of the use of this type of construction. In these examples, the comparative forms are underlined.
e.g. The more cleverly we hid the Easter eggs, the more enthusiastically the children searched for them.
The more I scold her, the worse she behaves.
As shown in the examples, in this type of construction the two clauses beginning with the must be separated by a comma.
d. Superlative forms of adverbs used in comparisons
i. The construction with the
When used in making comparisons, the superlative form of an adverb is usually preceded by the. This construction is summarized below, followed by examples.
In the case of adverbs which form the superlative with the ending est, the superlative is sometimes preceded by a possessive adjective, instead of by the definite article, the. In the following examples, the possessive adjectives are printed in bold type.
eg. He ran his fastest. I did my best.
ii. The construction with the least
Adverbs may also be preceded by the expression the least. This construction is summarized below, followed by examples. The words least and most have opposite meanings.
Some Confusing Adverbs
1. Adverbs and Adjectives with the same form
2. Adverbs with two forms and different meanings
3. Some more confusing adverbs
Often people confuse the use of some adverbs and some adjectives. Here we will cover some of the common mistakes. Remember that adjectives modify nouns or pronouns. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.
Sure, surely, certainly and really
Use of the adjective sure and the adverbs surely, certainly, and really. Use sure only when one of these three adverbs does not make sense.
Examples:
Jim is sure he is right. Surely he is right.
