Definition of Adverb
An Adverb is a word which generally qualifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb; but it also qualifies a sentence or any part of speech except a Noun and a Pronoun.
(a) Verb : He walks slowly.
(b) Adj. : This is a very beautiful picture.
(c) Adv. : This can be done more easily.
(d) Participle: It is a very charming scene.
(e) Preposition : He came right through the field. I arrived long before the time.
(f) Conjunction : I hate him simply because he is a liar. He came just after I had left.
(g) Sentence : Unfortunately I failed. Evidently, you are wrong.
NOTE:
(a) In the examples given in (e) above, the adverbs right and long may be taken as qualifying the whole phrases through the field and before the time. Similarly, simply and just in the examples in may be taken as qualifying the whole clauses because he is a liar and after I had left respectively.
(b) Adverbs never qualify Nouns or Pronouns. This is the work of Adjectives.
A few confusing examples may be considered below:
This pen is certainly mine.
Do not give me too many.
He is almost a drunkard.
I am, yours sincerely, Ramesh.
In the first two sentences, certainly and too are really concerned with the adjectival elements of mine and many respectively, and therefore, the adverbs virtually qualify adjectives.
In the third sentence, almost qualifies the whole phrase 'a drunkard' (and not is, as stated by Nesfield, unless we are to altogether lose the force of the word)
In the last sentence Nesfield parses sincerely as modifying the adjective element in yours. "But this is certainly not allowable; the 'sincerity' implied in yours sincerely refers to the speaker, not to the person addressed."
The difficulty may be obviated by treating sincerely as qualifying am .
[ But a reference to the Clarendon Press, on this point by the present writer has brought forth the following reply ".... It becomes clear therefore that to say thar an adverb cannor qualify a pronoun is to take too narrow a view. No doubt the current view that an adverb cannot do so has been taken over from Greek and Latin. You will find further discussion of the way in which adverbs may qualify pronouns in..."]
Classification of Adverbs:
Adverbs are divided into three classes according to their use.
(a) Simple or Independent Adverbs are those that merely qualify some word or sentence :
He reads well.
I can run fast.
Unfortunately, I failed.
(b) Conjunctive or Relative Adverbs are those that not only qualify a word but also connect two clauses. When the antecedent is expressed, the adverb is Relative; but when it is not expressed, it is Conjunctive. Thus in: "I know why he did it" and "I know the reason why he did it," the first why is Conjunctive, and the second why Relative. The principal adverbs of this kind are how, when, why, where, while.
(c) Interrogative Adverbs are those that are used in asking questions, direct and indirect : Why are you sorry ?
How did you do it ?
Tell me when he will come.
Do you know where he lives ?
Simple adverbs are subdivided into many classes according to their meaning:
(a) Adverbs of Time show when a thing happens :
Now then, when, early, always before, daily, ever, never, soon, while, ago, already imediately today. vesterday, etc.
(b) Adverbs of Place show where a thing happens : There, where, hither. thither, rear, ahove, after, below, hence, etc.
(c) Adverbs of Manner or Quality show how a thing is done : Well badly ill, cloud, thus, wisely, quickly. how highly, etc.
This is the largest class of adverbs and in it are included nearly all those derived from adjectives and ending in ly.
(d) Adverbs of Quality or Degree or Number show how much or to what extent a thing happens : Almost, enough, half, hardly, very, much, too, less, leust, more, little, rather. abundantly, quite, once, twice, etc.
(e) Adverbs of Cause and Effect show why a thing is done, and its effect : Why, therefore, wherefore, accordingly, consequently, hence (for that reason),
(f) Adverbs of Order show the order in which a thing is done : First, second, secondly, last, lastly, etc.
(g) Adverbs of Afirmation and Negation express affirmation or negation : Yes, no, not, certainly, perhaps, indeed, probably, possibly, nay, truly, really etc.
"The" as an adverb : "The" is sometimes used as a Relative Adverb of quantity (=by how much, to what extent) followed by its antecedent 'the', which is a Demonstrative Adverb of quantity (= by so much; to that extent); as, 'The (Rel. Adv.) more, the (Dem.Adv.) merrier.' 'The sooner, the better.'
"There" is an Introductory Adverb: When it is used merely to introduce a sentence, with no meaning of place :
There is a man there.
There lived in this village a man, named Suren.
Yes and No -
(a) These are often classed as adverbs, but in reality they are substitute words or sentence words, standing for whole sentences.
Thus, in "Is he in ? Yes (or No)". Yes (or No) clearly stands for He is in (or he is not in). A few other words often so used are certainly, sorry, capital, pardon, etc.
(b) The use of 'yes" and "no" should be carefully noted.
Yes is a substitute for an affirmative sentence, but No is a substitute for a negative sentence. Thus :
Has he gone ?
Yes (ie., He has gone).
No (i.e., He has not gone).
Didn't he go ?
Yes (ie., He did go).
No (i.e., He did not go)
NOTE:
The use of not in a question often implies that an affirmative reply is expected Thus, when one asks, "Is he not a good boy ?" one expects that the answer would be "Yes".
(a) As follows -!In modern English The construction in as follows is impersonal, and the verb should always be singular (OED): My reasons are as follows. - POD.
(b) Else is an abverb, not a conjunction. Hence it is wrong to write, "Hurry up, else you will miss the train." Write, "Hurry up, or (or, or else) you will miss the train." (COD., Chambers, Wood; but Nesfield uses it as conj. also).
First is itself an adverb and hence does not require™-ly. So, in enumeration, we should write, first, secondly, thirdly.
But Fowler rightly remarks, "It is the pedant that begins his list with first."
Seldom or never, seldom if ever - It is to be noted that the above are the correct forms, and not seldom or ever:
He seldom or never (not, ever) comes to me.
Such a boy is seldom or never (or, seldom if ever) seen in this village.
Other Parts of speech used as Adverbs:
(a) Noun -
He went home. The wall is breast high.
NOTE :
(i) Nouns used adverbially are generally nouns of weight, distance, Time, place, value, measurement, etc.
(ii) Next Jure, next Friday, etc. can be used as adverbs without a preposition (shall begin next June): but if next is put after the noun, idiom requires a preposition (May be expected in June next, on Monday next) - MEU.
Similarly with last Sunday etc.
(b) Pronoun - He is none the better today.
(c) Adjective - He is dead drunk. He sat silent.
(d) Verb - Smack (making a sharp noise) went the whip.
(e) Preposition - Down went the ship. I told you before.
Advebs are compared like Adjectives with er and est, more and most, or irregularly :
Wisely- more wisely- most wisely.
Soon - sooner -vsoonest.
Fast- faster - fastest.
Forth- further - furthest.
Well - better - best.
Little - less - least.
Rapidly- more rapidly - most rapidly.
Much - more - most.
Adverbial Phrases are two or more words having the force of an Adverb :
Now and then, by and by, off and on, up and down, in time, in short, in vain, heart and soul, bag and baggage, by no means, etc.
Sentence-Adverbs are those (then, now, so, perhaps, indeed, therefore, yet, accordingly, however, moreover, otherwise, thus, consequently, besides, etc.) that qualify the whole sentence. They usually stand at the beginning of the sentence :
Then, this is your story, Perhaps he is innocent.
Now, what is your aim in life ?
Accordingly, we went by the other road, and so we escaped the danger.
Moreover, we were given some food.
Bear in mind that most of these adverbs are also used as ordinary adverbs qualifying simple words:
He is so ill that he cannot walk shall go there then.
What will you do now?
Quasi-Adverb is the term applied to a few adjectives that are sometimes used idiomatically as adverbs: He acted contrary to my advice. He arrived prior to that. Some other adverbs of this kind are previous, preparatory, pursuant, preliminary, regardless, irrespective, etc.
General Rules for the position of Adverbs:
(a) The Adverb usually follows an Intransitive Verb.
He lives there. He came early
Exceptions - But adverbs of time, such as, always, seldom, never. ever, often, sometimes, frequently, etc. are placed before all verbs other than the verb to be:
He frequently told me this.
He always supports me.
They seldom do it.
I never (or often) go there.
He sometimes talks too much.
But -
He is always cheerful.
I am often busy.
They are never late.
(b) The Adverb usually follows the object
I did it quickly.
He felt it keenly.
You have learnt vour lesson well.
He sent the letter late.
He did the work boldly.
Exceptions
But, for the sake of emphasis. the adverb sometimes changes its position -Silently and slowly he entered the room. Cheerfully he gave me the news.
(c) The Adverb usually comes berween the Auxiliary and the Principal Verb:
I have often seen him there.
I shall never go there.
He has carefully examined the case.
I shall certainly go.
(d) The Adverb precedes the Adjective it qualifies -
I am rather sorry for you.
I am very happy.
But enough, when an Adverb, always follows the word it qualifies:
I am strong enough to walk. He was wise enough to accept the offer.
NOTE: As an Adjective, however, enough may be placed either before or after the Noun it qualifies:
I have enough strength to go here; I have strength enough to go there.
(e) An Adverb is placed first in a sentence (i) to qualify sentence, and (ii) for the sake of emphasis :
(i) Happily he did not die. Fortunately he was present there.
(ii) Down went the Royal George.
Particular care has to be taken in the use of only. How the meaning of the sentence is changed by the change of place of the word will be clear from the following examples:
(i) Only he agreed to help that boy (i.e., no one else agreed to do it).
(ii) He only agreed to help that boy (i.e., he agreed to help, but did not actually help).
(iii) He agreed only to help that boy (i.s., to do nothing else).
(iv) He agreed to help only that boy, or, to help that boy only (i.e., to help no one else)
What part of speech is only in (i)?
Nesfield treats it as an adjective qualifying the Pronoun 'he'.
But, according to the POD, it is an Adverb. This is rather puzzling. Clearly the word qualifies 'he'.
[ How, then can it be an Adverb unless we admit that an Adverb may qualify a Pronoun also ? 😊 ]
