What are Adverbs?
By
definition, Adverbs are words that can describe or modify verbs. We can add
more information to the words, using different kinds of Adverbs. The Use of an
adverb makes a sentence more meaningful and coherent.
For
example, “A man is moving.”
The
sentence doesn't give us any information other than that there is a man who is
moving, but if we add an adverb here and write:
“A
man is moving briskly.” it shows that there is a man who is moving fast because
maybe he is getting late for work or he has to go early.
Different
Types of Adverbs with Examples
Let
us now take a look at each of these adverb types in detail.
Adverbs of Manner: These
adverbs are those that describe the manner in which an action is done. Basically, it can be said that the adverbs
of manner answer the question ‘how’.
Example: Quickly,
promptly, clearly, slowly, gradually, eventually, rapidly, seriously,
instantly, keenly, etc.
·
She damaged
her car badly.
·
She speaks
French very fluently.
·
This article
is written beautifully.
Adverbs of Time: As
the name suggests, the adverbs of time are used to tell the reader when some
action is occurring. Adverbs of time include general time periods and specific
times. We can identify an adverb of time
by asking the question ‘when’.
Example: Now,
soon, today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, next month, recently, forever, then,
last month, etc.
·
I will go to the cinema tomorrow.
·
My teacher will contact you shortly.
·
I completed the assignment yesterday.
Adverbs of Place: These
adverbs are used to indicate where the action mentioned in the sentence is
taking place. Adverbs of place can be
identified by asking the question ‘where’.
Example: Somewhere,
anywhere, nowhere, here, outside, inside, wherever, elsewhere, left, right,
north, east, south, west, etc.
·
The aircraft landed near the banyan
tree.
·
I couldn't find the book anywhere.
Adverbs of Frequency and Number: These
adverbs are used to denote how often an action or event is happening. The adverbs of frequency can be recognized
by asking the question ‘how often’.
A word like ‘once’, ‘twice’, ‘thrice’, etc.
in which the no. of times is definite, is called an adverb of number, and a
word like ‘frequently’, ‘usually’, ‘mostly’ in which the frequency is not
definite is called adverb of frequency.
Example: Seldom,
rarely, never, often, weekly, monthly, yearly, annually, usually, sometimes,
occasionally, constantly, frequently, etc.
·
I go to the cinema twice a week.
·
My mother visits the nearby temple every
day.
·
They come to their ancestral village occasionally.
Adverbs of Degree: These
adverbs are used to indicate how intense an action of quality is. It is used to
describe adjectives and adverbs. For instance, an adverb of manner expresses
how fast or how slow a vehicle is moving, how hot or cold the weather is, how
interesting or boring a movie is and so on.
Examples: Very,
too, extremely, much, more, most, little, less, incredibly, totally, greatly,
hardly, deeply, barely, etc.
Conjunctive Adverbs: They perform
a little differently from the other types of adverbs. These adverbs are seen to
act like a conjunction to link two sentences or clauses together and hence the
name, ‘conjunctive adverbs’.
Example: However,
nevertheless, meanwhile, therefore, instead, likewise, notably, subsequently,
rather, namely, on the other hand, incidentally, in addition to, etc.
Formation of Adverbs
Most of the Adverbs are
formed from Adjectives or by adding -ly in the end. There are certain rules
regarding formation, mind you there are always some exceptions.
1) The basic rule is that -ly is added to the
end of the adjective:
Example:
·
Quick
changes too quickly.
·
Sudden
changes to suddenly.
·
Cunning
changes cunningly.
2) If the adjective has two syllables and
ends in -y, then you need to replace the final -y with -ily.
Example:
·
Shady
changes to shadily
·
Hungry
changes hungrily.
·
Happy
changes to happily.
3) If the adjective ends with a consonant
followed by -le, replace the final -e with -y on its own.
Example:
·
Terrible
changes to terribly
·
Comfortable
changes to comfortably
·
Incredible
changes to incredibly.
E More Examples
Adverb
of Time
Yesterday, I saw an
elephant on the street. (Yesterday)
Will you be at school
tomorrow? (Tomorrow)
Ridhima will eventually
leave the country after her college is finished. (Eventually)
Recently, we have
started watching Netflix. (Recently)
We are leaving
tomorrow. (Tomorrow)
I want to go now. (Now)
We visited them last
month. (Last Month)
She will arrive tonight.
(Tonight)
Do it now. (Now)
What will we do then?
(Then)
Adverb of Manner
She would gladly help
him with his homework. (Gladly)
The actor still acts
very well. (Well)
The UFC fighters were
badly injured after the fight. (Badly)
She sat there silently.
(Silently)
He laughed merrily.
(Merrily)
Why are you shouting
loudly? (Loudly)
The old woman walked
slowly. (Slowly)
Adverb of Place
If you wish to stargaze,
you need to be outside. (Outside)
Police have looked for
the evidence everywhere. (Everywhere)
The dinner table is
downstairs. (Downstairs)
It is raining outside.
(Outside)
The children are playing
upstairs. (Upstairs)
We have been living here
for ten years. (Here)
Come here. (Here)
What are you doing
there? (There)
