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ADVERBS
1. Introduction
An adverb usually modifies a verb or a verb phrase and provides information about the manner (cách thức),
time (thời gian), place (nơi chốn) or circumstances of the activity (tình huống của hành động) or state
(trạng thái) denoted by the verb or verb phrase. It can also modify an adjective or another adverb.
He spoke quite loudly. (The adverb ‘quite’ modifies the adverb ‘loudly’.)
It was a very delightful function. (The adverb ‘very’ modifies the adjective ‘delightful’.)
2. Formation of Adverbs
Examples are: kindly (kind), slowly (slow), hardly (hard), sweetly (sweet) etc.
Points to be noted
1. If the adjective ends in -y, replace it with -i and then add -ly.
Adjective Adverb
happy happily
angry angrily
lucky luckily
2. If the adjective ends in -able, -ible, or -le, replace the -e with -y.
Adjective Adverb
probable probably
gentle gently
humble humbly
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Adjective Adverb
basic basically
economic economically
Note: This rule, however, has an exception. The adverb formed from public is publicly, and not publically.
Adjective/Adverb
early late
fast near
hard straight
high wrong
Compare:
It is a fast car.
2
He drives very fast.
He works hard.
Some words ending in -ly are adjectives, and not normally adverbs.
Common examples are: costly, cowardly, deadly, friendly, likely, lively, lonely, lovely, silly, ugly and unlikely.
Don't be silly.
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4. Kinds of Adverbs
1. Adverbs of Certainty
2. Adverbs of Degree
4. Adverbs of Manner
5. Adverbs of Place
Adverbs of certainty (Trạng từ chỉ độ chắc chắn) express how certain (nhất định) or sure (chắc chắn) we
feel about an action or event.
Common adverbs of certainty: certainly, definitely, probably, undoubtedly, clearly, obviously etc.
Adverbs of certainty go before the main verb but after the verb 'to be':
With other auxiliary verb, these adverbs go between the auxiliary and the main verb:
Exceptions
Perhaps and may be are exceptions to this rule. They usually go at the beginning of a clause.
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Surely means the speaker thinks something is true, but is looking for confirmation (sự xác nhận) when it is
placed at the beginning of the sentence.
Example:
Adverbs of degree (Trạng từ chỉ mức độ) tell us about the degree or extent of an action (mức độ hay quy
mô của hành động), quality or manner.
Common adverbs of degree: Almost, nearly, quite, just, too, enough, hardly, scarcely, completely, very,
extremely.
I am extremely sorry.
Position
Adverbs of degree normally come in mid position with the verb. They are placed after the auxiliary verbs (trợ 4
từ) and before other verbs. If there are two auxiliary verbs, the adverb comes after the first.
I just asked.
He is entirely right.
An adverb of degree qualifying an adjective or another adverb normally goes before it.
I am extremely sorry.
Exceptions
Enough is an exception to this rule. It is placed after the adjective or adverb it qualifies.
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Points to be noted
1. Enough as an adverb meaning 'to the necessary degree' (mức độ cần thiết) goes after adjectives and
adverbs.
Example:
It also goes before nouns, and means 'as much as is necessary' (đủ dùng). In this case it is not an adverb, but
a 'determiner' (từ hạn định).
Example:
2. Too as an adverb meaning 'more than is necessary or useful' (nhiều hơn cần thiết) goes before adjectives
and adverbs, e.g. 5
Example:
We can also use 'to + infinitive' after enough and too with adjectives/adverb.
Example:
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Example:
If we want to make a negative form of an adjective or adverb, we can use a word of opposite meaning, or not
very.
Example:
The girl was ugly OR The girl was not very beautiful
These common adverbs are used like very and not very, and are listed in order of strength, from positive to
negative: extremely, especially, particularly, pretty, rather, quite, fairly, rather, not especially, not particularly.
Note: rather can be positive or negative, depending on the adjective or adverb that follows:
6
Adverbs of indefinite frequency (Trạng từ chỉ tần suất) tell us how often something happens.
Common adverbs of indefinite frequency: always, ever, usually, normally, often, frequently, seldom, never etc.
Position
Adverbs of indefinite frequency go in mid position. They are normally placed after the auxiliary verbs (trợ từ)
and before other verbs. When there are two auxiliary verbs, the adverb goes after the first.
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Points to be noted
1. Usually, normally, often, frequently, sometimes and occasionally can also go at the beginning or end of
a clause (mệnh đề).
2. Always, ever, rarely, seldom and never can go only in mid position.
Adverbs of manner (Trạng từ chỉ cách thức) say how something happens or is done.
Position
He talked loudly.
He managed it skillfully.
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An adverb of manner modifying (bổ nghĩa) an adjective or another adverb normally goes before it.
Points to be noted
1. Adverbs of manner can come in mid position if the adverb is not important to the meaning of the verb.
2. If there is a preposition before the object, we can place the adverb either before the preposition or after the
object.
3. To emphasize the point, sometimes, an adverb of manner is placed before the main verb.
4. Some writers put adverbs of manner at the beginning of a sentence to catch our attention (thu hút sự chú
ý).
8
Adverbs of Place (Trạng từ chỉ nơi chốn) tell us where something happens.
Examples are: upstairs, here, there, nearby, everywhere, in, out etc.
He lives here.
Certain adverbs of place express both movement (chuyển động) and location (vị trí).
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Examples are: ahead, abroad, overseas, uphill, downhill, sideways, indoor, outdoors etc.
Position
We went ahead.
He jumped out.
They can also come at the beginning of a clause. This is common in literary writing.
Adverbs of time and definite frequency (Trạng từ chỉ thời gian và mức độ thường xuyên) tell us when
something happens.
Examples are: today, yesterday, later, now, all day, not long, for a while, since, last year, sometimes,
frequently, never, often, yearly etc.
Position
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He visits us daily.
Exceptions
I just asked.
10
He is still working for the same firm.
Note that a mid position adverb is placed after the auxiliary verbs and before other verbs. When there are two
auxiliary verbs, the adverb normally comes after the first.
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