Abstract

Common Errors in Adverb are quite common for many institutional students
in different sentences as their positions vary in the sentences. The usage is
sometimes very difficult too. ESL students often find it difficult to use adverbs
correctly.

Adverbs are remarkably versatile. Not only do they modify verbs, adjectives,
and adverbs, but they can modify entire clauses. Furthermore, when we
decide where to put them in sentences, we find that they can move all over
the place.

In multiword verb forms, some conventions guide us in properly placing the

adverb. We usually put the adverb between a helping verb and its main verb,
contrary to ill-informed conventional wisdom.

Adverbs follow the same rules as adjectives when they form their
comparative and superlative forms.
 Table Of Contents
S# Contents Pg #
1.1 Introduction to Adverbs 1

2.1 Formation of Adverbs

3.1 Types of Adverbs

4.1 Exercises

5.1 Answers
LESSON

1 INTRODUCTION
TO ADVERBS
DEFINATION:-
“An adverb is a word used to modify an adjective, a verb or other adverb.
It tells us about an action, or the way of something is done.”

For Exmaple:
He replied.
He replied quickly.
The word “quickly” in the above example gives more information about the verb “reply”.
The adverb “quickly” in above example tells us about the verb “reply” that the reply was
given quickly or with no time delay.

Similarly an adverb may also modify adjective or other adverb or other part of speechexcept
the noun.

Examples (adverbs modifying verbs).

He was driving carelessly.
John can speak French fluently.
They live happily.
Marry is laughing loudly.
He goes to school daily.
We sometimes get confused.
He met me yesterday.
Guests will come here.

Examples (adverbs modifying adjectives).

Note: The bold words (in following examples) are adverbs and the underlined words are
adjectives.

It is a very difficult problem.

He is seriously ill.
This book is really nice.
The story of “crazy man” was truly funny.
You are too weak to walk.

Examples (adverbs modifying other adverbs).

Note: The bold word (in following examples) is an adverb and underlined word is the other
adverb.

John drives very slowly.

He was talking too much angrily.
He ran fast enough to catch the bus.
They live very happily.
 Formation of adverb
An adverb can be formed from an adjective by adding the suffix –ly.
For Example:
Drive carefully
She writes neatly
He acts cleverly
She gets up early in the morning.

Note: It is not important that all –ly words are adverbs. Some can be adjectives: friendly,
neighbourly, daily, mannarly, lovely, etc. If the –ly words modifies a verb, an adjective or
another adverb is called adverb.

Adverbs answer four specific questions about the verbs, adjectives, and adverbs they
modify:
e.g.

How? quickly, gracefully, fluently

When? late, never, tomorrow

Where? there, inside, below

How often? very, well, almost

Adverb Phrases

Adverb phrases are groups of words that functions as single adverbs to describe the action
of the verb.
e.g.

The bus arrived on time

She draws cartoons like a real cartoonist

What is a simple adverb?

Definition :
An adverb used as a simple modifier to convey degree, manner, number, place,
or time.

Two Adverbs sometimes go together, joined by the conjunction and; as

e.g.

again and again now and then

by and by once and again

far and wide out and out

first and foremost off and on

far and wide over and above

Examples.
Adverbs of Manner Adverbs of Place Adverbs of Time Adverbs of Frequency
Happily Here Now Sometimes

Sadly There Then Often

Easily Near Yesterday Usually

Rudely Somewhere Today Seldom

Loudly Outside Tomorrow Frequently

Fluently Inside Late Daily

Rapidly Ahead Early Generally

Angrily High Again Occasionally

Greedily Top Tonight Again and again

Wildly Bottom Soon Never

Types/Kinds of Adverb
Adverb modifies verb by giving us the following information.
How the action occurs
Where the action occurs
How many times action occur
At which time the action occurs
Intensity of action

Adverbs are categorized on the basis of it information it gives, into the following categories.

1. Adverbs of manner
2. Adverb of place
3. Adverb of time
4. Adverb of frequency
 Types of Adverb

Adverb modifies verb by giving us the following information.

1. How the action occurs

2. Where the action occurs
3. How many times action occur
4. At which time the action occurs
5. Intensity of action

Adverbs are categorized on the basis of it information it gives, into the following categories.

1. Adverbs of manner
2. Adverb of place
3. Adverb of time
4. Adverb of frequency

Adverbs of Manner
These adverbs tell us that in which manner the action occurs or how the action occurs or
occurred or will occur.
Examples.

She speaks loudly.

He was driving slowly.
You replied correctly.
He runs fast.
They solved the problem easily.
Listen to me carefully.

Adverb of Place.
Adverb of place tells us about the place of action or place where action occurs/occurred/will
occur
e.g. here, there, near, somewhere, outside, ahead, on the top, at some place.
Examples.

He will come here.

The children are playing outside.
He was standing near the wall.
They were flying kites on the top of hill.
He lives somewhere in New York.
She went upstairs.

Adverb of time
These adverbs tell us about the time of action. e.g. now, then, soon, tomorrow, yesterday,
today, tonight, again, early, yesterday.
Examples.
I will buy a computer tomorrow.
The guest came yesterday.
Do it now.
She is still waiting for her brother.
He got up early in the morning.

Adverb of frequency
Adverbs of frequency tell us how many times the action occurs or occurred or will occur.
e.g. daily, sometimes, often, seldom, usually, frequently, always, ever, generally, rarely,
monthly, yearly.
Examples.
He goes to school daily.
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

COMPARATIVE AND
SUPERLATIVE ADVERBS
With adverbs ending in -ly, you must use more to form the comparative, and most to form
the superlative.

Adverb Comparative Superlative

quietly more quietly most quietly

slowly more slowly most slowly

seriously more seriously most seriously

EXAMPLES

 The teacher spoke more slowly to help us to understand.

 Could you sing more quietly please?

With short adverbs that do not end in -ly comparative and superlative forms are identical to
adjectives: add -er to form the comparative and -est to form the superlative. If the adverb
ends in e, remove it before adding the ending.

Adverb Comparative Superlative

hard harder hardest

fast faster fastest

late later latest

EXAMPLES

 Jim works harder than his brother.

 Everyone in the race ran fast, but John ran the fastest of all.

Some adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

Adverb Comparative Superlative

badly worse worst

far farther/further farthest/furthest

little less least

well better best

EXAMPLES

 The little boy ran farther than his friends.

 You're driving worse today than yesterday !
 He played the best of any player.