Adverb | English Grammar

 Adverb

Adverbs are an important concept of English Grammar. It is seen in multiple exams including IBPS (PO, CLERK, SO), SSC, CDS, RRB and Defence Examsthat many candidates fail to use Adverbs properly. The use of Adverbs is critical in English Grammar as these words have the ability to change the meaning of the sentence. Often wrong use of Adverbs leads to incorrect sentence meanings that lead to a loss of marks in the exam, especially in Essay writing which is an important part of UPSC Mains.

What are Adverbs?

Adverbs are words that give additional information about the verb, just like the adjective tells us more about the noun. It gives us information about when, where, how, by whom, to what extent and why the verb or action was performed. These questions are called an adverbial function.

Examples of Adverb: 

He loves her very much. Ram willingly took this job. Sheela types fast. The use of adverbs can modify any other part of the sentence including verbs, adjectives, clauses, sentences, and other adverbs. However, they cannot modify the noun.

Types of Adverbs: 

Depending upon the type of information or adverbial function adverbs are classified into seven types.

Adverb of Manner: 

It answers the question- ‘How is the action performed?’ It describes the manner or approach or process of the action.

Example: Let’s distribute the cake equally.

Adverb of Place: 

It answers the question- ‘Where is the action performed?’ It indicates the place or direction of the action.

Example: The boys played in the park.

Adverb of Frequency: 

It answers the question- ‘How frequently is the action performed?’ It indicates the number of times the same action takes place.

Example: She always came home late at night.

Adverb of Time: 

It answers the question- ‘When was the action performed?’ It can show actual time or time in relation to something or some other time.

Example: The movie premieres tomorrow. As mentioned, if the adverb is of definite time, it will be placed at the end of the sentence.

Adverb of Degrees of Comparison:

It answers the question- ‘To how much extent is the action performed?’

Example: I completely agree with you.

Forming the Comparative and the Superlative of Adverbs

Adverbs ending in -ly must be used as Comparative Adverb, and the prefix ‘most’ is used to form a Superlative Adverb.

Example: quietly, more quietly, most quietly

Adverb of Purpose: 

It answers the question- ‘Why is the action performed?’ It gives the reason behind the action.

Example: Since she was late, she took a cab.

Adverb of Certainty: 

It tells how certainly an action or event would occur.

Example:

1. India will definitely win the World Cup.
2. She surely won’t lie.

List of Commonly Used Adverbs:

Points to Remember while using Adverbs:

• An adverb of manner will explain how an action is carried out. Very often adverbs of manner are adjectives with -ly added to the end, but this is certainly not always the case.
• Notice how the adjectives are formed by adding -ly to the adjectives bad, correct and quick, although there is a slight spelling change when forming an adverb with the adjective easy.
• An adverb of place, sometimes called spatial adverbs, will help explain where the action happens.
• Notice that here and there are often used in the beginning of a sentence to express emphasis or in exclamation.
• Many times, adverbs of place can be used as prepositions as well.
• Adverbs of frequency are used to express time or how often something occurs. Adverbs of frequency can be split into two main groups.
• Adverbs of purpose, sometimes called adverbs of reason, help to describe why something happened.
• Adverbs of purpose are used to connect sentences
• They can come in the form of individual words – so, since, thus, because – but.

Interrogative Adverbs

Sometimes WH-Questions like why, where, how, & when etc, act as Adverbs. To check them, you have to check to see if the question can be answered with a sentence or a prepositional phrase.

Example:

1. Where is my file? In the cupboard.
2. How do you feel? I’m fine.

Structure of an Adverb:

An adverb as an Adverbial Function or Phrase maybe a sentence element in its own right.

Example: They treated her well. (SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT + ADVERBIAL) Alternatively, an adverb may be contained within a sentence element.

Example: An extremely small child entered the room. (SUBJECT + ADVERBIAL + OBJECT +VERB)

Positioning of Adverbs

The positions of adverbs are not fixed. However, there are some rules that help us decide where an adverb should be positioned. The rules will be different depending on whether the adverb is acting to modify an adjective or another adverb, a verb or what type of adverb it is.

With Verb:

Front– Before the subject. Example: I will read a book (The action is supposed to happen now)
Mid—Between the subject and verb.  Example: I often read books (The action happens now and then)
End– After verb/object. Example: I read books (The action happens regularly)

With Manner/ Place:

Structure: Subject + Verb + Adverb + Object

Manner Example—She spoke gently. (adverb : gently)

Place Example—He lived here. (adverb: here)

With Adjective: 

Structure: Subject + Verb + Adverb+ Adjective + Object

Example:She gave him a really affectionate look. (adv + adj) We quite often study English. (adv + adj)

Order of Adverbs:

Order of adverbs becomes necessary when there are different types of adverbs together in a sentence. The order of adverbs, sometimes also called the royal order of adverbs, can help us determine sentence structure too. In short, the adverbs get preference (are placed first) in the following order:

1. Adverbs of manner.
2. Adverbs of place.
3. Adverbs of frequency.
4. Adverbs of time.
5. Adverbs of purpose.

Consider this sentence: I run (verb) quickly (manner) down the road (place) every morning (frequency) before school (time) because (purpose) I might miss the bus. While it is good to remember the order of adverbs, there is always flexibility with language, and we have already mentioned that adverbs of time and frequency can be placed at the start of a sentence to change the emphasis. So, bottom line: think of the order of adverbs as more of a guideline than a rule that can’t be broken.

Rules and Usage of Adverbs:

Rule #1: Many adverbs take the –ly form, but some of them do not. There are some exceptions.

Example:

1. He speaks slowly.
2. Mohan works out strenuously.
3. She runs fast.
4. She writes quick.

Rule #2: There are three degrees of adverbs.

1. Positive (angry)
2. Comparative (angrier)
3. Superlative (angriest)

In formal usage, do notdrop the –ly from an adverb when using the comparative form.

Example: She spoke quicker than he did. —WRONG

She spoke more quickly than he did. —CORRECT

Rule #3: Too, As well and Also. Also is commonly used in writing but Is less common in speaking.

Example: She works very hard but she also goes to the gym every week. As well much common in speaking than In writing, and is more common in speaking than also.

Example: I’ll go for a movie and I’ll go for a trek as well.

Too: We usually put too in ending position.

Example: She looks really tired and she must be really hungry too.

Rule #4: Only can be used in different ways. As an adverb, it is used to qualifythe verb.

Example: She only saw my dress.

When to Avoid Adverbs

Using adverbs can sometimes complicate the sentence. Especially in the case of complex or compound sentences. When you want to avoid the use of adverbs you can do the following.

1. Use a stronger verb.
2. Use a better adjective.
3. Use a different vocab.

Adverbs Clauses and Adverb Phrases:

Adverb Clauses are a group of words that collectively act as Adverbs. If these words are a famous or commonly used phrase, it is called an Adverb Phrase.

Example:

Adverb Clause: He ran behind the thief until he was tired.
Adverb Phrase: We will play in the garden, till sunset.

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