Module 5. Structural and functional grammar

Lesson 25

CORRECT USAGE OF ADVERBS

25.1  Introduction

An Adverb is a word which modifies the meaning of a Verb, an Adjective or another adverb. Sometimes, Adverb standing at the beginning of sentences even modifies the whole sentence.

Geeta runs quickly.

This is a very interesting book.

He works quite efficiently.

Fortunately, he escaped unhurt.

25.2  Kinds of Adverbs

Adverbs of Manner: bravely, fast, happily, hard, quickly, well

Adverbs of Place: by, down, here, near, up, there

Adverbs of Time: now, soon, still, then, today, yet

Adverbs of Frequency: always, never, occasionally, often, again, twice

Adverbs of Affirmation and Negation: certainly, definitely, surely

Adverbs of Degree or Quantity: fairly, hardly, rather, quite, too, very

Adverbs of Reason:      hence, therefore

Interrogative Adverbs:   When, Where, why

Relative Adverbs:    When, Where, why

25.3 Comparative & Superlative Adverb Forms

a)    With adverbs of two or more syllables we form the comparative and superlative   by putting more and most before the positive form.

quickly

more quickly

most quickly

Single syllable adverbs, hard and early; add er, est

hard	harder	hardest
early	earlier	earliest

Irregular Comparisons:

Well	better	best
Little	less	least
Much	more	most
far	farther	farthest (of distance only)
far	further	furthest  (used more widely)

25.4  Position of Adverbs

a)    Adverbs of manner, which answer the question ‘How’?(e.g., well, fast, quickly,

carefully, calmly)  are generally placed after  the verb or after the object if   there   is one; as :

It is raining heavily.

She sang beautifully.

He does his work carefully.

He gave me the money reluctantly.

b)       When the verb is transitive, an adverb can be placed either before the verb or after the object, but not between the verb and the object.

  He briefly explained his meaning.   (Correct)

  He explained his meaning briefly.   (Correct)

  He explained briefly his meaning.   (Wrong)

c)     If an adverb is placed after a clause or a phrase, it is considered to modify   the verb in that case clause/phrase.

They secretly decide to leave the town. (the decision was secret)

(However, if we move secretly to the end of the sentence above, we change the meaning)

They decided to leave the town secretly. (The departure was to be secret.)

d)     Adverbs of frequency, which answer the question ’How often? (e.g., always, never, rarely, usually, generally) and certain other adverbs like almost, already, hardly, nearly, just, quite are normally put between the subject and the verb if the verb consists of only one word; if there is more than one word in the verb, they are put after the first word.

His wife never cooks.

He has never seen a lion.

I have often told him to write neatly.

I quite agree with you.

I usually have breakfast at nine.

e)      Adverbs of degree-absolutely, almost, completely, fairly, far, just, much,  nearly, only, quite, rather modify adjectives or other adjectives.

You are absolutely right.           I am almost ready.

         But enough follows its adjectives or adverb:

The box isn’t big enough.         He didn’t work quickly enough.

f)         Only can also modify verbs. As a general rule, the word only should be  placed immediately before the word it modifies; as

He had only six apples. (not more than six)

He only lent the car. (He didn’t give it)

g)   Fairly and rather

Both mean moderately, but fairly is chiefly used with favourable adjectives   and  adverb while rather is used in this sense before unfavorable adjectives and adverbs.

Ram is fairly clever, but his brother is rather stupid.

I walk fairly fast, but my wife walks rather slowly.

He was fairly relaxed; she was rather tense.

Rather can be used before certain favourable adjectives/adverbs such    as amusing, clever, pretty, well’ but then its meaning changes. It becomes nearly equivalent to very, and the disapproval vanishes:

She is rather clever. (She is very clever)

It is rather a good play. (It is a stronger recommendation than It is a fairly good  play.

h)    Else should be followed by the adverb but, not than:

It is nothing else than pride. (Wrong)

It is nothing else but pride. (Correct)

Call me anything else than a fool. (Wrong)

Call me anything but a fool. (Correct)