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Adverbs. More than just adding - ly. What is an adverb?/Adverbs modify verbs. An adverb is a word that modifies, or describes a verb , an adjective , or another adverb . The most common function of adverbs is to modify verbs.
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Adverbs More than just adding -ly
What is an adverb?/Adverbs modify verbs • An adverb is a word that modifies, or describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. • The most common function of adverbs is to modify verbs. • An adverb may tell how, how often, whenorwhere about a verb: (ex. The students study.) • How do the students study? The students study well in groups. (efficiently, reluctantly, unproductively, happily, better) • How often do the students study? The students study everyday. (always, never, frequently, seldom, daily). • When do the students study? Students are studying now. (today, yesterday, tomorrow, later, then) • Where do the students study? The students study everywhere. (there, everywhere, downstairs, inside, abroad)
Adverbs modify verbs cont. • When modifying a verb, the adverb can occupy various positions in a sentence. • Tomorrow, I’m leaving for Spain. I’m leaving tomorrow for Spain. I’m leaving for Spain, tomorrow. • Softly, she sang to the baby. She sang softly to the baby. She softly sang to the baby. • NOTE: The placement of adverbs in relation to verbs can change the emphasis or even meaning of a phrase. • Ex.1 John was just picked to host the program. (picked just now) • Just John was picked to host the program. (only John was picked) • John was picked to host just the program. (just picked for the program) • Ex.2 She hungrily ate the dinner her mom had cooked. (ate hungrily) • She ate the dinner her mom had cooked hungrily (cooked hungrily).
Adverbs modify adjectives • Adverbs that modify adjectives or adverbs are called intensifiers (intensifiers usually answer the question: to what extent?). • They are also called adverbs of degree because they tell how much or how little. • Adverbs can describe adjectives. • Ex. The cat is cute. How cute? The cat is so cute. • I saw a funny movie. How funny? I saw a ridiculously funny movie! • The lecture was interesting. How interesting? The lecture was quite interesting. • NOTE: An adverb that modifies an adjective (”completely prepared") usually appears immediately in front of the word it modifies.
Adverbs modify adverbs • Some adverbs modify other adverbs. • Ex. He plays piano well. (How well?) He plays piano exceptionally well. • Some whales are spotted rarely. (How rarely?) Some whales are spotted extremely rarely. • She spoke indiscreetly. (How indiscreetly?) She spoke too indiscreetly. • NOTE: An adverb that modifies another adverb ("very well") usually appears immediately in front of the word it modifies.
How are adverbs formed? • Most adverbs are formed by simply adding –lyto adjectives: • Ex. active -> actively; intelligent-> intelligently; quick -> quickly, strong -> strongly, etc. • Special cases when adding -ly: • Adjectives ending in -y change the y to i before adding the -ly. Ex. angry -> angrily • adjectives ending in -e drop the -e before adding the -ly. Ex. true -> truly • NOTE: some words ending in –ly are usually adjectives: ex. friendly, lively, lonely, etc. • Some adverbs do not end in –ly: ex. sometimes, later, often, soon, here, there, everywhere, so, too, fast, well, hard, long, straight, etc. • Refer to your “cheat sheet” for a more extensive list of adverbs.
For Thursday… • HW Grammar Book: p. p.113 (A+B), and p.114 (A+B). • Mini-lesson on comparative and superlative forms of adverbs
Bibliography • Heller, D. (1998). Up, up and away: A book about adverbs. Putnam: New York. • (2009). Writer’s choice: Grammar and composition. McGraw-Hill: Columbus, OH.
