THE ADVERB
Adverb is a word that qualifies-
1. a verb 2. an adjective
3. another adverb 4. a preposition
Examples :
He runs Fast
In this sentence the word 'fast' is an adverb because it is qualifying the verb 'runs'.
She is quite an intelligent girl.
In this sentence the word 'quite' is an adverb because it is qualifying the adjective 'intelligent'
She ran very fast.
In this sentence the word 'very' is an adverb because it is qualifying the adverb 'fast'
The ship has sailed right round the world.
In this sentence the word 'right' is an adverb qualifying the preposition 'round'.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ADVERBS
An adverb can qualify not merely individual words, but an entire Assertive Sentence. In this case
it must stand first in the sentence.
Unfortunately the thief was not caught.
We could rewrite these sentences in the following forms.
It is unfortunate that the thief was not caught.
It was evident that you were much distressed at the news.
Note : (A) As a general rule adverbs donot qualify nouns or pronouns. But an adverb qualifies a
noun or pronoun in such a sentence as :
Even torture could not break his spirit. (Qualifying noun)
Only you can tell us the facts. (Qualifying pronoun)
(B) In the following examples the adverb that precedes the noun does not qualify the noun, but
makes some participle or adjective understood.
The then king = the king then reigning. The above
account = the account given above.
(C) In the following example the adverb 'almost' does not qualify the noun 'drunkard' but the verb
"is1:
He is almost, a drunkard.
To say, he is an almost drunkard1 would be incorrect.
KINDS OF ADVERBS
Adverbs are subdivided into three classes:
I. Simple II. Interrogative III. Relative
I. Simple Adverbs : These can be distinguished from one another according to their meaning.
(A) Time
He will soon arrive.
He was ill yesterday.
He has already come.
I met him some time ago.
The main adverbs of this class are:
Now, then, before, since, ago, already, soon, presently, immediately, instantly, early, late,
afterwards, yesterday, today, tomorrow.
(B) Place
We must rest here.
He went there.
The book is under the table.
My house is near the market.
The main adverbs of this class are : Here, there, hence, thence, hither, thither, in, out, within
without, above, below, inside, under, outside, far, near, etc.
(C) Number/Frequency
He always stood by his master.
He did this once, but he will not do it again.
He often goes for a morning walk.
She has tried twice already.
Mahatma Gandhi never told a lie.
The main adverbs of this class are : Once, twice, thrice, again, seldom, never, sometimes,
always, often, firstly secondly, thirdly, etc.
(D) Manner, Quality or state
She spoke loudly.
He behaved foolishly.
He did his work slowly but surely.
I worked honestly.
The main adverbs of this class are :Thus, so, well, ill, amiss, badly, probably, certainly,
conveniently, etc.
(E) Quality, Extent or Degree
She is quite an intelligent girl,
He is Clever enough for me.
She is a very beautiful girl.
The main adverbs of this class are :Very, much, too quite, almost, little, a little, rather, some,
what, half, partly, wholly, so etc.
(F) Affirming or Denying
He did not come after all.
EXAMPLES :
Yes, no, not, yea, nay, not at all, by all rr,3ans, etc.
Note:
Yes or no are pro-sentence or substitute Adverbs:
1. Did he come ? Yes (= He did come )
2. Did he come ? No (= He did not come)
In (1) Yes is substitute for an affirmative sentence, and in (2) No is substitute for a negative
sentence. As pronouns save the repetition of a noun, so these adverbs save the repetition of a
sentence.
II. Interrogative Adverbs : This is the name given to those Adverbs that are used for asking
questions as :
(A) Time
When do you intend to pay him ? How
long will you remain here ?
(B) Place
Whither are you going ? Where
did you stop ?
(C) Number
How often does the he visit you?
How many persons attended the meeting ?
(D) Manner, Quality or State
How are you today? (In what state of health) How
did you solve the sums?
(E) Quantity or Deane
How far (to what extent \ weather statement true ?
(F1) Cause or Reason
Why (for what reason) did you do this ?
Wherefore did she weep?
Note :The adverb 'how' is sometimes used in an exclamatory sense:
How nice of you to help me !
'What' in the sense or quantity or degree is similarly used in an exclamatory sense:
What a beautiful flower it is !
III. Relative Adverbs: Relative adverbs are the same in form as interrogative adverbs but
instead
of asking questions they join two sentences together.
These adverbs are called relative for two reasons:
(1) because they relate to some Antecedent, expressed or understood;
(2) because they are formed from relative pronouns.
(A) The Antecedent undone
This is where we work.
Let us know when you will leave.
(where = the place where we work)
(B) The Antecedent expressed
This is the place where we work.
Let us know the time when you will leave
DEGREES OF COMPARISON IN ADVERBS
Some adverbs have degree of comparison like adjectives.
(A) If the adverbs is a word of one syllable, the comparative is formed by adding er and the
superlative by adding est.
Late Later Latest or Last
Long Longer Longest
Loud Louder Loudest
Near Nearer Nearest
Soon Sooner Soonest
(B) Some adverbs form the degrees of comparison in an irregular way:
Far Farther Farthest
Forth Further Furthest
Bad Worse Worst
Little Less Least
Much More Most
Good Better Best
(C) Adverbs ending in "!y" form the comparative by adding more and the superlative by adding
most:
Beautifully More beautifully Most beautifully
Wisely More wisely Most wisely
Note : The Adverb 'early' however has 'earlier' for its comparative and 'earliest' for its superlative
SPECIAL USES OF SIMPLE ADVERBS Much Very
(A) 'Much' qualifies adjectives or adverbs in the comparative degree; 'very' in the Positive.
The air is much hotter today than yesterday.
(B) 'Much' qualifies past participles; 'very' present ones:
He was much annoyed at your behaviour.
This news is very interesting.
Too : The adverb 'too' denotes some kind of excess. It means 'more than enough' something that
goes beyond the contemplated limit or purpose. In the following sentences 'too' has been
wrongly written in place of 'very'.
Sugar is too sweet
This wall is too strong.
Note :But too is used correctly in the following sentences :
The news was too good to be true.
My heart was too full for words.
Enough:The meaning of'enough' is opposite to that of'too' Enough' signifies that the required
standard or limit or amount has been reached, but 'too' means 'more' than enough; that is, the
proper limit has been exceeded:
The air today is c"!d enough for me,
Little, a little : There is the same difference between these two adverbs as between the corre sponding
adjectives
(A) 'Little' is used in a negative sense and means 'not much'; in fact it is a weak form of 'not and
almost negative.
I little expected that he would fail. (I did not
expect that he would fail)
(B) 'A' Little is always used in an affirmative sense, and means to some extent at least' 'slightly"
She was a little (= slightly, somewhat) tired.
Since : This word is used as
(A) an adverb of time;
(B) a conjunction of time,
(C) preposition of time.
(A) As an adverb, it has two meanings:
(i) From then (from some time in the past upto now):
I first read it ten years ago and have remembered it ever since.
(ii) At or during some time between then and now. He told me last week and has spoken of it
several times since.
(B) As a conjunction it signifies from which time.
It is now a week since the school broke up.
(C) As a Preposition it signifies from:
He has been teaching since morning.
It has been raining since yesterday.
Ago : It is used.
(i) As an Adjective always following its noun.
This happened a month ago.
The lamb said, A year ago I was not born.
(ii) As an Adverb, in the expression long ago.
Taj Mahal was built long ago.
Before: This word is used a sometimes as an adverb of time, and sometimes as a conjunction of
time, and also as a preposition.
(A) As an adverb of time it signifies formerly, or on a former occasion.
He did this once before and he will do it again.
(B) As a conjunction of time it is followed by a verb in some present tense, if the verb in
the principal clause is in the future tense:
He had left before I reached there.
(C) As a preposition it signifies earlier than or in front of:
I reached home before 8 o' clock.
The accused stood before the judge.
Already: This adverb denotes that something has happened prior to the time mentioned or
thought
of:
Light the fire, it has already been lighted .
Yes, no: Mistakes are often made by students in the use of 'yes' or 'no' in answering a question:
Question -
Is the sky cloudy today?
Answer-
Yes, it is or No. it is not.
But if the question is put in a negative form, the answer given is often ambiguous:
Did you not find him at home ? The answer sometimes given is -Yes, I did not find
him at home. This is wrong, and the proper answer would be: Yes, I did find him at
home. No, I did not find him at home.
There : This adverb usually signifies 'in the place' but it frequently stands as the first word in a
sentence, where it has merely an introductory value, and has no significance of place (usually
used with verbs-be, seem, appear). There were four persons present. There came a messenger
from the king's court.
Else : Should always be followed by but and never by than.
It is nothing else but (not than) vanity.
Note : Never use 'seldom or even' but always say 'seldom or never' or 'seldom if ever' He seldom
or never (not ever) comes late.
Never: The word never is sometimes wrongly used with verbs indicating a special point of time for
' do not' or did not': as
I Never remember having met her.
Say-1 do not remember ever having met her.
Quite: This Adverb means Perfectly, 'completely; but it is often wrongly used as equivalent
to 'very'.
Are you very sure you want to go ? (Incorrect)
Are you quite sure you want to go ? (Correct)
Thus it is wrong to say.
'Bad water is quite unwholesome.
Bad water is very unwholesome (Correct)
For more grammer click on http://competitiongurumantra.blogspot.in/2012/10/english-grammer-5.html
