Adverb
Adverb
An adverb is a word that modifies an action verb, an adjective or
another adverb.
- The teacher carefully graded the homework.
Carefully is an adverb that modifies the action
verb to grade.
- Tommy was extremely enthusiastic
about doing his homework.
Extremely is an adverb that modifies the
adjective enthusiastic.
- Yan Ko ran out of the classroom very quickly.
Very is an adverb that modifies the
adverb quickly.
Warning: You need an adjective after linking verbs…NEVER an adverb!
For example, Tai feels bad (guilty) when he has to leave class.
Here, bad is an adjective that modifies
the proper noun Tai. It is an adjective because it follows the
linking verb to feel.
HOWEVER, verbs like look, sound,
smell, feel, and taste can function as either an action verb or a
linking verb.
Tai feels badly
(to the touch) after swimming in a chlorinated pool. His skin is really
dry.
Here, bad is used in its adverbial form
since it follows an action verb, to feel.
Types of Adverbs:
- Relative Adverbs introduce questions and dependent adverbial clauses. They answer the questions When? and Where? They are: When Where
For Example:
When I was young, I liked to play outside.
When I was young, I liked to play outside.
Q: When did I like to play outside? A: When I was young.
Adverbs of Frequency indicate answer the question how often? They are:
Adverbs of Frequency indicate answer the question how often? They are:
Always, usually, often, sometimes,
rarely, never
The students in ESOL 98 always study very hard.
They rarely forget to do
their homework.
NOTE: Generally, these adverbs come before the verb; however there is an
exception. In the case of the verb to be, the adverb of frequency comes after
the verb. For example: Azra is
always on time for class.
