Adverb is another important chapter of parts of speech which students have to learn in the early secondary education. Learning adverb along with verb and tense is equally important for students to acquire complete knowledge of English language. Students need to go through all rules of using adverbs in different situations along with the general concept of adverb. They depend on their respective grammar textbooks for studying adverb generally. But for extra facts and deep learning they should follow other resources too. So, we have given complete details about adverb and all related rules which are useful for learning adverb at advance level.
Adverb:
When some words add more information about a verb, adjective and another adverb within a sentence then such words are called adverb. It describes how, when, where, how much and what kind of action is done at a certain time.
An adverb can modify a noun, pronoun, adjective, adverb, preposition, verb, phrase and sentence.
Classification of Adverbs:
1.) Simple adverb
2.) Relative adverb
3.) Interrogative adverb
1.) Simple adverb:
- i) Adverb of place
- ii) Adverb of time
- iii) Adverb of manner
- iv) Adverb of quantity
- v) Adverb of reason
- vi) Adverb of order
- vii) Adverb of affirmation
- viii) Adverb of negation
i) Adverb of place:
It denotes where the action is done like mentioning where and where from.
Ex. above, anywhere, down, everywhere, below, here, there, inside, within, without, hence, where etc.
The book is below standard.
Wait here for sometime till I come.
The watch was purchased outside the country.
It seems I saw him somewhere.
ii) Adverb of time:
It denotes the time about when an action is done.
Ex. before, after, early, daily, now, often, always, never, late, today, tomorrow, since, recently, yesterday, now, while, presently, once, ever, etc.
She shows that she is always busy.
I visit library twice a week.
He never tells a lie.
I follow newspaper daily in morning.
iii) Adverb of manner:
It refers how an action is done in certain situations.
Ex. many adjectives are formed adverbs by adding ly at the end of those adjectives.
Other examples are aloud, amiss, well, thus, how, so etc.
He speaks English fluently.
He walks very slowly for being weak.
She was treated well in her cousin’s house.
She laughed aloud during our conversation.
iv) Adverb of quantity:
It mentions how much an action is done for such purposes.
Ex. half, wholly, hardly, enough, much, more, rather, so, partly, too, almost, quite, little, least, quite etc.
It will be rather good to stay here.
I have understood enough to give a reply.
v) Adverb of reason:
It shows why an action is done and its resulting effect. For specific reason, purpose and effect of an action these adverbs are used.
Ex. hence, therefore, so, why, accordingly etc.
He has done his job accordingly.
She was sick so she could not attend the meeting.
vi) Adverb of order:
It refers the order on which an action is done.
Ex. firstly, last, lastly, firstly, secondly etc.
He stood first in the final examination of school.
Her father was convinced lastly.
vii) Adverb of affirmation:
It means when an action is done or describing in positive way.
Ex. yes, surely etc.
Yes, she has taken the right decision for her life.
I will surely do this work.
viii) Adverb of negation:
Some adverbs mention if an action is not done or not completed yet.
Ex. no, not, probably, possibly, may etc.
Ex. he may go there on Sunday.
She will come probably.
2.) Relative adverb:
Such adverbs are used for joining two clauses in a single sentence. A relative adverb modifies a word and refers back to an antecedent.
Ex. why, where, when, how etc.
I know the purpose why she behaved like that way.
I know the place where he can go.
No one knows the time when rain will come.
3.) Interrogative adverb:
Interrogative adverbs are those words which are used for asking a question.
Ex. why, where, how, when, what etc.
Where do you live?
When will he come with the parcel?
How is your mother now?
What is the reason behind your anger?
Formation of Adverbs:
1.) Many adverbs are formed by adding ly simple at the end of adjectives.
| Adjectives | Adverbs |
| Firm | Firmly |
| Quite | Quietly |
| Sure | Surely |
| Hard | Hardly |
| Sure | Surely |
| Quick | Quickly |
| Kind | Kindly |
| Slow | Slowly |
| Surprising | Surprisingly |
| Cheerful | Cheerfully |
2.) Adjectives ending with y becomes I adding with ly in forms of adverbs.
| Adjectives | Adverbs |
| Happy | Happily |
| Lazy | Lazily |
| Ready | Readily |
| Easy | Easily |
| Satisfactory | Satisfactorily |
3.) Some adjectives ending with le replaced by ly in form of adverbs.
| Adjectives | Adverbs |
| Single | Singly |
| Double | Doubly |
| Terrible | Terribly |
| Suitable | Suitably |
4.) Some adjectives ending with e changed to only ly in forms of adverbs.
| Adjectives | Adverbs |
| Due | Duly |
| Dull | Dully |
| Undue | Unduly |
| True | Truly |
| Whole | Wholly |
5.) Adjectives ending with iac takes ally in forming adverbs.
| Adjectives | Adverbs |
| Tragic | Tragically |
| Automatic | Automatically |
| Technique | Technically |
| Public | Publicly |
6.) The same word can be used as both adjectives and adverbs in the same form.
Ex. it was a long journey.
We have journeyed long.
They shouted in a loud voice.
Don’t speak so loud.
Comparison of Adverbs:
Like adjectives adverbs are also used in positive, comparative and superlative degrees.
Adverbs ending with ly takes more for comparative degree and most for superlative degree.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| Early | Earlier | Earliest |
| Hard | Harder | Hardest |
| Near | Nearer | Nearest |
| Fast | Faster | Fastest |
| Beautifully | More beautifully | Most beautifully |
| Wisely | More wisely | Most wisely |
| Carefully | More carefully | Most carefully |
| Swift | More swiftly | Most swiftly |
| Late | Later | Latest |
| Well | Better | Best |
| Little | Less | Least |
| Much | More | Most |
| Far | Farther | Farthest |
| Forth | Further | Furthest |
Rules of using Adverbs:
1.) Adverb of manner are generally placed after the verb or after the object if there is object.
Ex. she walks slowly.
He speaks English fluently.
2.) Adverb can come before verb+ object if subordinate clause starts after adverb of manner.
Ex. I briefly narrated what I saw in ooty.
3.) Adverb of manner can come before preposition+ object.
Ex. he looked angrily at me.
4.) Adverb of manner are placed only after intransitive verb. However they can be placed either before or after the transitive verb.
Ex. he returned immediately.
He narrated me the incident briefly.
5.) Adverb of time and place are placed after the verb or after the object if there is object.
Ex. he travelled everywhere alone.
I saw him yesterday.
6.) The sequence should be adverb of manner- adverb of place- adverb of time in a sentence.
Ex. he fought a fight bravely in the battlefield in the nineteenth century.
7.) Adverb of frequency or number and other adverbs like almost, already, nearly, hardly, just, quite etc. are normally put between the subject and the verb if there is principal verb.
Ex. he usually comes here on Sunday.
8.) If there is auxiliary verb+ principal verb adverbs are put between them.
Ex. he has just gone out.
9.) If there is only auxiliary verb they are placed after the verb.
Ex. I am never late for school.
10.) Adverb modifies a verb, an adjective and another adverb.
Ex. she ran more quickly than I.
He sang a song beautifully.
11.) If the sentence is introduced by hardly, scarcely, seldom, rarely, never, not only, neither the structure adverb+ auxiliary verb+ subject+ principal verb is used.
Ex. seldom does he visit his parents.
12.) If a sentence starts with here, there, away, out, up, indoor, outdoor the structure adverb+ principal verb/ auxiliary verb+ subject is used.
Ex. here come he.
Here is the man.
13.) Much qualifies past participle and adjectives or adverbs in comparative degree.
Very is used before present participle, adjectives and adverbs of positive degree.
Ex. he was much annoyed at your behaviour.
The news is very interesting.
14.) Negative words like no, not should not be used with the words negative in meaning like seldom, never, nowhere, nothing, hardly, scarcely, rarely, unless, lest, until etc.
Ex. I hardly know anybody in the town.
15.) The structure neither+ auxiliary verb+ subject is used in negative sentence in relation to two persons doing one action.
Ex. he does not write well and neither do I.
16.) The structure so+ auxiliary verb+ subject is used in affirmative sentence in relation to two persons doing one action.
Ex. he plays piano and so does he.
17.) Much too+ negative adjective and too much+ noun is used.
Ex. his failure is much too painful for me.
His wife’s rude behaviour gives him too much pain.
18.) a/an+ fairly+ positive adjective+ noun and rather+ a/an+ negative adjective these structures are followed.
Ex. it was rather a difficult problem.
I have bought a fairly good book.
19.) Enough is used as adverb after an adjective.
Enough is used as adjective before a noun.
Ex. she is wise to allow her son to go.
He has enough money to spend.
20.) Else should be followed by but. Other and otherwise are followed by than.
Ex. she had no other alternative than stay here.
It is nothing else but madness.
Find the errors:
1.) I never remember a)/ to have met a more intelligent b)/ person in life till date c)/ no error d).
2.) Mangoes taste a)/ more sweetly than b)/ any other delicious fruit of this world c)/ no error d).
3.) Great leaders tried a)/ to eradicate social evil practices from society b)/ with tooth and nail c)/ no error d).
4.) Pranay could not scarcely conceal a)/ his happiness b)/ at my resignation c)/ no error d)
5.) She sounded a)/ very sadly after b)/ the death of her dear pet c)/ no error d).
6.) She did her job a)/ as better as she b)/ could do at any level c)/ no error d).
7.) The teacher asked a)/ the students to b)/ talk loudly when asked any question c)/ no error d).
8.) When I read his entire biography, a)/ I hardly found something b)/ in his character that I could admire c)/ no error d).
9.) I did not know hardly a)/ anyone in the college b)/ and so I used to feel lonely all the time c)/ no error d).
10.) He is enough tall a)/ to be selected as sub inspector b)/ in Mumbai police c)/ no error d).
Solutions:
1.) a) never will be used after remember.
2.) b) adjective sweet will be used after verb taste.
3.) c) with will not be used.
4.) a) scarcely is a negative word with which not will not be used.
5.) b) with verb sound adjective sad will be used.
6.) b) as well as is the correct form of using as adjective or adverb.
7.) c) aloud will be used in place of loudly.
8.) b) anything will be used with hardly.
9.) a) no is not used with hardly for being negative word.
10.) a) enough will be placed after adjective.
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