What is an adverb???

The role of an adverb???

1. She loves me madly.
2. The girl is very clever.
3. He drives extremely fast.
4. He lives nearly on the top of the hill.
5. Look at the above sentence!
6. Luckily, I met him again yesterday.
7. He said almost outside the doorway.
8. Only when the man is in good health, is he truly happy.
 Adverbs

Adverb is a part of speech adding

Definition meaning to a verb, an adjective,
another adverb, even the whole
sentence.
(Le Huy Truong, et al., 2015)
 Classification of English adverbs

Semantic criterion Structural criterion

1. Adv. of manner 1. Simple adv.
2. Adv. of place 2. Derived adv.
3. Adv. of time 3. Compound adv.
4. Adv. of frequency
5. Adv. of degree
6. Intensive adv. (Intensifier)
 Adverbs of manner (A.M.)
1. Usage: denote the way in
which something is done
 answer the Q how
happily
2. Forms:
- derived (an adj. + -ly)
… quickly BUT: friendly, lonely,…
- simple
A.M.
- phrase ( an adjunct)
3. Position:
- after a V., an object
suddenly slowly
- between S & V. or in
front-position
 Adverbs of place (A.P.)

1. Usage: denote the

location, position of
here something  answer the
Q where
2. Forms:
… there - single
A.P. - compound
- phrase ( an adjunct)
3. Position:
in the class everywhere - after adv. of manner
- before adv. of time
- front-position
 Adverbs of time (A.T.)
1. Usage: denote the time
of the action
yesterday  answer the Q when/how
long/since when
2. Forms:
… now - single
A.T. - derived
- phrase ( an adjunct)
3. Position:
Last
tomorrow - front-position
Monday
- mid-position
- end-position
 Adverbs of frequency (A.F.)

1. Usage: denote the

frequency of the action
always  answer the Q how often
2. Forms:
- single
… seldom
- derived
A.F. 3. Position:
- front-position
- mid-position
hardly repeatedly - end-position
 Adverbs of degree (A.D.)
1. Usage: denote the
degree to which the
action is performed
quite
 answer the Q To what
extent
2. Forms:
… fairly
- single
A.D. - derived
- compound
3. Position:
rather absolutely - before the words it
modifies
Intensive adverbs (I.A.) = Intensifier
1. Usage: strengthen the
meaning of the words
they modify
really - used with gradable adj.;
adj.(-ing); adv.; past
participle, phrase (adj. +
… greatly N.)
I.A. 2. Forms:
- single
- derived
very extremely
3. Position:
- before the words it
modifies
 Adverbs – Further types
1. how/ how often/ when/ where… 1. Adv. of interrogation
2. yes/ yeah/ certainly/ quite… 2. Adv. of affirmation
3. no/ not 3. Adv. of negation
4. maybe/ perhaps/ probably… 4. Adv. of probability
5. little/ much/ once… 5. Adv. of quantity
6. This is the place where I met her. 6. Adv. of relation
7. particularly/ especially… 7. Focus adv.
8. economically/ financially… 8. Viewpoint adv.
9. surprisingly/ luckily… 9. Comment adv.
10. firstly/ however… 10. Linking adv.
 Formation of adverbs

1. Compounding
2. Conversion
3. Affixation
 Adverb/Adjunct formation –
Compounding
Main types Minor types
1. therefore/ hereafter/… 1. over and over
2. abroad/ along 2. now and then
3. ahead/ asleep 3. far and near
4. within/ without 4. …
5. inside/ outdoor
6. however
7. …
 Adverb formation - Conversion

1. A late student arrives late.

2. A long speaker speaks long.
 Adverb formation - Conversion

1. He is a fast runner.
2. He runs very fast.

3. It was a short journey.

4. The car stopped short.
 Adverb formation – Affixation
1. Adj. + -ly: kindly/ foolishly/..
2. N. + -wards: homewards /..
3. N. + -wise: clockwise /..

Ways to add –ly:

1. gay  gaily
2. sensible/ capable  sensibly / capably
3. extreme / sincere  extremely / sincerely

BUT: true  truly

whole  wholly
 Adverb formation – Affixation

1. We must play fair.

2. We must play fairly.

3. I’ll send this gift direct to you.

4. I’ll be there directly.
Adverb formation – Conversion & Affixation – Notes

high (adv.)
high (adj.)
highly (adv.)

near (adv.)
near (adj.)
nearly (adv.)
 Affixation – Notes

1. manly (adj.)
 in a manly manner
2. fatherly (adj.)
 in a fatherly manner
3. …
 Degrees of comparison of adverbs

1. Equal / Positive degree

2. Comparative degree
3. Superlative degree
The position
1. of an adv. with a verb
2. of an adv. with an adj./another adv.
3. of an adv. of interrogation
4. of an adv./adjunct of manner, of time, of place
5. of an adv. of frequency
6. of an adv. of viewpoint
 The position of an adv. with a verb
(Rule of proximity)
1. He often says he visits his mother.

2. He says he often visits his mother.

The position of an adv. with an adj./another adv.

1. This story is very funny.

2. He sings very well.

3. Her voice is good enough to become a singer.

 The position of an adv. of interrogation
(an interrogative adv.)
1. When will you be back?
2. Where did you meet her at the first time?
3. …
 The position of an adv./adjunct of
time/place/manner

Only one type of adverb

is in the sentence.

3 types of adverbs are

in the sentence.
The position of an adv./adjunct of manner - Notes
Without an object

1. He walks slowly.
2. He slowly walks down the street with me.

With an object

3. They received the letter coldly.

4. They coldly received the letter.

5. He opened the letter that Mary had left on the table quickly.
6. He quickly opened the letter that Mary had left on the table.
7. He opened quickly the letter that Mary had left on the table.
The position of an adv. of manner - Notes

1. This thing easily could have been done.

2. This thing could easily have been done.
3. This thing could have easily been done.
4. This thing could have been easily done.
5. This thing could have been done easily.
6. Easily, this thing could have been done.
The position of an adv. of frequency
1. She always gets up late.

2. I have never met her parents.

3. He was often angry.

4. Sometimes, I go out with him.

He never can understand you.
He gives me nice presents usually.
The position of an adv. of frequency -
Note
I usually stay at home in the evening. Sometimes,
I go to a movie.
The position of an adv. of viewpoint

1. Fortunately, I didn’t live there.

2. Very frankly, I am very tired.
3. Surely, I don’t know the answer.
Inversion happens …

1. after here/there/…or adverb particles

2. after an adjunct of place
3. after negative or near-negative adverbs
Inversion after adverbs/adverb particles

1. Here comes a taxi!

2. Back to school go the children.
3. Away from her house drove my brother.

BUT: Here you are!

Inversion after adjuncts of place

1. In the forest are many exotic birds.

2. In the forest is he waiting for his prey.

3. In the forest is the hunter waiting for his preys.

Inversion after (near-)negative adverbs

1. Never have I eaten such a delicious meal.

2. Only by talking to him, can you know the truth.
3. Only when/ if you talk to him, can you know the truth.