ADVERBS

An adverb modifies, or describes, a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. When modifying an adjective or another adverb, an adverb usually comes before the word. When modifying a verb, an adverb can occupy different positions in the sentence.

The woman walked slowly. (modifies a verb). Extremely cold weather can be dangerous. (modifies an adjective). It snows very often in November. (modifies another adverb).

An adverb may tell when, where, or how about a verb An adverb may tell when, where, or how about a verb. It may also tell to what extent a quality exists. This kind of adverb is called intensifier. Very, too, rather, quite and almost are all intensifiers.

Many adverbs are formed by adding –ly to adjectives Many adverbs are formed by adding –ly to adjectives. However not all words that end in –ly are adverbs. The words friendly, lively, and lonely are usually adjectives. Similarly, not all adverbs end in –ly. Some that do not are afterward, sometimes, later, often, soon, here, there, everywhere, fast, hard, long, slow and straight.

EXERCISE People walking in rocky areas sometimes come across rattlesnakes. Some people are quite afraid of snakes. If not provoked, rattlesnakes are not very dangerous. People often find rattlesnakes in dry, rocky areas. If the temperature drops quickly, a rattlesnake can die.

People walking in rocky areas sometimes come across rattlesnakes People walking in rocky areas sometimes come across rattlesnakes. Some people are quite afraid of snakes. If not provoked, rattlesnakes are not very dangerous. People often find rattlesnakes in dry, rocky areas. If the temperature drops quickly, a rattlesnake can die.

Complete each sentence by writing an adverb in the spaces: 1- People ---------- assume that all Hollywood stars are ----------- happy. 2- look ----------- before you cross the street. 3- He drives -----------, that’s why he made an accident yesterday. 4- ------------- try to chase or pick up a snake.

1- People wrongly assume that all Hollywood stars are extremely happy. 2- look carefully before you cross the street. 3- He drives carelessly, that’s why he made an accident. 4- Never try to chase or pick up a snake.

COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADVERBS The comparative form of an adverb compares two actions. The superlative form of an adverb compares more than two actions. Long adverbs and adverbs ending in –ly require the use of more and most. Shorter adverbs need –er and –est as an ending.

Comparative: Superlative: She records the experiment more accurately than he does. Alicia studied harder than Rex did. Superlative: She recorded the experiment most accurately of all the students. Alicia studied hardest of all.

Some important adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms : Adverb comparative superlative Well better best Badly worse worst Little (amount) less least

Exercise Fill in each blank with the correct form of the adverb: Adverb comparative superlative 1- swiftly 2- easily 3- more rapidly 4- farther 5- best 6- fast

Adverb comparative superlative 7- neatly 8- most happily 9- badly 10- straight 11- most truly 12- often 13- more closely 14- soon 15- most fully

Adverb comparative superlative 1- swiftly more swiftly most swiftly 2- easily more easily most easily 3- rapidly more rapidly most rapidly 4- far farther farthest 5- well better best 6- fast faster fastest 7- neatly more neatly most neatly 8- happily more happily most happily 9- badly worse worst

Adverb comparative superlative 10- straight straighter straightest 11- truly more truly most truly 12- often more often most often 13- closely more closely most closely 14- soon sooner soonest 15- fully more fully most fully