Adverbs!

What’s a stinkin’ adverb anyway? An adverb modifies or describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs and adjectives are both describer words, so what’s the difference? Adjectives describe: Adverbs describe: Nouns Verbs Pronouns Adjectives In terms of our train, Adverbs adjectives are descrip- In terms of our train, adverbs tions of the train describe the train’s movements and the train’s descriptions!

So What Do Adverbs Answer? Adverbs (just like adjectives) answer four questions about the verb/adjective/adverb they modify: Where? When? How? To what extent?

Where? Go here (Go where? Go here.) Run back (Run where? Run back.) Crawl low (Crawl where? Crawl low.) Throw far (Throw where? Throw far.)

When? Stop now (Stop when? Stop now.) Leave today (Leave when? Leave today.) Arrive late (Arrive when? Arrive late.) Return tomorrow (Return when? Return tomorrow.)

How? Run quickly (Run how? Run quickly.) Sing loudly (Sing how? Sing loudly.) Dance beautifully (Dance how? Dance beautifully.) Argued angrily (Argued how? Argued angrily.)

To What Extent? To What End? Completely full (To what extent was it full? Completely.) Nearly finished (To what extent was it finished? Nearly.) Too noisy (To what extent was it noisy? Too noisy.) More annoying (To what extent was it annoying? More annoying.)

Commonly Used Adverbs Adverbs can be tricky, as they aren’t always ending in the obvious “ly.” Here are some common ones that we don’t always recognize. It’s important to KNOW this list! Afterward Instead Often Yet Already Late Slow Also Long Sometimes Back Low Still Even More Straight Far Near Then Fast Next Today Forth Not Tomorrow Hard Now Too

How can I be sure something’s an adverb? 1) Determine WHAT the word is describing! -If it’s describing a noun or pronoun, it’s an adjective! -If it’s describing a verb, adjective, or adverb, it’s an adverb! 2) Determine what it’s answering! -If it’s answering “What kind?” “How much?” “How many?” “Which one?” it’s an adjective! -If it’s answering “Where?” “When?” “How?” or “To what extent?” it’s an adverb!

Intensifiers An adverb that defines the degree (extent) of an adjective or another adverb. Always precede the adjectives or adverbs they modify (come before them). You will not need to tell me that something is an intensifier specifically; just know that the intensifiers are adjectives! Common Intensifiers: Extremely most quite so truly Just nearly rather somewhat very More only really too

How can I be sure something’s an adverb? Adverbs also frequently end in “ly”: Quickly, dangerously, frequently, neatly, sloppily, rudely, adventurously, adequately, recently, lately, softly, cheerfully, messily, grumpily, angrily, happily, slyly, mostly, absent-mindedly, hurriedly, annoyingly, completely, entirely, totally, mostly, etc. etc. etc. Why do you think the Adverb Shop owners’ names are “Lolly?” “Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, get your adverbs here!”

Identifying Adverbs Identify the adverbs in the following sentences. Remember, Where? When? How? To What Extent? Beethoven tirelessly devoted himself to his music. tirelessly: Devoted how? Devoted tirelessly. He often worked late. often: Worked when? Worked often. late: Worked when? Worked late. In fact, his nocturnal piano playing made him very unpopular with his conventional neighbors. very: To what extent was he unpopular? Very.

Identifying Adverbs The composer was terribly shocked to realize that he was losing his hearing when he was in his late twenties. How shocked? Terribly shocked. His condition gradually worsened. To what extent did it worsen? Gradually. It finally became so severe that Beethoven could not hear his own music. When did it become? Finally. To what extent was it severe? So. To what extent could he hear? Not.

Comparative and Superlative Sometimes we use adjectives and adverbs to compare people and actions. For example: She runs more quickly than he does. For example: She is faster than he is. If you are comparing only two things, this is called forming the comparative form of the adjective or adverb. If you are comparing more than two things, this is called forming the superlative form of the adjective or adverb.

Forming the Comparative Two ways to form comparative adjectives: 1) Regular: faster, thinner, scrawnier 2) Irregular: more flexible, more frightened, more scared Two ways to form comparative adverbs: 1) Regular: faster 2) Irregular: more flexibly, more quickly, more cheerfully

Forming the Superlative Two ways to form superlative adjectives: 1) Regular: fastest, thinnest, scrawniest 2) Irregular: most flexible, most frightened, most scared Two ways to form superlative adverbs: 1) Regular: fastest 2) Irregular: most flexibly, most quickly, most cheerfully

Comparative/Superlative Practice faster Pam runs __________ (fast) than Theo. Pam is the _____________ (flexible) of all of the dancers. Pam speaks ___________________ (loud) than Paul. Pam is _________________ (loud) than Paul. Pam runs the _______________ (quick) out of her whole team. Pam is the_________________ (quick) out of her whole team. most flexible more loudly louder most quickly quickest

Then v. Than Then: Adverb answering “when,” discusses time Ex: We played basketball and then went home. Than: Conjunction conveying comparison Ex: She is taller than me. They are never ever interchangeable. They are two entirely different words that have specific meanings!

Then v. Than Practice Diana has many more demerits _____________ I do. Thomas hardly eats at lunch, but ________ wolfs down dinner. _________ I took off my shoes. Would you rather have cake ________ ice cream? You will be in more trouble _________ I will. I have to study, but ________ I’ll come outside and play soccer with you. than then Then than than then

Why Does it Matter? 1) More descriptive, precise writing Ex: She ran to school. Ex: She quickly ran far to school, arriving late. 2) People make comparative/superlative errors all the time! ACT alert! Ex: Walk slow since the floor is slippery. Ex: Walk slowly since the floor is slippery. 3) Then v. Than errors are juvenile. To anyone who has studied English, these will be a HUGE red flag. If you want respect for your writing, you must eliminate them.

The End! …or is it?