1. Adverbs

2. Definition A word that modifies verbs, verb phrases or other adverbs. –Adverbs answer the questions How? How often? When? Where? Or to What extent?

3. Examples How? We yelled loudly. When? I’m leaving tomorrow. Where? The birds flew away. How often? You have a book report due once a quarter. To what extent? I hardly noticed.

4. Extra’s Many adverbs end in –ly but don’t get them confused with adjectives –Ex. It arrives daily (adv.) or The daily paper has come. (adj.) An adverb can stand before or after the verb it modifies. –Now the students are sleeping. It can also separate parts of a verb phrase –The students are now sleeping.

5. Interrogative Adverbs Four adverbs are commonly used to begin questions: How, when, where, why –Ex. When will this sink in? –Ex. Why don’t you listen?

6. Negative Adverbs Add negative meaning to the words they modify Not often appears as part of a contraction –Ex. Couldn’t = could not Words such as… –Not, never, hardly, scarcely –Ex. I’ve never seen this before. –Ex. I shouldn’t have lied.

7. Intensifiers Adverbs that modify adjectives or other adverbs Ex: This is rather simple. Common intensifiers are… –Too, so, somewhat, very, rather, fairly, almost

8. Degrees of Adverbs Positive Degree: I work fast. Comparative Degree: He works faster. Superlative: She works the fastest of all. Use comparative when 2 persons or things are compared. Use the superlative when three or more are compared.

9. Comparative and Superlative Some adverbs add –er or –est (for most 1 syllable adverbs) –Dark, darker, darkest Most adverbs use words like more and most or less and least (2 or more syllables) –Clearly, more clearly, most clearly –Sharply, less sharply, least sharply