Grammar section adverb AT 1

Adverb
Read the following sentences and note the functions of Adverbs.
1. Rudra runs quickly.
2. Sanju is a very beautiful girl.
3. She sings extremely well.
4. The bird flew exactly over our head.
5. I dislike him simply because he is a liar.
6. Only he was included in the list.
7. Unfortunately, he could not continue his studies.
8. Even Rabindranath praised Kazi Nazrul Islam.

Differences between Adverb and Adjective

Make five sentences each (of Adverb and Adjective) with these words. One
has done for you.
Early- adj. He is an early riser. Adv. He started early.
Fast – adj.
Fast – adv.
Hard – adj.
Hard – adv.
Loud – adj.
Loud – adv.
Best – adj.
Best – adv.
Well- adj.
Well – adv.

The adverbials listed on the below (given words are more than needed) are
missing from the following passages. Insert them in the places marked **.
1. Most people know what is right and what is wrong. ** however, the time
for action comes, they ** fail to act **. The trouble with them is that they
are selfish and think ** of themselves, not of others.
(often, only, rightly, unfortunately, heavily, quickly)
2. ** one of the greatest problems is pollution. In our cities, the air is **
being polluted by smoke ** and from carbon monoxide gases emitted by

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motor vehicles. (constantly, really, from factories, in the 20 th century,

nicely)
3. The warder who had fallen ** was in a ** critical situation. For he ** knew
how to swim. Every second that passed increased his danger of being
snapped up by one of these voracious creatures. ** one of the convicts
heeding his nobler feelings, threw himself into the water. (very, suddenly,
loudly, hardly, seemingly, into the river)
Read the following sentences and note the functions of Adverbs.
1. Rudra runs quickly.
2. Sanju is a very beautiful girl.
3. She sings extremely well.
4. The bird flew exactly over our head.
5. I dislike him simply because he is a liar.
6. Only he was included in the list.
7. Unfortunately, he could not continue his studies.
8. Even Rabindranath praised Kazi Nazrul Islam.

Classifications of Adverbs
Adverbs are divided into three main categories.
1. Simple adverb.
2. Relative adverb.
3. Interrogative adverb.

1. Simple adverbs are of eight kinds.

I. Adverb of time- now, then since, ago, already and so on. (when, how
long, how often )
II. Adverb of place – here, there, nearby, away and so on. (where,
wherefrom)
III. Adverb of manner – clearly, badly, softly, slowly, simply and so on.
(how, in what manner)
IV. Adverb of degree – much, more, totally, little, enough, greatly and so
on. (how much, to what extent)
V. Adverb of reason or purpose – hence, therefore, so, so that and so on.
(reason, purpose)
VI. Adverb of affirmation and negation – yes, no , never etc. (affirmation
and negation) {yes I know him}
VII. Intensifier (emphasise)– actually, certainly, surely, definitely and so on.

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VIII. Down toner – hardly, barely, scarcely, nearly and so on. (makes the
other verb, adj. or adverb less important)
2. Relative and Conjunctive adverb – The relative adverb joins two
sentences together and shows its relation to its antecedent expressed or
understood.
But those Relative Adverb which does not have antecedent is called
Conjunctive Adverb.
A Relative Adverb makes a relative clause. But a conjunctive adverb
makes an adverbial clause.

 Show me the house where he was born. (Antecedent expressed-

Antecedent ‘house’ relative clause)
 Do you know the time when the Nandita Mail arrives? (Antecedent
‘time’- Relative clause)
 This is the reason why he left t meeting. (Antecedent ‘reason’-
relative clause)
 Antecedent omitted - you may go where you like. (Adverbial
clause) –{ Antecedent the ‘place’ omitted} –
 We shall go when he comes. (Antecedent the time omitted)
 I do not know why he left the meeting. (Antecedent the
‘reason’ omitted)
 We do not know how it is done. (Antecedent the ‘process’
omitted)
Definition – A relative adverb, like a Relative Pronoun relates or refers back
to its antecedent.
3. Interrogative Adverb:- When adverbs are used in asking questions,
they are called interrogative adverbs.
I. Interrogative Adverb of place :- where is Suman.
II. Interrogative Adverb of time :- When did he come?
III. Interrogative Adverb of reason :- Why are you hurry?
IV. Interrogative Adverb of manner : - How did he do this?
V. Interrogative Adverb of number : - How many boys are there?
VI. Interrogative Adverb of quantity : - How much milk would you take?
VII. Interrogative Adverb of frequency : - How often did the dog bark?
VIII. Interrogative Adverb of degree : - How far was the report true?

You should bear upon in mind that the words- who, whom, which and what –
are interrogative pronoun. And these- where, when, why, how, how many,

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how much, how often, how far, how long, how high - are interrogative
adverb.

Position of Adverbs
Adverbs of manner, place and time are placed after the intransitive
verb or after the object of a transitive verb. Ex- He will come here. I met him
yesterday.

But adverbs of frequency which answers the question ‘how often?’ are
normally put before the verb or the main verb when there is any helping
verb. These words are- always, often, never, seldom, rarely, usually,
generally, sometimes, frequently. Ex- He always speaks the truth. She has
never seen a tiger.

An adverb is usually placed between a Helping verb and a Main verb.

Ex- I shall certainly miss her.
When an adverb modifies an adjective or another adverb, the adverb
usually comes before it. Ex- Do not walk so fast. The book is very interesting.
Exception- Enough is always placed after the word it modifies. Ex- you would
be kind enough to grant me leave.

An adverb may be placed at the beginning of a sentence for modifying

a whole sentence, for emphasising and for asking questions. Ex- Fortunately,
he was saved. Where has he gone?

When there are two or more adverbs after a verb, the normal order is
adverb of manner, place and time. MPT.
Sanju sang sweetly in the town hall last evening.
M P T
He worked hard yesterday.
M T
I shall go there early.
P T

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Grammar Test
A. Chang e the following Adjectives into adverbs and use them meaningfully
in the blanks.
Brave, heavy, loud, complete, eager, perfect, probable.
1. I have ____forgotten his name.
2. She was breathing ___ when she came on the fourth floor.
3. He faced the difficulties ______ .
4. The work has been _____ done.
5. Do not read so _____ .
6. I am ____ waiting for you.
7. _____ his father will come here tomorrow.

B. Choose two words (one from each box) to complete each sentence.
Absolutely, reasonably, Cheap, enormous, planned,
unusually, badly, seriously, changed, ill, quiet, damaged,
unnecessarily, completely, long.
slightly

1. I thought the restaurant would be expensive but it was ________.

2. George’s mother is ____ in hospital.
3. What a big house! It’s ______.
4. it wasn’t a serious accident. The car was only _________.
5. The children are normally very lively but they’re _____ today.
6. When I returned home after 20 years, everything had ____________.
7. The film was ________ . it could have been much shorter.
8. A lot went wrong during our holiday because it was ___________.

C. Put the Adverbials in the brackets in the suitable positions in the

sentences and rewrite them.
1. The boy stayed at school. (seldom, after the classes)
2. “It was chance, young man,” Raju said. (mainly, modestly)
3. Kajal pushed her out of the room and boiled the door. (quickly, from
outside)

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4. He prepared his lecture carefully but could not deliver it. (very,
unfortunately)
5. The missiles are being thrown and these are damaging the people.
(dangerously, in developed countries)

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