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Before moving ahead with the Adverbs, let’s have a look at what are parts of speech in
brief:
Parts of Speech
Parts of speech are the basic categories of words according to their function in a
sentence. It is a category to which a word is assigned in accordance with its syntactic
functions. English has eight main parts of speech, namely, Nouns, Pronouns,
Adjectives, Verbs, Adverbs, Prepositions, Conjunctions & Interjections. In grammar,
the parts of speech, also called lexical categories, grammatical categories or word
classes is a linguistic category of words.
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Adverb: It is a word used to modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb or an entire
clause.
Examples:
Anita walks slowly.
Divya talks softly.
Bharti ran away very quickly. (Adverb phrase modifies the verb ran)
The toolkit has been kept in the garage. (Adverbial prepositional phrase modifies the
verb kept)
Given below is the detailed explanation of the various types of Adverbs with relevant
examples.
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Adverb of Time
It describes when for how long something happens and answers the question ‘when’
through words like soon, early, late, now, before, still, yet, later, tomorrow, etc. In an
interrogative sense, when and how long function as the adverb of time.
Examples:
The show will resume soon.
We are preparing for dinner now.
How long had you been hiding in the bushes?
When did you arrive?
Adverb of Place
Describe the direction, distance, movement, or position involved in the action of a verb
and thus answers the question ‘where’ through the words like here, there, everywhere,
north, south, forward, downward, behind, etc. In an interrogative sense, where
functions as adverb of place.
Examples:
The boat was moving downstream.
Where are you going?
They say that God is present everywhere.
Adverb of Manner
It describes the degree or extent of the verb, adjective, or adverb they are modifying. It
answers the question ‘how far’ through words like very, quite, almost, fairly, truly,
pretty, somewhat, etc. In an interrogative sense, how far and how much function as
adverb of degree or quantity.
Examples:
You are pretty close to the correct answer.
How far do you think they can go with this attitude?
It took us quite a long time to reach the destination.
It describes how frequently or how often something happens. Words like always
usually, twice, firstly, daily, monthly, etc. are adverbs of frequency.
Examples:
Twice did I land up in jail.
Preeti rarely skips her meals.
I am usually awake by 7 o’ clock in the morning.
Adverb of Reason
It describe ‘why’ something happens or is the case. Words like therefore, thus, hence,
consequently, etc. are adverbs of reason.
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Example:
Pratima has never behaved so oddly. We must therefore conclude that something is
wrong.
I is used to focus on a particular word or phrase, such as also, exclusively, just, mostly,
notably, primarily, especially.
Examples:
Priya gets gifts for all, even for her distant cousins.
Adverb of Viewpoint
It is used to express that a particular idea is being looked at from a certain point of view,
or to specify what aspect of something is being talked about. Words like personally, in
my point of view, according to you, scientifically, biologically, etc., are adverbs of
viewpoint.
Examples:
Logically speaking, completing this task within the given time frame is next to
impossible.
According to Parth the ship should have sunk by now.
Adverb of Affirmation
Expresses what the speaker knows about the truth of the statement. Words like perhaps,
certainly, undoubtedly, clearly, allegedly, etc. are adverbs of affirmation.
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Example: You have certainly fallen prey to greed.
Adverb of Negation
It is used to modify the meaning of a verb, adjective or another adverb in a negative way
with words such as not, hardly, barely, never, seldom.
Relative Adverbs
It joins two clauses by relating itself to a noun and indicates time, place, reason or
manner.Examples:
I know the house where he lives.
I don’t know the time when the function begins.
I don’t know why he left the room.
If more than adverb is used to describe a verb, a specific order should be maintained
while placing them in a sentence, so that the sentence sounds smooth. Place multiple
adverbs in the following order:
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Example:
I have to run quickly (manner) to the hospital (place) everyday (frequency) after
breakfast (time) in order to see my patients (purpose).
Comparison of Adverbs
Like adjectives, there are three degrees of comparison in adverbs: the positive, the
comparative and the superlative. The adverbs form their comparatives and superlatives
using –er and –est and more and most. Some adverbs have comparative and superlative
degrees completely different from their positive forms:
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Little Less Least
• Adverbs such as as, even, how, never, next, now, rather, so, soon, still,
then, too, etc. are not derived from an adjective or any other word.
1. The sentence based on too…to format can only be replaced with so…that, if
‘cannot’ is also added while conversion.
Example:
The box is too heavy to lift.
The box is too heavy that one cannot lift it. (Incorrect)
The box is so heavy that one cannot lift it. (Correct)
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2. Two negatives cancel each other. So avoid using double negatives unless we make
an affirmation.
Example.
I have not done nothing wrong. (Incorrect)
I have not done anything wrong. (Correct)
3. The adverbs ‘hard’ and ‘hardly’ carry completely different meanings. The former
means ‘diligently’, ‘intensely’, while the latter means ‘scarcely at all’. Therefore be
careful while using them.
Examples:
They work hardly in the fields. (Incorrect)
They work hard in the fields. (Correct)
4. The sentences which begin with seldom, never, hardly, scarcely or rarely, have
the following structure: Adverb + Verb + Subject
Example:
Seldom we have gathered together. (Incorrect)
Seldom have we gathered together. (Correct)
Now that you have read the Adverbs as Part of Speech, know more about the other two
parts of speech by clicking on the button below:
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