PARTS OF SPEECH - ADVERBS by Samson Mwita

ADVERBS

Adverbs are words that modify or tell more about verbs, adjectives, other adverbs and also comment on sentences. Also an adverb can modify a phrase, a clause, or an entire sentence. Although many adverbs end in –ly, many do not, and many words ending in –ly are not adverbs. Look at the following words for instance, silly, friendly, and lonely, while they end in –ly, they are all adjectives and the word early can be used both as an adverb and an adjective. Whenever an adverb modifies another adverb or an adjective, it appears before the word being modified. For example,

He runs with ridiculously high steps.

Adv             adj

She  sings quite  well

Adv     adv

Now I am happy. (‘now’ modifies the rest of the sentence I am happy)

Honestly, I am annoyed. (honestly modifies the whole sentence)

Whenever an adverb modifies an action verb it tells something about the action. It can tell when, where, how, how much or how often the action happens.

FORMS OF ADVERBS.

Like adjectives, adverbs also appear in forms of positive, comparative and superlative degrees.

Positive adverbs.

A positive adverb modifies a verb, an adverb, an adjective, a phrase, a clause, or an entire sentence but does not make a comparison. For example;

He moved quickly and occupied his seat. (quickly modifies the verb moved)

Comparative adverbs.

A comparative adverb compares two actions or conditions. For example;

He moved more quickly than others and occupied the front seat.

(it modifies the verb moved, comparing the two moving speeds)

Superlative adverbs.

A superlative adverb compares three or more actions or conditions. For example;

Of all the boys, John moved most quickly and occupied his seat.

v  Most short adverbs show comparison by adding –er to form the comparative and –est to form the superlative. For example; soon, high

On Sunday I rise up early. (POSITIVE)

On Saturday I rise up earlier. (COMPARATIVE)

On week days I rise up earliest. (SUPERLATIVE)

v  Adverbs ending in –ly use the words more and most in front of them to show comparison. They do not add –er and –est.

Chantel talked to me happily, (POSITIVE)

Jesca talked to me more happily (COMPARATIVE)

Jeneth talked to me most happily. (SUPERLATIVE)

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Slow Fast Early Late Hard Long	Slower Faster Earlier Later Harder Longer	Slowest Fastest Earliest Latest Hardest Longest
Patiently Happily Smoothly	More patiently More happily More smoothly	Most patiently Most happily Most smoothly

CATEGORIES OF ADVERBS

a.    Adverbs of manner

These adverbs answer the question how? They are used to show how an action is done. For example; quickly, bravely, fast, well, politely, slowly, etc.

The students sang happily.

He dresses smartly.

b.    Adverbs of time

These adverbs answer the question when? They are used to show when an action is done. For example; now, today, tomorrow, daily, soon, before, late, ago, early, still, already, formerly, etc. 

We are leaving now.

He comes today

c.    Adverbs of place

These adverbs answer the question where? They are used to show where the action is done. For example; here, there, down, near, below, above, everywhere, backward, away, out, etc

He is standing near the tree

I came here last week

d.    Adverbs of frequency

These adverbs answer the question ‘How often?’ They are used to show how often an action is done. For example; once, twice, thrice, often, always, frequently, never, occasionally, usually, again, seldom, sometimes, etc.

We go to church once a week.

They visit us frequently.

I have never seen a meteor.

The English teacher seldom makes grammatical errors.

e.    Adverbs of degree

These adverbs answer the question how much? They are used to show how much, to what extent, or in what degree an action is done. For example; very, rather, quite, too, almost, hardly, fully, enough, so, altogether, no, any, partly,

I hardly do any work on weekends.

She likes dancing very much.

We have had enough.

f.     Adverbs of certainty

These adverbs are used to show the definiteness of the action done. Certainly, surely, definitely, obviously, absolutely, assuredly, really, indeed, etc.

We shall certainly pass well.

You are really a friend in need.

It is indeed a remarkable achievement

g.    Interrogative Adverbs

These adverbs are used to ask questions. For example; where, when, how, why.

            When are you coming back?

Where do you live

How long will you take to finish the work?

Why are you crying?

h.    Relative Adverbs

These adverbs are used to relate two clauses or statements. Where, when, why, how.

I didn’t know where he came from.

Do you remember where he lives?

I know why cheated him.

I wish I knew how he got rich so quickly.

FORMATION OF ADVERBS.

a)      Adverbs of manner are mainly formed by adding –ly to the adjective.

Adjective	Adverb
Brave Wise Kind Foolish Quick Slow Beautiful Careful Clever Political Economical Social	Bravely Wisely Kindly Foolishly Quickly Slowly Beautifully Carefully Cleverly Politically Economically Socially

b)      When an adjective ends in y preceded by a consonant, y is changed into ‘i’ and ‘ly’ is added.

Adjective	Adverb
Angry, Happy Heavy Ready Compulsory	Angrily, Happily Heavily Readily Compulsorily

                                 

c)      When the adjective ends in ‘le’ then ‘e’ is changed into ‘y’.

Adjective	Adverb
Possible Capable Single Double Sensible Responsible Considerable	Possibly Capably Singly Doubly Sensibly Responsibly Considerably

d)      The final ‘e’ is retained with the following words.

Adjective	Adverb
Extreme Intensive, Extensive, Comprehensive Wise Polite, Wide Rude	Extremely Intensively Extensively, Comprehensively Wisely Politely, Widely Rudely

e)      Adding –ally to adjectives ending with –ic.

Adjective	Adverb
Comic Ironic Historic Economic Philosophic Linguistic Semantic	Comically Ironically Historically Economically Philosophically Linguistically Semantically

f)       Adding –wise to some nouns.

Adjective	Adverb
Business Clock Clock Like Country	Businesswise Clockwise Anticlockwise Likewise Countrywise

g)      Adding –ward(s).

Inwards, outwards, backwards, forward, towards,

Some important points to note about the use of adverbs

i.     Some adverbs may be used both as adverbs and adjectives. These include; loud, fast, back, little, hard, best, quick, early, high, only, enough, etc

For example;

Adjectives	Adverbs
a.       Can you speak in a loud voice? b.      Filbert Bayi was the world’s fastest runner. c.       I got better results last term.	o   I cannot speak loud. o   Filbert Bayi could run fast. o   Last term I did better

ii.   Some adverbs have two forms and have different meanings.

Adverbs and Meaning	Examples
Hard and hardly Hard=diligently Hardly = scarcely	You must work hard to pass your exam. He pressed me that I could hardly breathe.
Near and nearly Near = opposite of far Nearly = almost	I live near the river. He won nearly ten millions.
Late and lately. Late = opposite to early Lately = recently	He came late to school. I saw him lately.
Pretty and prettily Pretty =fairly Prettily =elegantly	I am pretty sure you are going to win. She dressed prettily on her wedding day.
Clear and clearly. Clear= quit/leave Clearly= obviously	Stand clear of the train doors. She explained everything very clearly.
Close and closely Close = near Closely =carefully	They sat close together. After examining the car closely he bought it.
Direct and directly Direct=without stopping Directly=in a direct manner Directly = immediately	We flew direct to the hotel He drove her directly to her hotel. She left directly after the show.
Easy and easily Easy=lightly/uncomplicated Easily = without efforts	Just take it easy. They won the match easily.
Fair and fairly Fair = justly/honestly Fairly=nicely	They'll respect you as long as you play fair He has always treated me very fairly.
High and highly High = nobly Highly = greatly	She never got very high in the company. Magufuli is a highly successful president in Tanzania.
Right and rightly Right = exactly Rightly = correctly	Chacha was standing right behind her. If I remember rightly, there's a train at six o'clock.

iii.   Some adverbs derive from nouns indicating time, place, distance, weight, measurement, value, and degree.

We stayed there a month

She came home at last

I cost me three millions

His height measured six feet

iv.  Some adverbs are compounded with prepositions.

Thereby, hereunder, therefore, therein, thereof, thereon, thereto, wherefrom, thereupon, henceforward, henceforth, wherein, hitherto, hereby, herewith, thereafter, hereafter, etc.

Ø  The committee will examine the agreement and any problems arising therefrom.

Ø  The insurance policy covers the building and any fixtures contained therein.

Ø  Is the property or any part thereof used for commercial activity?

Ø  This is a meeting to discuss the annual accounts and the auditors' report thereon

Ø  The lease entitles the holder to use the buildings and any land attached thereto.

Ø  The audience thereupon rose cheering to their feet

Ø  This savings plan is only available under the Finance Act 1990 and any regulations made thereunder.

Ø  Do you believe in a life hereafter?

Ø  a period of 12 months from the date hereof (= the date of this document)

Ø  Friday 31 July 1925 henceforth became known as ‘Red Friday’.

Ø  Henceforth, all staff will need to provide proof of identity before entering the building.

v.    Some adverbs are used in pair.

For example;

ü  Again and again, [repeatedly]

I've told you again and again (= many times) not to do that.

ü  By and by, [before long, soon]

By and by she met an old man with a beard.

ü  Far and near, [in all directions]

There is a concert of music from near and far

ü  Far and wide, [comprehensively /over a large area]

They searched far and wide for the missing child.

ü  Far and away, [by a great deal /by a very great amount]

She's far and away the best player

ü  First and foremost, [more than anything else/first of all]

He does a little teaching, but first and foremost he's a writer.

ü  First and ˈlast, [in every way that is important; completely]

She regarded herself, first and last, as a musician.

ü  Now and then, [from time to time; occasionally]

He usually comes here every now and then.

ü  Now and again, [at intervals/sometimes]

Every now and again she checked to see if he was still asleep.

ü  Off and on, [irregularly, from time to time; now and again]

It rained on and off all day.

ü  Out and about [travelling around a place]

We've been out and about talking to people all over the country.

ü  Over and above,[in addition to, besides, as well as,

There are other factors over and above those we have discussed.

ü  Over and over, [many times; repeatedly]

I've told you over and over again not to do that.

ü  Through and through, [completely; in every way, thoroughly]

He's British through and through.

ü  To and fro, [backwards and forwards]

She rocked the baby to and fro.

ü  Once and for all, [now and for the last time; finally or completely]

We need to settle this once and for all.

ü  Once or twice,[a few times]

I don't know her well, I've only met her once or twice.

ü  Up and down, [moving upwards and downwards]

The boat bobbed up and down on the water.

ü  In and out (of sth) [going regularly to a place]

He was in and out of jail for most of his life.

ü  Thick and fast [quickly and in large quantities]

Questions were coming at them thick and fast.

ü  Tooth and ˈnail [in a very determined way for what you want]

The residents are fighting tooth and nail to stop the new development

ü  Heart and soul [with a lot of energy and enthusiasm]

They threw themselves heart and soul into the project.

EXERCISE

1. 2.

Fill in the blanks with the correct comparative and superlative form of the word in the list below. a.       She played ____________ than Ngonga. b.      Nyambura eats _________ than her brother. c.       Nchagwa reads __________ of us all. d.      The parents, as never before, listened _____ to the teacher. e.       How much _____ do we have to walk; I am extremely tired. f.        The teacher spoke ______than the students were used to, so they did not understand. g.      The _______ cleaned place in the school is the dining hall. h.      The ________ dressed student was given an award. i.        If you arrive early, you will sit ______ than those who come late. j.        With the internet, one can communicate ____ than before. Easily, neatly, far, fast, comfortably, audibly, attentively, badly, quickly, well Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the word given in the brackets. a.       He completed his studies __________ (success) b.      Nyanchoke worked_____(desperate) to finish her writing. c.       He takes his morning stroll _____ (regular) d.      The National Park was running ______ (profit) e.       Both teams began_______(nervous), but Yanga fought back _________ (fantastic) f.        The meal was __________(superb) cooked. g.      He walked ____(majestic) to the stage and snatched the microphone from the speaker. h.      You should advance forward and not______(back) i.        Mbusiro said that she would _____ (probable) be late. j.        I am________ (terrible) sorry.