Adverbs in English

From: http://www.falibo.com/video/1351/Adverbs-in-English

Adverbs in English

What is an adverb?

• An adverb is a part of speech that describes or modifies a verb, an adjective, another adverb, clause, or sentence.
• Adverbs answer the questions "How?", "When?", "Where?", "Why?", "In what way?", "How much?", "How often?", "Under what condition", "To what degree?"
• The easiest adverbs to recognize are those that end in -ly. Some adjectives end with -ly also but remember that adjectives can modify only nouns and pronouns. Adverbs modify everyting else.
• An adverb can be placed anywhere in a sentence.

Adverbs as modifiers (adverbs in adverbial functions)
An adverb modifies a verb

• He walked quickly. ('quickly' modifies verb 'walked')
• I accepted new task willingly. ('willingly' modifies verb 'accepted')
• Mike snored melodically. ('melodically' modifies verb 'snored')
• An adverb modifies an adjective
• They were really unhappy. ('really' modifies adjective 'unhappy')
• My brother is completely fearless. ('completely' modifies adjective 'fearless')
• I know she is very careful. ('very' modifies adjective 'careful')
• An adverb modifies an adverb
• He is almost always hungry. ('almost' modifies adverb 'always')
• John plays tennis very well. ('very' modifies adverb 'well')
• You never can work too carefully. ('too' modifies adverb 'carefully')
• An adverb modifies a clause
• Perhaps you are correct, but not at first glance. ('perhaps' modifies clause 'you are correct')
• Surely he will be on time, but I hope not. ('surely' modifies clause 'he will be on time')
• An adverb modifies a sentence
• Suddenly, she went home. ('suddenly' modifies a whole sentence)
• Finally, he will be on time. ('finally' modifies a whole sentence)
• Today, we can take a vacation.('today' modifies a whole sentence)

Adverb Formation
Adverbs that end in -ly are formed by adding -ly to an adjective, a present participle, or a past participle.
- from an adjective

• careful - carefully
• beautiful - beautiful
• fitting - fittingly
• - from a present participle
• willing - willingly
• glowing - glowingly
• surprising - surprisingly
• - from a past participle
• assured - assuredly
• affected - affectedly
• surprised - surprisedly
• When adjective ends in -able or -ible, the adverb is formed by replacing final -e with -y
• horrible - horribly
• terrible - terribly
• When adjective ends in -y, the adverb is formed by replacing final -y with -ily
• happy - happily
• lucky - luckily
• When adjective ends in -ic, the adverb is formed by replacing final -ic with -ically
• economic - economically
• ironic - ironically

Adverbs Position
Adverbs can be placed anywhere in a sentence.

At the front (prior to the subject)

• Today we will study adverbs.
• Lately, I have had lots of phone calls.
• At the center of the sentence (between the subject and the verb)
• He seldom goes to movies.
• I hardly noticed her.
• At the end of the sentence
• I learn English slowly.
• I study adverbs now.

Adverbs as intensifiers
Adverbs can be used as amplifiers, down toners, or emphasizers.

- as emphasizers.

• I really like him.
• I literally wrecked my car.
• - as amplifiers
• They completely abandoned the city.
• I absolutely refuse to leave.
• - as down toners
• I somewhat like this movie.
• Peter almost quit that job.