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Adverb Uses

Adverbs as modifiers to other word forms

• modifiers to verbs, adj, adverbs, preps, clauses
• word order
• word order exceptions
• "right"
• modifying passive and participle forms
• the split-infinitive debate

He spoke solemnly. (modifies verb)
He is very eloquent. (modifies adj)
He speaks quite clearly. (modifies adv)
He stopped exactly on time. (modifies prep)

I do solemnly swear.
I do swear solemnly.

Present tense
adverbs

Present tense adverbs for time

• general truths —always, forever (never)
• at the moment — now, currently, presently, right now
• habitual activity — usually, sometimes, rarely, often
• scheduled activities — tomorrow, next week, the coming month

 Located in Present Tense Practices

The little church is in the center of our village.
We are walking to church right now.
We usually go to church in the morning.
Next, week is Easter Sunday.

Past tense
adverbs

Past tense adverbs for time

• time of day — this morning...(hours passed), last night
• date — yesterday, January 10, 1999
• hour — May 5th, at 5:00 a.m.
• relative time in past — twenty years ago, at that time, then

  Located in Past Tense Practices

Jack got a ticket this morning.
Jack received a speeding ticket on June 16th.
Jack had two speeding tickets last year.
Jack was careless about speeding then.

Past perfect adverbs

Special adverbs used with past perfect

• after
• before
• when
• by the time

  Located in Past Tense Practices

After I had fallen asleep, I started to dream.

Present perfect
adverbs

Present perfect adverbs for time

• from past to present — up to now, so far, until now, to date
• experience — ever, never, before
• duration — for ten years, since 1990, ever since 1990
• recently completed — just, recently, lately, yet, already

 Located in Present Perfect Practices

No one has been able to straighten it so far.
The Tower of Pizza has stood for centuries.
Have you ever seen it?
Engineers have just finished repairs.
Millions of tourist have visited it to date.

Prepositions
for time

Prepositions for time

• in – for larger periods of time
• on – for exact day
• at – for precise periods of time

We went to San Francisco in 2009.
We went to San Francisco on June 19.
We went to San Francisco on Friday.
We went to San Francisco at noon.

Preposition
paragraph

Paragraph practice with prepositions

• time – in, on, at 
• place – in, on, at 

 Located in Preposition Practices

Michael Phelps made sports history by winning eight gold medals ___ the 2008 Olympics ___ Beijing, China.
  

Adverbs
for place

Place adverbs: indicating movement in a direction

• adverbs vs. prepositional phrases
• adverbs and prepositions list
• adverbs (but not prepositions)
• commonly confused — adverbs vs. phrasal verbs
• ending sentences with prepositions

He went inside. (adv.)
He went inside the house.(prep)

Prepositions
for place

Prepositions for place: indicating locations in which events or activities take place

• location – in, on, at 
• phrases for expressing relationship to objects –
  (aboard, about, above across, after, against, alongi ...)

  Located in Preposition Practices

The rabbit was inside its hole.
The rabbit grazed on grass on top of the hill.
The rabbit was outside its hole.
The rabbit ran over the log.

Adverbs of Degree

Degree adverbs indicating intensity, extent or degree (how much)

• modifiers to verbs, adverbs, adjectives
• word order
• negative phrasings
• so and such
• too, very, enough
• common mistakes

He talks excessively. (verb) 
He talks extremely fast. (adv) 
He is rather talkative. (adj)

After / Before

Present tense for expected or predictable sequence of events

Adverbs introducing clauses with mixed time frames: 

• after – before
• when, as soon as
• since, until
• as, while
• first, second 

When I [will]call the dog, she comes.
After I [will]call the dog, she comes.
Before I [will]call the dog, I open the door.
After I [will] make popcorn, we'll watch a movie.

By the time

By the time: comparing relative-time events

• by the time
• when
• X happens not later than the moment Y happens

By the time I leave work, the sun will be setting. (ongoing)
By the time I leave work, the sun will have set. (completed)

During / In

Focusing on duration versus exact time

• during – throughout
• in   – precisely now

  Located in Preposition Practices

We are on vacation during July.
We went to the beach several times in our stay.
They are on vacation in July.
They stayed there during July, not during May.

When / While

Adverbs introducing clauses of same-time actions of short and long duration

• when
• while

When you called, he picked up his cell phone.
While he was talking on the phone, the baby slept.

Adverbial Phrases

Shortening clauses to modifying phrases: indicating same-time, earlier or later events

• when
• while
• before
• after
• since

While John was walking home, he came across a skunk.
While walking home, he came across a skunk.  

Because / Though

Connectors adding clauses and phrases of expected and unexpected results

Stating expected and unexpected reasoning:

• because vs. though
• because of  vs. inspite of

Shortening clauses to modifying phrases :

• the weather was cold
• it being cold / the cold weather

He wore his winter pants because it was snowing.

Schools were closed because of the snow.

It was snowing.  For this reason, the schools were closed.

He was biking in his shorts though it was snowing.

The schools were open in spite of the cold temperature.

It was snowing.  Nevertheless, the schols were open.

Because Phrases

Shortening clauses to modifying phrases: expressing reason (cause-effect)

Using a modifying phrase indicating

• same time
• earlier time

Because he was working so hard, he was earning a good salary. (same time)

Working so hard, he was earning a good salary. (same time)

Because he had been working so hard , he needed a vacation.
Having worked so hard (earlier time), he needed a vacation.

Phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs: using verbal expressions made up of verbs and prepositions

• adverbs of place vs. phrasal verbs
  ( take out the cat – take out a girl, let out the dog)
• non- vs. separable phrasal verbs
  (took piano up – took up the room, put stuff up)
• phrasal verb grid
  (do in, do over, do under, do away with, get in, get out)
• phrasal verbs (synonyms)
  

  Located in Preposition Practices  

Look up. 
Look up the word in the dictionary.

He took his coat off.
He took off his coat. 
The airplane took off.

Comparisons

These  words compare and contrast  words, phrases, and clauses. 

• similar to , same, like / unlike
• dissimilar, unlike, different
• similarly differently (adv)
• as  (adjective / adverb) as
• in contrast, on the contrary
• on the contrary (The opposite is true.)
• while / whereas
• on the other hand

The apple is similar to the orange.
The color of the apple is unlike the color of the orange.This apple is as expensive as that orange.
This apple is the same price as that orange.
This apple is tart.  Similarly, this one is sour.
This apple is tart.  In the same way, this one is sour.
This apple is red.  In contrast, this orange is not.
Some people think the apple is orange.  On the contrary, the apple is red. (on the contrary = not true!)
While the orange is high in fiber, the apple is not.
On the one hand oranges are high in vitamin C, on the other hand they are very acetic to the stomach.
 

So/ Such that

Emphasizing the quality or characteristic of something (cause-effect)

Using a modifying phrase indicating

• so ... that
• such ... that
• so much / such

The meteor-storm passed so quickly that it went by in one night. (adverb)