Grammar-Quizzes › Adverbials › Adverbs › An Adverb
An Adverb
Recognize the ways an adverb can function in a clause
| ADVERB |
|---|
An adverb modifies a wide variety of sentence elements: a verb, an adjective, a prepositional phrase, a clause (finite or nonfinite). |
| MANNER — HOW? |
Professor Wiley teaches enthusiastically. He looks at us curiously. (modifies a verb) See Adverb Suffixes. (manner adverb) |
| PLACE (LOCATION) — WHERE? |
He teaches at Stanford. He loves it there. He wants to go back. (modifies a verb phrase) See Adverbs for Place and Preposition for Place. (locational preposition) |
| TIME (TEMPORAL) — WHEN |
He teaches daily. He is teaching us now. (modifies a verb) See Adverbs for Time |
| TIME (FREQUENCY) — HOW OFTEN? |
He usually draws diagrams. He rarely raises his voice. (modifies a verb) |
| DEGREE — HOW MUCH, TO WHAT EXTENT? |
He is very talkative. He is completely crazy. He is exceptionally bright.(modifies an adjective) He writes too slowly. He speaks extremely fast. He does pretty well. (modifies an adverb) He arrives exactly on time. He came right over to my desk. (modifies a prepositional phrases) This is approximately where he stands. He is exactly whom we should ask. (modifies a wh- clause) See Adverbs for Degree. |
| FOCUS |
Only we came here because we want to learn. (modifies a subject) We only came here because we want to learn. (modifies a verb) We came here only because we want to learn. (modifies a reason clause) We came here only when he was teaching. (modifies a time-relative clause) (Modifies a particular sentence part such as a subject, a verb, an object, a phrase, a dependent clause, etc.) See Adverbs for Focus. |
| PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE |
|---|
A similar meaning may often be expressed with a prepositional phrase. |
| MANNER |
Professor Wiley teaches with enthusiasm. He looks at us in a curious manner. See Prepositions for Manner (adjunct prep phrases) |
| PLACE (LOCATION) |
He teaches at Stanford. He loves teaching in the university.
|
| TIME (TEMPORAL) |
He teaches in the morning. He is teaching us at this moment. Prepositions for Time (temporal preposition) |
| TIME (FREQUENCY) |
In general, he draws diagrams. On occasion, he raises his voice.
|
| DEGREE |
He is, for the most part, crazy. (adjective) He to a great extent enjoys his work. |
| FOCUS |
We came here in particular because we want to learn. (a reason clause) We arrived here at least before he finished his lecture. |
Also see Adverb Forms. (suffixes).
Adverbials—include adverbs, noun phrases, prepositional phrases: He teaches well (adverb); He teaches this morning. (temporal noun phrase); He teaches in English. (prepositional phrase); He teaches because he likes it. (prepositional phrase);
An Adverb Phrase
Include modifiers that intensify or limit the adverb
Adverb Phrase—an adverb with modifiers placed before or after it
| PRE-POSITION MODIFIER |
|---|
An adverb phrase includes an adverb (the "head" of the phrase) and a word or words that modify the adverb (one or more "dependents"). The modifiers (dependents) are said to be "complements" of the adverb. |
Our time passed much too quickly. (Degree Adv + Adv) (Quickly is the "head" of the adverb phrase; much too are its "dependents".) |
Our work progressed much more slowly. (Adv + Adv) |
We shared our work fairly evenly. ( Adv + Adv) |
Our time passed very slowly. ( Adv + Adv) |
| POST-POSITION MODIFIER |
|---|
An adverb phrase may also include an adverb (the "head" of the phrase) and a modifying adverb or prepositional phrase (a "dependent") placed after the adverb. |
We worked similarly to the way we worked before. (Adv + PP) |
Everything went differently than the way we expected. (Adv + PP) |
Everyone spoke favorably of the work we did. (Adv + PP) |
Our work went quite well. (Adv + Adv) |
Also see Focusing Adverbs and Degree Adverbs.
Adverbials
Circumstance
(1) Circumstance Adverbs
| ADVERBIAL |
|---|
Circumstance adverbial expressions add information about the situation in the clause (circumstantial information). |
He walked a short distance. LOCATION: how far? in what direction? |
He has been lecturing a while. TIME: how long, how often? |
He will rest before he comes to class. TIME: Time-relative to what? |
He will sing as a bird sings. MANNER: Comparison |
— |
— |
He was ill because of influenza. CAUSE: Because of / By |
He will stay home so that he can get better. PURPOSE: So that |
He will teach though he is not feeling well. CONCESSION: Because/ Though |
He will teach if he can. CONDITION: Real Conditions |
The garden became beautiful as a result of his work. RESULT: Because |
| PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE |
|---|
A similar meaning may often be expressed with a prepositional phrase. |
He walked from one white-board to the next. LOCATION: how far? in what direction? |
He has been lecturing for several hours / since 2 p.m. TIME: how long, how often? |
He will rest in advance of class. TIME: when ("before") |
He will sing like a bird. MANNER: Comparison |
He will listen with headphones. MEANS: By/ With |
He will listen by using headphones. MEANS: By/ With |
He was ill from influenza. CAUSE: Because of / By |
He will stay home in order to get better. PURPOSE: In order to |
He will teach in spite of not feeling well. CONCESSION: Because/ Though |
He will teach under the condition that he is able. CONDITION |
The garden became beautiful under his care. RESULT |
Adverbials
Stance
(2) Stance Adverbs
| ADVERB |
|---|
Stance adverbs express the speakers attitude or opinion about the situation in the clause (personal point of view). |
| OPINION REGARDING THE TRUTH OF A SITUATION |
Perhaps, he is done, but we'd better ask. Actually, he knows that this is to complicated for us. Professionally, he is the best. See Adv for Opinion. |
| ATTITUDE TOWARD A SITUATION |
Fortunately, everyone was paying attention. Surprisingly, everyone was happy about it. See Adv for Evaluation. |
| CIRCUMSTANCE UNDER WHICH ONE IS SPEAKING |
Frankly, he's looking for a new job. Briefly, he doesn't know what else he can do. See Adv for Speech Acts. |
| PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE |
|---|
A similar meaning may often be expressed with a prepositional phrase. |
| OPINION |
In my opinion, he is done, but we'd better ask. In fact, he knows that this is too complicated for us. From a professional view, he is the best.
|
| ATTITUDE TOWARD A SITUATION |
In a fortunate way , everyone was paying attention. In a surprising way, everyone was happy about it. |
| CIRCUMSTANCE UNDER WHICH ONE IS SPEAKING |
In truth, he's looking for a new job. In brief , he doesn't know what else he can do. |
Adverbials
Connective
(3) Connective Adverbs
| ADVERBIAL |
|---|
Connective adverbs link the situation in one clause to the situation in another clause (relational markers). |
| RELATING THE IDEA OF ONE CLAUSE TO THE NEXT |
First, he's a very likable guy. |
Therefore, someone will hire him quickly. |
Additionally, he has a number of skills. See Connective Adverbs and Additionally. |
However, he doesn't have much experience. See Connective Adverbs and However. |
| PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE |
|---|
A similar meaning may often be expressed with a prepositional phrase. |
| RELATING THE IDEA OF ONE CLAUSE TO THE NEXT |
In the first place, he's a very likable guy. |
For all these reasons , someone will hire him quickly. |
In addition, he has a number of skills.
|
On the other hand, he doesn't have much experience. |
See Connective Adverbs.
Adverb
Properties
Members of the Adverb category share these properties:
| 1) ALL CAN MODIFY A VERB | 2) SOME CAN MODIFY OTHER CATEGORIES | 3) A FEW ACCEPT COMPLEMENTS |
|---|---|---|
Adverb is a distinct category of words that modify the manner, frequency, degree and other circumstances of an action. An adverb modifies a verb. |
Adverbs expressing degree can modify words of other categories such as adjectives, verbs, prepositions and nouns. |
A few adverbs accept prepositional phrases as their complements. Adverbs in comparative expressions with than or as accept clauses as complements |
He teaches enthusiastically. |
He speaks surprisingly quickly. (Adv) |
He works independently of the others. |
We listen carefully. |
He looks rather young. (Adj) |
This functions similarly to the others. |
We work hard. |
He is almost in the middle of the book. (PP) |
He doesn't drive as carefully as he should. |
We overwhelming agree. |
He read practically the whole book. (NP) |
He drove so wildly that I became sick. |
property (N) — an essential or distinctive attribute or quality of a thing
(Huddleson 6 §5)
Adverb Placement
Express a precise meaning
Modifier placement changes the meaning:
| BEFORE A VERB |
|---|
|
| AFTER THE VERB & BEFORE AN ADJECTIVE |
|---|
Nearly could modify either passed (verb) or all (adj. / determiner). |
Place the word as near as possible to the word it modifies:
| WORD MODIFIED | RECOMMENDED PLACEMENT | EXAMPLE |
|---|---|---|
AN ADJECTIVE |
before |
She passed nearly all her exams. (She passed most of them.) |
AN ADVERB |
before |
She passed very nearly all her exams. (She passed most of them.) |
A PREPOSITION |
before |
She passed her exams nearly on time. (She was late.) |
A WH–CLAUSE |
before |
She took her exams exactly where I took them. |
A VERB |
before |
She nearly passed all her exams. (She passed none.) |
AN AUXILIARY + VERB |
after auxiliary and before main verb |
She could barely pass her exams. (She passed.) |
AN INFINITIVE |
placed after "to" or after infinitive |
She wanted really to do well. (awkward) She wanted to really do well. (may be informal, not incorrect¹) She wanted to do really well. |
precede (V) – come before
¹ See Splitting a Verb or an Infinitive
Practice
Identify the Modified Word(s)
Which word does the adverb modify?
- Select the option that best answers the question.
- Compare your answer to the comment in the feedback box.