This document provides an overview of adverbs in the English language. It defines adverbs as words that modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs by expressing manner, place, time, or degree. The document then discusses the main types of adverbs in more detail, including adverbs of time, place, manner, and reason or purpose. For each type, it provides examples to illustrate how adverbs are used in sentences.
2. Introduction
According to the Oxford Dictionary, an adverb is:
“a word or phrase that modifies the meaning of
an adjective, verb, or other adverb, expressing
manner, place, time, or degree”
The word comes from the Latin word
adverbium, from ad- 'to' (expressing addition)
+ verbum 'word, verb„
In this course, we will learn about adverbs, the
forms they may take and the types and positions
of adverbs that can be found in a sentence.
3. What are Adverbs?
Adverbs are words that allow us to answer
questions such as Where? When? How? And
Why?
Adverbs can be single words that function by
themselves, or they can be joined together
with adjectives or other adverbs to form
“adverbial clauses” and “adverb phrases”.
4. How many types of Adverbs do
we have in English?
The exact amount varies depending on who you
ask, but some commonly accepted types of
adverbs are:
• Adverbs of Time
• Adverbs of Place
• Adverbs of Reason or Purpose
• Adverbs of Manner
• Adverbs of Frequency
5. Adverbs of Time
Adverbs of Time answer the question “When?”
They‟re usually found at the beginning or at the
end of a clause.
Examples:
• Yesterday I went to the bookstore.
• We will have to move the couch later.
• After I finish this lesson I will take a shower.
6. Commonly used adverbs of time include days of
the week, months, dates and times of the day.
Phrases that denote a time in particular, in the
past (“in the old times”) or the future (“when
this project is completed”) are also adverbs of
time.
Adverbs of Time
7. Adverbs of Place
Adverbs of Place answer the question Where? In a
sentence or clause, they‟re usually located at the
end, before the adverbs of reason, manner or
time.
Examples:
• I am going there tomorrow.
• He left his bicycle in the driveway last night
• I know the office where she works.
8. Adverbs of place are commonly fulfilled by
words such as “here”, “there”,
prepositions, and phrases.
Commonly used words that function as
adverbs of place include:
•Above •Inside
•Away •Near
•Back •Off
•Down •Towards
•Elsewhere •Under
•Far •Upstairs
•In •Where
Adverbs of Place
9. Adverbs of Manner
Adverbs of manner are the largest group of
adverbs and answer the question How?
Most adverbs of manner are closely related to
corresponding adjectives.
Although some words can be used as either
adjectives or adverbs, in most cases, adverbs of
manner are formed by adding “-ly” to the
corresponding adjectives.
10. It should be noted that while most adverbs
which end in -ly are adverbs of manner, other
types of adverb may also end in –ly, such as
“monthly”. Furthermore, not all words have the
same meaning after being converted into
adverbs by adding –ly (e.g. hard – hardly)
Adverbs of Manner also have other exceptions.
Some adverbs take the same form as their
adjective counterpart. Others have no known
adjective form. Still, adverbs of manner are
immediately noticeable by adding gradability to
the verb or adjective that they modify.
Adverbs of Manner
11. Adverbs of Reason or Purpose
Adverbs, adverb phrases and clauses of purpose
or reason answer the question Why? This
question is usually answered by a phrase or
clause, rather than by a single-word adverb.
Adverb phrases and clauses of purpose usually
occupy the end of a clause, and follow any other
adverbs, or adverb phrases or clauses.
Examples:
I went to the store yesterday to buy a coat.
I need to buy a new coat soon because my old
one is worn out.
12. In the first example, the adverb phrase of purpose
to buy a coat occupies the end position of a clause,
following the adverb of time yesterday. In the
second example, the adverb clause of purpose
because my old one is worn out occupies the
end position of a clause, following the adverb of
time soon.
Adverbs of Reason or Purpose
