Download Adverbs - Function and Placement in Academic Writing

Adverbs - Function and Placement in Academic Writing
Writers use adverbs to add clarity and
Centenarians represent the most resilient
precision to sentences. Adverbs not only
genetic strain within each generation.
give information about how, when, where,
and why things happen, they are also used
Centenarians probably represent the most
to control the strength of general
resilient genetic strain within each
generation.
statements. Writers who use adverbs well
are very aware of who their audience is and
what types of general statements or claims
they will accept and what types of general
statements or claims will need to limit in
some way. Notice the difference meaning
between the two sentences given as
examples--all because of the writer’s
strategic placement of one adverb.
Writers need to consider three important things when choosing and using adverbs:
*
whether the audience will accept the general statement without some limits or
adverbs will be needed to control the strength of the generalization.
*
what kind of information the adverb adds to a sentence. There are several
typical types of information adverbs add: how (adverbs of manner), when (adverbs
of time), where (adverbs of place), how much (adverbs of degree or intensifiers).
*
where to place an adverb in a sentence.
The following charts provide some examples of types of adverbs commonly found in
academic writing and where they can be placed in a sentence.
Adverbs of Manner
Adverbs of manner are typically formed by adding -ly to the adjective form of a word.
(neat-ly, quick-ly, general-ly) They usually modify the verb or the whole sentence. Some
common adverbs found in this category are: generally, typically, actually, rapidly,
potentially, probably, (not) necessarily, substantially, and widely.
Before the main verb
Centenarians probably represent the most
resilient genetic strain. For this reason, they
actually tend to be healthier than some
people thirty years younger than they are.
Between the auxiliary and the main verb
Men and women were randomly assigned
to one of the three different
conditions: Some subjects had a chance to
verbally aggress. Other subjects had to
physically aggress against him.
After the main verb (emphasizes the
adverb rather than the verb)
During the experiment, heart rate was
monitored continuously, and blood
pressure was measured every two minutes
At the beginning of the sentence
Actually, they are not only not natural,
they are not even very common,
worldwide.
Adverbs of Degree
Adverbs of degree add information about how much or how complete. Some adverbs of
degree modify adverbs and adjectives. Others, like for the most part, can modify an entire
sentence. Adverbs of degree that add information about how complete (completely)
modify adjectives. Some even modify nouns.
Adverbs
What They Modify
Examples
for the most part
entire sentence
And employees for the most part accepted
eagerly.
to some extent
entire sentence
To some extent, older workers can
compensate for their slower reactions by
experience.
partly
adjectives, adverbs,
verbs
The prediction that there will be 1 million
centenarians worldwide is based partly on the
fact that several people now reach 100 every
month.
relatively
adjectives, adverbs
For example, it was once believed that those
who achieved the age of 100 would tend to be
calm, serene “Type B” personalities who had
led relatively stress-free lives.
Emphasizing Adverbs
These adverbs emphasize particular words or grammatical constructions. They appear
immediately before the words or constructions they modify.
Adverbs
Examples
only
These cardiovascular changes occur only when people are
watching violence carried out by someone of the same sex,
suggesting that they identify more with the character.
simply
But more difficulties arise for the catharsis hypothesis than
simply that it has limitations.
merely
In the No-frustration group, the experimenter merely praised
students when they reached 0.
just
For one thing, he says he’s finding that blood pressure goes up
when people are exposed to violence--not just to the real-life
kind that’s known to cause fight -or-flight hormones to surge, but
also to “Rambo”-style movies.
even
Not even a war seems to purge a people’s aggressive feelings.
really
Since that day, I've had the feeling that nothing can really harm
me and have lived completely without fear.
actually
Centenarians actually lived through many of the historical events
or social changes that most of us know only from history books.
Time Adverbs
These adverbs add information about the time or frequency with which something
happens. Some of the most common time adverbs include: frequently, regularly, rarely,
recently, currently, newly, and suddenly.
Beginning of the sentence
Recently, studies of longevity have pointed
to the keys to a long life.
Before the verb or between the auxiliary
and the participle
She frequently travels, going to two or
three places each year.