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Adverbs
 Words which are used to modify verbs or
adjectives are usually referred to as adverbs.
For instance, the adverbs in the following
sentences are printed in bold type, and the
words they modify are underlined.
e.g. I often visit the library.
It is surprisingly hot today.
Adverbs
 Words which are used to modify adverbs
can also be referred to as adverbs.
e.g. The train travels very quickly.
 In this example, the adverb very modifies
the adverb quickly.
Adverbs which modify adjectives and
other adverbs
 Adverbs which modify adjectives or other
adverbs usually immediately precede the
words they modify.
e.g. The package is extremely large.
We experienced relatively few difficulties.
The adverbs ago and enough are
exceptional, since they usually follow the
adjectives or adverbs they modify.
Intensifiers
 An adverb which is used to modify
adjectives and adverbs, but which is not
usually used to modify verbs, can be
referred to as an intensifier. In the following
examples, the intensifiers are printed in bold
type.
e.g. I am very happy.
The film was quite good.
Adverbs which modify verbs
 a. Adverbs of frequency
Adverbs of frequency answer the question
How often?
An adverb which modifies a verb may
occupy one of three main positions in a
clause: the beginning position, the middle
position, and the end position.
Adverbs of time
 Adverbs of time answer the question When?
Adverbs of time usually occupy either the
beginning position or the end position of a
clause. In the following examples, the
adverbs of time are printed in bold type.
e.g. Today I will go to the library.
I will go to the post office tomorrow.
Adverbs of manner
 Adverbs of manner answer the question How?
Many adverbs of manner have the ending ly. The
formation and use of adverbs of manner will be
discussed in more detail in the next chapter.
Adverbs of manner most often occupy the end
position of a clause, where they follow an
intransitive verb, or the direct object of a transitive
verb.
e.g. We waited patiently for the play to begin.
I sold the strawberries quickly.
Connecting adverbs
 Adverbs such as however, nevertheless and therefore
are often used to connect the ideas expressed by the
clauses in which they occur to ideas expressed in previous
clauses. In the following examples, the connecting adverbs
are printed in bold type.
Connecting adverbs are often placed at the beginning of a
clause.
e.g. I would like to go skiing. However, I have too much
work to do.
She was very busy; nevertheless, she found time to go
swimming.
Adverb phrases and clauses of
purpose
 Adverb phrases and clauses of purpose answer the
question Why? This question is usually answered by a
phrase or clause, rather than by a single-word adverb. In
the following examples, the adverb phrases and clauses of
purpose are underlined.
Adverb phrases and clauses of purpose usually occupy the
end position of a clause, and follow any other adverbs, or
adverb phrases or clauses.
e.g. 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.
Adverbs of location
 Adverbs of location answer the question Where?
Adverbs of location, and adverb phrases and
clauses of location, most often occupy the end
position of a clause, where they precede adverbs
of time and adverbs of purpose. In the following
examples, the adverbs and adverb phrases and
clauses of location are underlined.
e.g. I am going there tomorrow.
He left his bicycle in the driveway last night.
I know the office where she works.
Order of Adverbs
 Verb of Motion:
Adverb of Location, Adverb of
Manner, Adverb of Time, Adverb of
Purpose
 which is not a Verb of Motion:
 Adverb of Manner, Adverb of
Location, Adverb of Time, Adverb of
Purpose

Inverted word order
 When used with a verb of motion, an adverb
or adverb phrase of location may be placed
at the beginning of a clause, followed
immediately by the verb, followed by the
noun subject of the verb.
Negative adverbs
 Negative adverbs include adverbs with an
explicit negative meaning, such as never,
not and nowhere, as well as adverbs with
an implied negative meaning, such as
hardly, scarcely and seldom.
Negative adverbs
 If a clause begins with a negative adverb,
inverted word order must usually be used,
with the subject following the Simple
Present or Simple Past of the verb to be, or
the first auxiliary. In the case of the Simple
Present or Simple Past of any verb other
than the verb to be, the auxiliary to do must
be used.
Interrogative adverbs
 The adverbs how, when, where and why can be
used as interrogative adverbs at the beginning of
direct questions. The interrogative adverbs in the
following direct questions are printed in bold type.
e.g. How are you?
When is he coming?
Where were you?
Why did you say that?
Degrees of adverbs
 There are three degrees of adverbs, just like
adjectives. They are the positive degree, the
comparitive degree, and the superlative
degree.
 All adverbs that end in -ly form their
comparative and superlative degree with
more and most.
 quickly, more quickly, most quickly
 slowly, more slowly, most slowly
Adjuncts, Disjuncts, and Conjuncts
 Regardless of its position, an adverb is often
neatly integrated into the flow of a sentence.
When this is true, as it almost always is, the
adverb is called an adjunct.
 When the adverb does not fit into the flow of
the clause, it is called a disjunct or a
conjunct and is often set off by a comma or
set of commas.
Adjuncts, Disjuncts, and Conjuncts
 A disjunct frequently acts as a kind of
evaluation of the rest of the sentence.
Although it usually modifies the verb, we
could say that it modifies the entire clause,
too.
 Frankly, Martha, I don't give a hoot.
 Fortunately, no one was hurt.
Adjuncts, Disjuncts, and Conjuncts
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Conjuncts, on the other hand, serve a connector function within the
flow of the text, signaling a transition between ideas.
If they start smoking those awful cigars, then I'm not staying.
We've told the landlord about this ceiling again and again, and yet he's
done nothing to fix it.
At the extreme edge of this category, we have the purely conjunctive
device known as the conjunctive adverb (often called the adverbial
conjunction):
Jose has spent years preparing for this event; nevertheless, he's the
most nervous person here.
I love this school; however, I don't think I can afford the tuition.