1. Unit 6
Adverbs

2. We do not use adjectives to describe verbs. We use adverbs. Example:
I walk slowly.
She speak softly.
Most adverbs are formed by adding ‘ly’ ending to adjectives. 1

3. Adjectives
Adverbs
(+ ‘ly’)
(‘y’ ‘i’ + ‘ly)
busy -
busily
angry
angrily
bad
badly
slow
slowly
careful
carefully

4. Jay played badly in the hockey match.
Examples:
Jay played badly in the hockey match.
The van driver shouted angrily at the cyclist.
verb
adverb
verb
adverb

5. Adverbs are usually placed next to the words they describe.
Adverbs are words which tell us more about verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.
Adverbs are usually placed next to the words they describe.
a) adverbs with verbs
Example:
He listens carefully to the teacher.
adverb
verb

6. Example: This house is quite big. b) adverbs with adjectives adverb

7. c) adverbs with other adverbs Example:
They entered the house very quietly.
adverb
adverb

8. far late fast hard last long straight
Some adverbs do not take ‘ly’ ending. They have the same form as adjectives.
Examples:
Mr Lee was the last speaker. (adjective)
Mr Lee spoke last. (adverb)
Tom was late for the meeting. (adjective)
Tom came late for the meeting.(adverb) 2
far late fast hard last long straight

9. He climbed quickly the tree.3
When the sentence has an object, we cannot place an adverb between the verb and its object.
Examples:
He climbed quickly the tree.
Quickly he climbed the tree. (at the beginning)
He climbed the tree quickly. (at the end)
He quickly climbed the tree. (between subject and verb) X
verb
adverb
object √ √ √

10. a) She washed noisily the plate. b) She washed the plate noisily
a) She washed noisily the plate. b) She washed the plate noisily. Answer: b a) Carefully he crossed the road. b) He crossed carefully the road Answer : a