Adverbs More than just adding -ly

What is an adverb?/Adverbs modify verbs  An adverb is a word that modifies, or describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.  The most common function of adverbs is to modify verbs.  An adverb may tell how, how often, when or where about a verb: (ex. The students study.)  How do the students study? The students study well in groups. (efficiently, reluctantly, unproductively, happily, better)  How often do the students study? The students study everyday. (always, never, frequently, seldom, daily).  When do the students study? Students are studying now. (today, yesterday, tomorrow, later, then)  Where do the students study? The students study everywhere. (there, everywhere, downstairs, inside, abroad)

Adverbs modify verbs cont.  When modifying a verb, the adverb can occupy various positions in a sentence.  Tomorrow, I’m leaving for Spain. I’m leaving tomorrow for Spain. I’m leaving for Spain, tomorrow.  Softly, she sang to the baby. She sang softly to the baby. She softly sang to the baby.  NOTE: The placement of adverbs in relation to verbs can change the emphasis or even meaning of a phrase.  Ex.1 John was just picked to host the program. (picked just now)  Just John was picked to host the program. (only John was picked)  John was picked to host just the program. (just picked for the program)  Ex.2 She hungrily ate the dinner her mom had cooked. (ate hungrily)  She ate the dinner her mom had cooked hungrily (cooked hungrily).

Adverbs modify adjectives  Adverbs that modify adjectives or adverbs are called intensifiers (intensifiers usually answer the question: to what extent?).  They are also called adverbs of degree because they tell how much or how little.  Adverbs can describe adjectives.  Ex. The cat is cute. How cute? The cat is so cute.  I saw a funny movie. How funny? I saw a ridiculously funny movie!  The lecture was interesting. How interesting? The lecture was quite interesting.  NOTE: An adverb that modifies an adjective (”completely prepared") usually appears immediately in front of the word it modifies.

Adverbs modify adverbs  Some adverbs modify other adverbs.  Ex. He plays piano well. (How well?) He plays piano exceptionally well.  Some whales are spotted rarely. (How rarely?) Some whales are spotted extremely rarely.  She spoke indiscreetly. (How indiscreetly?) She spoke too indiscreetly.  NOTE: An adverb that modifies another adverb ("very well") usually appears immediately in front of the word it modifies.

How are adverbs formed?  Most adverbs are formed by simply adding –ly to adjectives:  Ex. active -> actively; intelligent-> intelligently; quick -> quickly, strong -> strongly, etc.  Special cases when adding -ly:  Adjectives ending in -y change the y to i before adding the -ly. Ex. angry -> angrily  adjectives ending in -e drop the -e before adding the -ly. Ex. true -> truly  NOTE: some words ending in –ly are usually adjectives: ex. friendly, lively, lonely, etc.  Some adverbs do not end in –ly: ex. sometimes, later, often, soon, here, there, everywhere, so, too, fast, well, hard, long, straight, etc.  Refer to your “cheat sheet” for a more extensive list of adverbs.

For Thursday…  HW Grammar Book: p. p.113 (A+B), and p.114 (A+B).  Mini-lesson on comparative and superlative forms of adverbs

Bibliography  Heller, D. (1998). Up, up and away: A book about adverbs. Putnam: New York.  (2009). Writer’s choice: Grammar and composition. McGraw- Hill: Columbus, OH.