BASIC ENGLISH GRAMMAR - ADVERB

BASIC ENGLISH GRAMMAR - ADVERB

Adverb: An adverb is a word used to add something to the meaning of a verb, adjective or another verb. It is used to modify verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Example-

(a.) She is walking slowly.                     (b.) She is very intelligent.

(c.) She is walking very slowly.            (d.) They are very smart.

Kinds of Adverb:

1.) Adverb of Time = Before, ago, lately, yet, now, soon, yesterday, already, never.

2.) Adverb of Frequency = Always, once, seldom, usually, rarely.

3.) Adverb of Place = Here, everywhere, down, near, away, backward, upward.

4.) Adverb of Manner = Slowly, so, soundly, delightfully.

5.) Adverb of Degree = Almost, fully, very, enough, rather, utterly, quite, too, really.

6.) Interrogative Adverb = How, what, when, why. 

7.) Adverb of Affirmation(Declaration) & Negation (Contradiction) = Certainly, apparently, obviously, no, undoubtedly.

8.) Relative Adverb = When, where, why, how. These adverbs are used to make an adjective clause. 

Rules of Adverb:

1. Rule I: Adjective qualifies a noun and a pronoun whereas adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, and an adverb. Example-

(a.) Her act was remarkable. 

(b.) She acted remarkably to achieve success.

2. Rule II: Adverbs of time such as always, often, already, just, never, ever, sometimes, frequently, recently, seldom, hardly, etc. are placed before the verb they modify. Example-

(a.) My brother comes often every Sunday. (Place 'often' before 'comes')

(b.) My brother often comes every Sunday. (Correct)

(c.) He goes usually to the movie every Friday. (Place 'usually' before 'goes')

(d.) He usually goes to the movie every Friday. (Correct)

3. Rule III: Adverbs of manners are placed only after the Intransitive verb. However, the adverb are placed either before or after the transitive verb. Example-

(a.) He soundly slept last night. (Place 'soundly' after 'slept')

(b.) He slept soundly last night. (Correct)

(c.) He returned immediately.

(d.) He briefly narrated the incident to me.

4. Rule IV: If the sentence is introduced by an adverb, inverted from the verb is used for the sake of emphasis. Example-

(a.) Never I'll see her again. (Incorrect)

(b.) Never will I see her again. (Correct)

(c.) I'll never see her again. (Correct)

(d.) Seldom he visits his parents. (Incorrect)

(e.) Seldom does he visit his parents. (Correct)

(f.) He seldom visits his parents. (Correct)

5. Rule V: Use of Else and Other.

'Else' Should be followed by 'but'. 'Other' and 'otherwise' are followed by 'than'.

(a.) It is nothing else than sheer madness. (Use 'but' in place of 'than')

(b.) It is nothing else but sheer madness. (Correct)

(c.) She had no other alternative but stay here. (Use 'than' in place of 'but')

(d.) She had no other alternative than stay here. (Correct)

6. Rule VI: Both 'never' and 'not' are adverbs. Hence, the use of 'never' for 'not' is incorrect. Example-

(a.) I never went to Shimla last year. (Use 'did not' in place of 'never')

(b.) I did not went to Shimla last year. (Correct)

(c.) I never remember to have said so. (Use 'do not' in place of 'never')

(d.) I don't remember to have said so. (Correct)

(e.) I remember never to have said so. (Correct)

7. Rule VII: Use 'Seldom or never', 'seldom, if ever', 'little or nothing', 'little, if anything'. The phrases 'seldom or ever' and 'little or anything' are wrong in use. Example-

(a.) We seldom or ever meet our relatives these days. (Incorrect)

(b.) We seldom or never (seldom, if ever) meet our relatives these days. (Correct)

8. Rule VIII: Negative adverbs should not be used with the words negative meaning. So, two negatives should be avoided. Seldom, nowhere, never, nothing, hardly, scarcely, neither, barely, rarely, are some of the adverbs expressing negative meaning. Example-

(a.) I rarely went to meet nobody across the road. (Use 'anybody' in place 'nobody')

(b.) I rarely went to meet anybody across the road.

(c.) They do not seldom come here. (Remove 'do not')

(d.) They seldom come here. (Correct)

(e.) He does nothing without never consulting me. (Use 'ever' for 'never')

(f.) He does nothing without ever consulting me. (Correct)

9. Rule IX: The use of very, much, so, too, enough, rather. 

(1.) Very : It modifies present participle used as adjective, adverb, and adjective in positive degree. 

(2.) Much : It is used with comparative degree and past participle. Example-

(a.) It is a much interesting picture. (use 'very' in place of 'much')

(b.) It is a very interesting picture. (Correct)

(c.) I was very exhausted in the evening. (use 'much' in place of 'very')

(d.) I was much exhausted in the evening. (Correct)

(3.) So & too : These should not be used without 'that' (Adverb clause) and 'too' (Infinitive) respectively. 'Very' & 'much' may be used in the place of so & too. Example-

(a.) My brother is so healthy. (Use 'very' in place of 'so')

(b.) My brother is very healthy. (Correct)

(c.) She is too healthy. (Say 'very' for 'too')

(d.) She is very healthy. (Correct)

(4.) Enough : This is both an adjective and adverb. It is always placed after the adjective which it modifies. An adjective is placed before a noun. Example-

(a.) She is enough wise to allow her son to go. (place 'enough' after 'wise')

(b.) She is wise enough to allow her son to go. (Correct)

(c.) He has enough money to spend. (Correct)

(d.) She is too kind to help everybody. (Say, 'kind enough' in place of 'too')

(e.) She is kind enough to help everybody. (Correct)

(5.) Rather : This is an adverb of degree like 'fairly, quite, pretty. It can be used before a noun. Rather is also used in case of preference. Example- rather than, had rather, etc.

(a.) She is rather intelligent.

(b.) He is walking rather slowly.

(c.) It is rather a nuisance.

10. Rule X: Difference between too, as well, also. These are used in the sense of "besides", "in addition to" in affirmative sentences. But "also" can't be used at the end position. 

(a.) She found her bag and money as well/too.

(b.) She plays the piano and the harmonium as well/too.

(c.) She found her bag and money also. (Say, "also money")

(d.) She found her bag and also money. (Correct)

11. Rule XI: While answering a question the adverb 'yes' or 'no' should be used according to the affirmative and negative answer. Example-

(a.) Have you taken food?

(b.) Yes, I have not taken so far. (Use, 'No' in place of 'Yes')

(c.) No, I have not taken so far. (Correct)

12. Rule XII: 

(1.) Adverb 'as' should be used to introduce predicative of the verbs. Regard, describe, define, treat, view, know, etc.

(2.) Adverb 'as' should be avoided to introduce predicative of the verbs. Name, elect, think, consider, call, appoint, make, choose, etc. Example-

(a.) I regard him my brother . (add, 'as' after 'him')

(b.) I regard him as my brother. (Correct)

(c.) Science has been defined the study of nature. (add, 'as' after 'defined')

(d.) Science has been defined as the study of nature. (Correct)

(e.) He was elected as the secretory of our club. (remove 'as')

(f.) He was elected the secretory of our club. (Correct)