Department of English/ Department of Translation

Second Year/ First Semester

Course: Advanced Grammar I

ADVERBS

The name ‘adverb’ establishes the link between adverbs and verbs. Adverbs add to the meaning of verbs. As
we shall see, that is not their only function, but it is a major one.

a) Adverbs add to the meaning of verbs

In that sentence, quickly functions as an adverb. It adds to the meaning of the verb ‘drove’ tell us how (the
manner in which) the action denoted by the verb was performed.

Joan’s aunt drove how ? – quickly.

2. We arrived early to avoid the crowds.

In that sentence, early functions as an adverb. It adds to the meaning of the verb ‘arrived’ by telling us when
the action denoted by the verb was performed.

We arrived when ? – early.

3. Write your name there.

In that sentence, there functions as an adverb. It adds to the meaning of the verb ‘write’ by telling us where
the action denoted by the verb was performed.

Write where ? – there.

One of the jobs that adverbs often do is to indicate how, when or where the actions denoted by verbs are
performed.

Adverbs also add to the meaning of verbs telling us how often or to what degree the actions denoted by verbs
are performed.

Examples

1. We called twice, but he did not hear us.

In that sentence, twice functions as an adverb. It adds to the meaning of the verb ‘called’ by telling us how
often the action denoted by the verb was performed.

2. The explorer suffered much on the return journey.

In that sentence, much functions as an adverb. It adds to the meaning of the verb ‘suffered’ by telling us to
what degree (or to what extent) the action denoted by the verb was performed.

Adverbs are often used in asking questions. They then indicate that the verb in the question is concerned
with:

i. the manner in which the action is performed (how?)

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Examples

1. How do I find the answer? (how adds to the meaning of the verb ‘find’)
2. When will you finish? (when adds to the meaning of the verb ‘finish’)
3. Where shall we meet? (where adds to the meaning of the verb ‘meet’)
4. Why did they lose that match? (why adds to the meaning of the verb ‘lose’)

In addition to their work as ‘adverb helpers’, adverbs are used to add to the meaning of adjectives and other
adverbs.

(b) Adverbs add to the meaning of adjectives

Examples

1. Is this room too hot for you?

In that sentence, ‘hot’ is an adjective qualifying the noun ‘room’. The word too functions as an adverb. It
adds to the meaning of the adjective ‘hot’.

2. The crops were almost ripe when the storms began.

In that sentence, ‘ripe’ is an adjective qualifying the noun ‘crops’. The word almost functions as an adverb. It
adds to the meaning of the adjective ‘ripe’.

3. He was promoted to a very important job.

In that sentence, ‘important’ is an adjective qualifying the noun ‘job’. The word very functions as an adverb.
It adds to the meaning of the adjective ‘important’.

(c) Adverbs add to the meaning of other adverbs

Examples

1. The amateur actors spoke rather indistinctly.

In that sentence, ‘indistinctly’ is an adverb adding to the meaning of the verb ‘spoke’. The word rather also
functions as an adverb. It adds to the meaning of the adverb ‘indistinctly’.

2. He arrived too late to see the first act.

In that sentence, ‘late’ is an adverb adding to the meaning of the verb ‘arrived’. The word too also functions
as an adverb. It adds to the meaning of the adverb ‘late’.

3. She paints extremely well.

In that sentence, ‘well’ is an adverb adding to the meaning of the verb ‘paints’. The word extremely also
functions as an adverb. It adds to the meaning of the adverb ‘well’.

We can now complete our definition of the term adverb.

 An adverb is a word that adds to the meaning of a verb, an adjective or another adverb.

(d) The grammatical terms ‘qualify’ and ‘modify’

As you know, adjectives add to the meaning of nouns and pronouns. In grammatical terms, adjectives are
said to qualify nouns and pronouns.

In this section, we have seen that adverbs add to the meaning of verbs, adjectives and other adverbs. In
grammatical terms, adverbs are said to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.

Some writers on grammar think that the distinction between the terms qualify and modify is not important.
Since both adjectives and adverbs function by adding to the meaning of other words, they argue that one
term is sufficient, and they use the term modify to describe the work of both adjectives and adverbs.
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Nevertheless, the distinction between qualify (adjectives qualify) and modify (adverbs modify) is widely
maintained. It will be adhered to in this book so that you will not be confused when you encounter the two
terms elsewhere.

(e) Adjectives and adverbs

An understanding of the fundamental difference between the function of adjectives and the function of
adverbs is much more important than the argument about ‘qualify’ and ‘modify’.

Both parts of speech add to the meaning of other words, but

REMEMBER

 Adjectives add to the meaning of nouns and pronouns. Adverbs do not.

A graphic representation helps to press home this all-important point.

nouns pronouns verbs adjectives adverbs

adjectives adverbs

(f) Is it an adjective or an adverb?

REMEMBER

 A word is what it does in a sentence.

By now, you are familiar with the way in which a word can change its grammatical function from one
sentence to another.

Examples

1. These are the oldest rocks known to man. (rocks is a noun)

So, too, the same word can function as an adjective in one sentence and as an adverb in another.

Examples

1. They arrived at the theatre late.

In that sentence, late is an adverb because it adds to the meaning of (modifies) the verb ‘arrived’.

2. Their late arrival distributed the audience.

In that sentence, late is an adjective because it adds to the meaning of (qualifies) the noun ‘arrival’.

3. Account are rendered weekly.

In that sentence, weekly is an adverb because it adds to the meaning of (modifies) the verb ‘rendered’.

4. Weekly accounts are rendered.

In that sentence, weekly is an adjective because it adds to the meaning of (qualifies) the noun ‘accounts’.

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EXERCISES

1. Identify the adverbs in these sentences and name the verb, adjective or adverb modified by each.

a. Did you have to wait long?

b. We had exceptionally good audience for that film.

c. She answered rather unwillingly.

d. Where are you going for your holidays?

e. The balloon rose very slowly.

f. Keep your head down.

g. Why can’t they agree amicably?

h. The defeated candidate said little, but she suffered much.

i. Get well quickly.

j. The years go by so fast.

2. Which of the italicised words are adjectives and which are adverbs? Give reasons for your
answers.
a. The favourite came late in the three o’clock race.

b. The favourite was the last horse in the three o’clock race.

c. This is an easy test.

d. The candidate felt easy.

e. By morning, the winds were still.

f. The pilot is still trying to land.

g. She, too, is eligible for a grant.

h. Bring your sister too.

i. The office workers collected their pay monthly.

j. A monthly cheque is very comforting.