Adverbs
By: Emma Tuss
What is an Adverb?
Adverbs tell how, where, when, and to what extent (how much).
-Adverbs that tell how: An adverb that tells how usually modifies or goes back to the verb/verb phrase.
Example: The child speaks clearly. (Clearly tells how the child speaks.)
Example: Quickly he fell to the ground. (Quickly tells how he fell.)
-Most adverbs that tell how end in ly.
Adjectives vs. Adverbs
A. Good is an adjective.
Example: They are good singers.
-The forms of good are: good, better, and, best.
-They are good singers.
-We are better singers than they are.
-Tracy is the best singer in the choir.
Because good is always an adjective, good will describe a noun or pronoun.
Adjectives vs. adverbs
B. Well is an adverb.
Example: They sing well. (Well tells HOW they sing)
-The forms of well are: Well, better, best.
-They sing well.
-We sing better than they do.
-Tracy sings best in our choir.
Note: Well must be used to explain how one does something. Action verbs require well if an explanation of how is involved.
Examples:
-I swim well.
-I play basketball well.
Adverb vs. preposition
Here is a list of words that can serve either as a preposition or an adverb that tells where:
Above
Across
After
Around
Before
Down
Up
In
Out
Inside
Outside
Over
Remember: A prepositional phrase begins with a single preposition.
Adverb Vs. Preposition
Any word on the preposition list that does not have a noun or pronoun following it will be an adverb.
Example: I fell down the stairs (Down the stairs is a prepositional phrase.)
Example: I fell down. (Down is an adverb; there is no noun or pronoun following down.) (CORRECT)
Do NOT do: Down I fell! (INCORRECT)
Cross out any prepositional phrases in any sentence. Often an adverb will be beside a prepositional phrase.
Example: The guard entered in through the security door.
Wrong: The guard entered in through the security door.
Right: The guard entered in through the security door. (In is an adverb telling where.)
Degrees of Adverbs
Adverbs often make comparisons.
A. The comparative form compares two things.
B. The superlative form compares three or more things.
Examples: Jello Mc. Bounce runs faster than Choco O' Pudding.
(COMPARITIVE form: Jello and Choco are being compared-two people.
There are three ways to form the comparative and the superlative:
A. Comparative:
1. Add er to most one-syllable adverbs.
Fast/faster or hard/harder
2. Place more before most two or more syllable adverbs.
Slowly/more slowly favorably/more favorably
Degrees of Adverbs
Less for the comparative and least for the superlative may also be used.
Adverb
Well
Badly
Early
Rapidly
Comparative
Better
Worse
Earlier
More rapidly
Superlative
Best
Worst
Earliest
Most rapidly
Double Negatives
Adverbs
No, not, never, none, no one, nobody, scarcely and hardly are considered negative words. Do not use two of these in an independent clause
Example:
Right: I do not want anything.
Wrong: I do not want nothing.
Wrong: I couldn't hardly hear.
Right: I couldn't hear.
Wrong: He never wants none.
Right: He never wants any.
OR
He wants none.
Double Negatives
Do not go by sound. If you are accustomed to hearing or using double negatives, they will sound correct.
Neither is also a negative word and should not be used in the same independent clause as the others in this list. However, it is fine to use it with the negative conjunction nor in an independent clause.
Wrong: Neither of them like nobody.
Right: Neither of them like anybody
Exception: Neither plums nor apricots were in season.
An Independent clause contains a subject or verb and can stand alone as a complete thought (sentence).
Citations
- My grammar book
- Google.com
- Dictionary.com
Adverbs
By emmaanntuss
Adverbs
- 1,465
