Grammar 3.3 – What Is an Adverb

15 Pages·2012·0.66 MB·English

Grammar 3.3
What Is an Adverb?
What Is an Adverb?
An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Although adverbs
may modify adjectives and other adverbs, they generally modify verbs.
Modifying a verb
Historians strongly believe that the Chinese invented rockets.
→ verb: believe
→ adverb: strongly
Modifying an adjective
Ancient Chinese warriors fired very powerful rockets.
→ adjective: powerful
→ adverb: very
Modifying another adverb
Today, rockets almost always power missiles and spacecraft.
→ adverb: always
→ adverb: almost
A Sentence Without Adverbs
An Adverb Modifying a Verb
An Adverb Modifying an
Adjective
An Adverb Modifying an
Adverb
Adverbs Modifying a Verb,
Adjective, and Adverb
Position of Adverbs
The position of adverbs can vary. An adverb that modifies an adjective or
another adverb is generally placed just before the word it modifies.
The dog is extremely cute. (before adjective)
When driving, I tire too quickly. (before adverb)
An adverb that modifies a verb can be placed after the verb, before the verb,
between parts of the verb phrase, at the beginning of the sentence, or at the
end of the sentence.
The rocket ascended suddenly. (after verb)
The rocket suddenly ascended. (before verb)
The rocket is suddenly ascending. (between parts of a verb phrase)
Suddenly, the rocket ascended. (at beginning of sentence)
The rocket ascended into the air suddenly. (at end of sentence)
Adverbs as Intensifiers
Intensifiers are adverbs that modify adjectives or other adverbs. They are
usually placed directly before the words they modify. Intensifiers usually answer
the question to what extent.
Intensifiers
almost nearly so very
especially quite too
extremely really usually
We covered our ears very quickly at the shuttle launch.
→ very intensifies another adverb (quickly)
Adverbs Modifying Verbs
Adverbs that modify verbs will answer one of these four questions: Where?
When? In what way? To what extent?
These adverbs are also known as adverbs of place (where), adverbs of time
(when), adverbs of manner (in what way), and adverbs of degree (to what
extent).
Where When In What Way To What Extent
push upward will leave soon works carefully hardly ate
fell there comes daily speaks well really surprised
stay nearby swims often chews noisily almost cried
go outside exhibits yearly acted willingly partly finished
is here report later walk quietly nearly won
jump away come tomorrow smiled happily fully agree
drove down went yesterday moved gracefully totally oppose