Adverb

Adverb

An adverb is a part of speech which modifies the meaning of verb, adjective and other adverb in a sentence and sometimes it modifies the whole sentence but it doesn’t modify nouns.

For example,

Fielding runs quickly. (Verb)

This is a very sweet mango. (Adjective)

Sofia reads quite clearly. (Adverb)

The Adverb can be classified into as following:

a) Adverb of Time (when)  

b) Adverb of Place (where)

c) Adverb of Frequency (how many times/ how often)

d) Adverb Degree (to what extent)

e) Adverb of Reason (cause)

f) Adverb of Manner (how)

g) Interrogative Adverb (asking question)

            a) Adverb of Time (when):  An adverb of time tells us about when something is done or tells us about the time of an action. The following words are used in this particular adverb such as now, then, tomorrow, soon, yesterday, today, 7 am, at night, next week, at dinner, in spring, in winter, in 2010, in December, in the morning, on Eid day and so on.

For example,

He comes here on Monday. The moon shines at night.

            b) Adverb of Place (where): An adverb of place tells us about the place of an action. The following words are used in this particular adverb such as inside, here, there, upstairs, downstairs outside, inside, nearby, in, out, far, near and so on.

For example,

He has gone upstairs. Come here. There is a pond near the school.

            c) Adverb of Frequency (how many times/ how often): An adverb of frequency tells us about how often or frequently something is done. The following words are used in this particular adverb such as sometimes, always, often, normally, ever, never, usually, occasionally, monthly, fortnightly, yearly, weekly, rarely, twice and so on.

For example,

He has never gone to China. He takes medicine twice a day.

            d) Adverb Degree (to what extent/ degree): An adverb of degree tells us about to what extend something is done. The following words are used in this particular adverb such as almost, enough, quite, very, too, much, less, little, rather, hardly, no partly, too, least, more, abundantly and so on.

For example,

He is very strong. She is quite happy. Earn much and spend less.

            e) Adverb of Reason / Cause and Effect: An adverb of reason tells us about showing the reason.

For example,

He is hence unable to refute the charge. He therefore left school.

            f) Adverb of Manner (how): An adverb of manner tells us about how something happens.

For example,

The snake moves slowly. We reached the station safely. I insulted him seriously.

g) Interrogative Adverb (asking): Interrogative Adverb is like Interrogative Pronoun. What, when, where, how, why, how much are generally used in it.

For example,

When did he go? (Time)

Where did he go? (Place)

How did he go? (Manner)

How much did he buy? (Degree)

How often did he come? (Frequency)

Why did he go? (Cause)

Formation of Adverb

Adjective + ly = Adverb

Adjective	ly (suffix)	Adverb
Beautiful	ly (suffix)	Beautifully
Happy	ly (suffix)	Happily

All the words with ‘ly’ are not adverbs: friendly, motherly, fatherly, lovely, sisterly, heavenly, worldly, earthly, and brotherly,

Formation of Adjective

Noun + ly = Adjective

Noun	Ly	Adjective
Sister	Ly	Sisterly

Adverb with Some Suffixes

Long - headlong, sidelong.

Ward - homeward, downwards, backwards and upwards

Way - anyway, always,

Wise - likewise, otherwise, clockwise,

Adverbs standing at the beginning of sentences sometimes modify the whole sentence rather than any particular word.

For example,

Possibly he has reached home. Certainly you are wrong. Luckily he escaped unhurt.

There are some other adverbs without ‘ly’: fast, hard, well, easy, smart

For example,

He works hard. He reads the book fast. Take it easy. You speak smart. He speaks well. 

Md. Saiful Alam

B. A. Honours and M. A. in English

Lecturer of English

Queen’s College, Dhaka

E-mail: suman64924@gmail.com

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