Grammar 3.3. What Is an Adverb?

Transcription

1 Grammar 3.3 What Is an Adverb?

2 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

3 A Sentence Without Adverbs

4 An Adverb Modifying a Verb

5 An Adverb Modifying an Adjective

6 An Adverb Modifying an Adverb

7 Adverbs Modifying a Verb, Adjective, and Adverb

8 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)

9 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)

10 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

11 Adverbs Modifying Verbs (cont.) Negative adverbs, such as not, never, and nowhere, also modify verbs. Mark never arrived at the meeting. verb: arrives adverb: never She could not understand the essay. verb (phrase): could understand adverb: not The line of questioning led nowhere. verb: led adverb: nowhere

12 Adverbs Modifying Verbs (cont.) Read the sentences. Write the adverb in each sentence and list the question it answers: when? where? in what way? to what extent? 1. We have had good success lately. lately -- when? 2. Jared climbed the rock wall slowly and carefully. slowly -- in what way? carefully -- in what way? 3. We hardly noticed the storm brewing. hardly -- to what extent 4. I need your help now. now -- when? 5. The coach almost tripped over the equipment on the floor. almost -- to what extent? 6. Ike quietly walked away from the disturbance. quietly -- in what way? away -- where?

13 Adverbs Modifying Adj. and Other Adv. An adverb modifying an adjective or another adverb only answers one question: to what extent? Modifying adjectives very upset definitely wrong extremely tall not hungry Your very upset mother is going to ground you. That answer is definitely wrong. Modifying adverbs (1st word in each sentence is a verb) traveled less slowly move very carefully lost too early lived almost happily I traveled less slowly with a partner than going solo. When your hand is near a scorpion, move very carefully.

14 Adverbs and the Words They Modify Read the sentences. Write down each adverb. Then, write down the word it modifies and tell whether that word is a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. 1. Ashley looks extremely serious. extremely modifies serious (adjective) 2. Dad usually naps after working too hard. usually modifies naps (verb) too modifies hard (adjective) 3. Because of the weather, the traffic was moving very slowly. very modifies slowly (adverb) slowly modifies moving (verb) 4. I often walk in the park to think. often modifies walk (verb) 5. She spoke rather inappropriately. rather modifies inappropriately (adverb) inappropriately modifies spoke (verb)

15 Forming Adverbs Many adverbs are formed by adding the -ly suffix to adjectives. Sometimes a base word s spelling changes when -ly is added. Adjective Rule Adverb sudden add -ly suddenly true drop the e and add -ly truly heavy change the y to i and add -ly heavily The -ly suffix does not always denote an adverb. There are many adjectives that end in -ly. For instance: friendly, likely, and lovely. The friendly cat jumped on my shoulder. friendly is an adjective Don t just assume a word is an adjective or an adverb. Look for what the word modifies. Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.