Adverbs

What are Adverbs?

An adverb generally modifies a verb, an adjective, another adverb or a sentence. Hence it usually modifies or qualifies any part of speech except a noun, an article or a pronoun.

Examples:

→ The detective gathered evidence and conclusively proved the suspect's guilt.
→ She inadvertently revealed the surprise party plans to the birthday girl.
→ With technological advancements, the use of smartphones has grown exponentially over the past decade.
→ The helpful neighbour obligingly offered to water the plants during the family's vacation.

Types of Adverbs

1. Conjunctive Adverbs

Conjunctive adverbs are words that join two independent clauses or sentences together and show the relationship between them. They are often used to express contrast, addition, cause and effect, time, or sequence.

Examples:

→ She was exhausted; nevertheless, she managed to complete the marathon.
→ She missed the train, and consequently, she arrived late for the meeting.
→ The test was difficult; nonetheless, she scored exceptionally well.
→ The research was thorough, and furthermore, the findings were groundbreaking.
→ The new policy was implemented; henceforth, all employees were required to undergo additional training.

2. Relative Adverb

Relative adverbs are words that introduce relative clauses and provide more information about a noun in a sentence. The three main relative adverbs are "where," "when," and "why."

Examples: 

→ The city where the ancient civilisation thrived is now buried beneath layers of sediment.
→ The era when technological advancements soared rapidly is often referred to as the Information Age.
→ He couldn't comprehend the reasons why the experiment failed despite meticulous planning.

3. Sentence Adverb

Sentence adverbs are words or phrases that modify an entire sentence. They provide information about the speaker's attitude, opinion, or the way the action in the sentence is performed. They often answer the question of how, when, where, or why something happened.

Examples:

→ Moreover, the intricate design of the ancient artefact hinted at a level of craftsmanship rarely seen in that era.
→ Henceforth, all students are required to adhere to the new school policy regarding electronic devices in classrooms.
→ Unfortunately, the team lost the game.
→ Interestingly, the scientific experiment yielded unexpected results.

4. Adverbs of Place/Direction

Adverbs of place and direction provide information about where an action is happening or in which direction something is moving.

Examples: 

→ The treasure was hidden amidst the ancient ruins.
→ The secret passage led beneath the castle.
→ The answers to the mystery lie within these pages.
→ The waterfall cascaded downward, creating a mesmerising scene.
→ The tornado moved spirally across the open field.
→ The crab scuttled sideways along the sandy shore.

5. Adverbs of Time/ Frequency

Adverbs of time, frequency and number define when or how often something happens.

Examples:

→ Despite feeling tired, she managed to finish the project before the deadline.
→ John, who is a dedicated athlete, practices his sport twice a weekwithout fail.

6. Adverbs of Manner

Adverbs of manner are words that describe how an action is performed. They provide more information about the verb in a sentence. 

Examples:

→ The detective briskly examined the crime scene, searching for any overlooked clues.
→ The gymnast effortlessly executed a perfect triple somersault during her routine.
→ The artist meticulously painted every detail of the landscape, capturing the essence of nature.
→ The choir sang harmoniously, creating a beautiful melody that resonated throughout the auditorium.

7. Adverbs of Degree

Adverbs of degree modify adjectives or other adverbs to indicate the intensity, extent, or degree of the action or state expressed by the verb. They answer the question "to what extent?" or "how much?" 

Examples:

→ She is very talented in various fields, demonstrating a level of skill and expertise that is truly remarkable.
→ The scalding temperature of the coffee is too high, making it practically impossible to drink without risking burns.
→ She almost avoided missing the bus, arriving at the stop with only seconds to spare.
→ The conceptualisation of this idea is absolutely brilliant, showcasing a level of innovation and creativity that is truly unparalleled.

Formation of Adverbs

Regular Verbs

Regular verbs typically follow a pattern when forming adverbs. Let's understand it further:

→ -e Verbs: For verbs ending in -e, simply add -ly to form the adverb.
→ -y Verbs: For verbs ending in -y preceded by a consonant, replace the -y with -i and add -ly.
→ -ly Adjective Verbs: For adjectives ending in -ly, simply add -ly to form the adverb.
→ -le Verbs: For verbs ending in -le, replace -le with -y to form the adverb.
→ -ic Adjective Verbs: For adjectives ending in -ic, replace -ic with -ally to form the adverb.
→ -ly Adverbs: For adverbs that already end in -ly, no change is needed.

Irregular Verbs

Adverbs often derive from adjectives or verbs, and irregular verbs may have unique forms when transformed into adverbs. Below is a table that illustrates how some irregular verbs can form adverbs:

Comparison of Adverbs 

Adverbs can be compared to show degrees of intensity or manner. There are three forms of adjectives and adverbs: Positive, comparative and superlative.

1. Positive Degree

The positive degree is simply the basic adjective or adverb. This form serves only to modify, not compare.

Examples: 

→ The surgeon cut precisely during the delicate procedure.
→ She organised her notes impeccably for the presentation.
→ The rain fell incessantly throughout the night.
→ The inventor designed the machine ingeniously.
→ The detective pursued the suspect relentlessly.

2. Comparative Degree

The comparative form of adjectives and adverbs compares two people, places or things.

→ Among the skilled surgeons, Dr Smith cut more precisely than anyone else, ensuring a flawless operation.
→ Compared to her colleagues, she organised her notes even more impeccably, earning praise from the entire team.
→ In comparison to the previous storms, this one rained more incessantly, causing flooding in some low-lying areas.
→ Among the inventors in the competition, he designed his machine more ingeniously, earning him the first prize.

3. Superlative Degree

The superlative form of adjectives and adverbs compares three or more people, places, or things.

→ Sarah speaks English most fluently in the entire group.
→ He completed the marathon more quickly than anyone else, but she finished it most quickly.
→ Among all the students, she performed better in the math competition, but Jane solved the problems best.
→ The artist painted the intricate details more carefully than before, but he handled the delicate brush strokes most carefully.
→ After the accident, his condition became worse, and eventually, it took a turn for the worse.

NOTE: Do not make double comparisons. Never use more or most with -er or -est endings.