Adverbs

Intervenant
Laurence Petoud
Executive Assistant
Formatrice en Entreprise
ECDL Expert
laurence.petoud@gmail.com
http://fce-cae.blog4ever.com/
This support has been developed as part of my revisions for

exams First Certificate in English.
Adverbs
PAST TENSE ADVERBS
COMPLETED
PRESENT PERFECT ADVERBS

ONGOING
last night
this morning (hours passed)
up to / until now
*this morning (hours ongoing)
yesterday
this week (days passed)
so far
*this week (days ongoing)
last week
this year (days passed)
before now
*this year (days ongoing)
last year
this decade (years passed)
to date
*this decade (years ongoing)
last January
this century (years passed)
until this moment
*this century (years ongoing)
January 10, 1999
at that time
since noon (exact time)
for two minutes (quantity time)
August 1960
then
since this morning
for an hour
1992
back then
since July 2003
for three days
May 5th at 5:00 (past)
in those times (past)
since yesterday
over the past 3 years
twenty years ago
... when I was there
since the 1900s
in my life (current)
during the 1990s
... while I was visiting.
ever since I met you
in these times (current)
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Adverbs
Adverbs can tell you where, when, how, why and to what extent something happens.
There are several different classes of adverb (see above).
They are often formed from adjectives or nouns be adding the suffix -ly.
For example: Quick becomes quickly, sudden becomes suddenly, intelligent becomes intelligently, . . .
To form an adverb from adjectives ending in -y change the y to i before adding the -ly.
For example: angry becomes angrily, busy becomes busily, . . .
To form an adverb from adjectives ending in -e drop the -e before adding the -ly.
For example: feeble becomes feebly, true becomes truly, . . .
Some adjectives ending in -ly need no changes.
For example: heavenly, . . .
However there are exceptions.
For example: sly becomes slyly, shy becomes shyly, . . .
Some adverbs do not end in -ly.
For example: fast, hard, straight, . . .
Adjective
Pretty
Serious
Fast
Example
She was a pretty girl.
He was a serious boy. It was a fast car.
They were quiet

children.
Adverb
Prettily
Seriously
Quietly
Example
The bird sang prettily.
The policeman spoke

The woman spoke
Schumacher drives fast.
seriously.
quietly.
Fast
Quiet
Adverbs can modify adjectives

An adjective can be modified by an adverb, which precedes the adjective.
For example:That's really nice.
Adverbs can modify adverbs
Some adverbs can modify others. As with adjectives, the adverb precedes the one it is modifying.
For example:She did it really well.
Adverbs can modify nouns
Adverbs can modify nouns to indicate time or place.
For example:The concert tomorrow.
The room upstairs.
Adverbs can modify noun phrases
Some adverbs of degree such as quite, rather, so, such ... can modify noun phrases.
For example:We had quite a good time.
They're such good friends.
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Adverbs can modify determiners, numerals and pronouns

Adverbs such as almost, nearly, hardly, about, etc., can be used:
For example:Nearly everyone, who was invited, came to the party.
Adverbs can modify sentences
Some adverbs modify a whole sentence, not just a part of one.
For example:Luckily the car stopped in time. In this sentence luckily modifies the whole sentence, it shows that it was
good luck that the car stopped in time.
Adverbs of degree
These adverbs tell us the strength or intensity of something that happens. Many adverbs are
gradable, that is, we can intensify them. Basically they answer the sort of question that asks
How much ...? or How little...?
Adverbs of degree include; adequately, almost, entirely, extremely, greatly, highly, hugely,
immensely, moderately, partially, perfectly, practically, profoundly, strongly, totally,
tremendously, very, virtually etc.
For example:The man drove badly. = The man drove really badly. - In this sentence really shows us just
how badly he drove.
They enjoyed the film. = They enjoyed the film immensely. - In this sentence immensely
shows us how much they enjoyed the film.
These intensifiers are not gradable though, you cannot say The man drove extremely very
badly.
Adverbs of duration
These adverbs tell us how long something happened.
They include; briefly, forever, long, shortly, permanently, temporarily . . .
For example:
"They were occupied." = "They were briefly occupied." - In this sentence briefly shows us the
duration.
"The phone was out of order." = "The phone was temporarily out of order." - In this sentence
temporarily shows us the duration.
Adverbs of frequency
Some adverbs tell us how often something is done. These include; always, constantly, continually, frequently,
infrequently, intermittently, normally, occasionally, often, periodically, rarely, regularly, seldom, sometimes, . . .
For example:
I always do my homework on time. - In this sentence always shows us the frequency.
She goes out occasionally. - In this sentence occasionally shows us the frequency.
Most frequent
always
periodically
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Least frequent
constantly
nearly always
almost always
usually
generally
normally
regularly
often
frequently
sometimes
never
occasionally
now and then
once in a while
rarely
seldom
infrequently
hardly ever
scarcely ever
almost never
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When something happens regularly at a fixed time we can use the following as adverbs:Every day
Every week
Ever fortnight (two weeks)
Every month
Every year
=
=
=
=
=
Daily
Weekly
Fortnightly
Monthly
Yearly/Annually
For example:
I get a newspaper every day. = I get the newspaper daily.
I pay my rent every month. = I pay my rent monthly.
Adverbs of manner
Some adverbs tell us how an action is or should be performed.
Often these adverbs are formed by adding -ly to the end of an adjective.
Adjectives ending -l add -ly ; careful-carefully.
Adjectives ending -y change to -ily ; lucky-luckily
Adjectives ending -ble change to -bly ; responsible-responsibly
adjective
adverb
anxious
anxiously
bad
badly
beautiful
beautifully
capable
capably
lucky
luckily
quick
quickly
weak
weakly
For example:
The little girl ran quickly. In this sentence quickly modifies the verb ran (to run).
Adverbs of place
Some adverbs indicate where something happens.
These include; abroad, anywhere, here, outside, somewhere, there, underground, upstairs ...
For example:
My passport is here in my bag.
Place
Example
Upstairs
The children were playing upstairs.
In London The people demonstrated in London.

Outside
The children were playing outside.
Adverbs of probability
These adverbs tell us the likelihood of something happening.
They include; certainly, definitely, doubtless, maybe, perhaps, possibly, probably etc.
For example:
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We will win the game. = We will certainly win the game. - In this sentence certainly shows us
the probability.
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Adverbs of time
Some adverbs tell us when something happened.
These include:afterwards, later, now, soon, yesterday, . . ..
For example:Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away. - In this sentence yesterday shows us when.
Other adverbs of time include:Time
Example
Saturday, Sunday ...
I am going to the shops on Monday.
Today
I've been to the shops today.
Yesterday
I went yesterday.
Next week/month/year
I am going next week.
Last week/month/year
I went last year.
Finally
I finally went.
Eventually
I eventually went to the shops.
Already
I've already been to the shops.
Soon
I'm going to the shops soon.
Just
I'm just going to the shops.
Still
I'm still at the shops.
Comparative Adverbs
When we compare what two things or people do we look at what makes one different from the other.
Adverbs of comparison are used to show what one thing does better or worse than the other.
When an adverb ends in -ly, more is put in front of the adverb.
For example: "Jill did her homework more frequently."
The rule for forming the comparative of an adverb is if it has the same form as an adjective add the suffix -er
to the end.
For example:
"Jill did her homework faster."
The following irregular adverbs are exceptions to this rule:
'well' becomes 'better'

'badly' becomes 'worse'
'little' becomes 'less'
For example:
"Jill was better."

"Jack was worse."
"To lose weight you need to eat less."
When comparing two things you need to put than between the adverb and what is being compared.
For example:
"Jill did her homework faster than Jack."

"Jill did her homework more frequently than Jack."
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Superlative
The superlative form of an adverb is used to say what thing or person does something to the greater degree
within a group or of its kind. Superlatives can be preceded by 'the'. In general the superlative forms of
adverbs are the same as for superlative forms of adjectives.
The rule for forming the superlative of an adverb is if it has the same form as an adjective add the suffix -est
to the end.
For example: fast - "Jill ran the fastest."
When an adverb ends in -ly, most is put in front of the adverb.
For example: Frequently - "Jill did her homework most frequently."
The following irregular adverbs are exceptions: 'well' becomes 'the best'
'badly' becomes 'the worst'
For example:
"Jill did the best in the test."

"Jack did the worst in the test."
Adjectives and adverbs causing confusion
Some words ending in -ly are adjectives, and not normally adverbs.
Common examples are: costly, cowardly, deadly, friendly, likely, lively, lonely, lovely, silly, ugly and unlikely.
She has a lovely daughter.

Don't be silly.
It was a lively discussion.
Some adverbs and adjectives have the same form.
Examples are: fast, hard, high, late, near, straight, wrong, daily, early, leisurely etc.
It is a fast (adjective) car.
A fast (adjective) car goes fast (adverb).
He drove fast (adverb).
Hard (adjective) work pays.
You must work hard (adverb).
He is an early (adjective) riser.
I got up early (adverb) today.
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It is easy (adjective).
Take it easy (adverb)
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Adverbs

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Adverbs

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Intervenant

This support has been developed as part of my revisions for

PRESENT PERFECT ADVERBS

this morning (hours passed)

*this morning (hours ongoing)

this week (days passed)

*this week (days ongoing)

this year (days passed)

*this year (days ongoing)

this decade (years passed)

*this decade (years ongoing)

this century (years passed)

until this moment

*this century (years ongoing)

January 10, 1999

since noon (exact time)

for two minutes (quantity time)

since this morning

since July 2003

for three days

May 5th at 5:00 (past)

in those times (past)

over the past 3 years

twenty years ago

... when I was there

since the 1900s

during the 1990s

... while I was visiting.

ever since I met you

in these times (current)

She was a pretty girl.

He was a serious boy. It was a fast car.

They were quiet

The bird sang prettily.

The policeman spoke

Adverbs can modify adjectives

Adverbs can modify determiners, numerals and pronouns

The children were playing upstairs.

In London The people demonstrated in London.

The children were playing outside.

Saturday, Sunday ...

I am going to the shops on Monday.

I've been to the shops today.

I am going next week.

I went last year.

I eventually went to the shops.

I've already been to the shops.

I'm going to the shops soon.

I'm just going to the shops.

I'm still at the shops.

"Jill did her homework faster."

The following irregular adverbs are exceptions to this rule:

'well' becomes 'better'

"Jill was better."

"Jill did her homework faster than Jack."

"Jill did the best in the test."

Adjectives and adverbs causing confusion

She has a lovely daughter.

Some adverbs and adjectives have the same form.

It is a fast (adjective) car.

A fast (adjective) car goes fast (adverb).

He drove fast (adverb).

Hard (adjective) work pays.

You must work hard (adverb).