Chapter 6

Adverbs and prepoitions

Faharol Razi Shaari
PPT Jitra
Adverb
• Adverbs are commonly known as modifying
words.
• Adverbs are words that modify verbs,
adjectives or other adverbs.
• They also often tell when, where, why or
under what conditions something happens.
Modifies a verb
She walked slowly along the path.
( How did she walk? )

They danced gracefully at the concert

(How did they dance?)

He writes neatly
( How does he write?)

The students read loudly

(How do the students read?)
Modifies an adjective
The man built a very big mansion.
( How big was the mansion)

adjective

Modifies the
adjective ‘big’
Modifies another adverb
She drove down the lane.
She drove slowly down the lane.
She drove quite slowly down the lane.

Modifies “slowly”

adverb
Formation of adverbs
A. Derivational adverbs
Most adverbs especially adverbs of manner and
some adverb of degree are formed from adjectives
by adding the suffixes –y, - ly, - ily, and – ally.

able – ably bad – badly

gentle – gently wise – wisely
terrible – terribly certain - certainly
…. Cont.
Gay – gaily
Busy – busily
Crazy – crazily

Basic – basically
Historic – historically
Accident - accidentally
Formation of adverbs
B. Simple adverbs
Many simple adverbs denote position and direction
like near, out, under, and down.

The police tried hard to catch the robber (adverb)

Painting is a hard job (adjective) – modifies the noun “job”
She came home early yesterday (adverb)
I am going out for an early lunch today (adjective)
Formation of adverbs
C. Compound adverbs
Compound adverbs are formed by combining two or more elements into
a single word

“some” + “how” = somehow

“any” + “where” = anywhere
“some” + “where”= somewhere

I have seen this somewhere

Somehow, he managed to finish his work
Functions of adverbs
1. As adverbials
the function of adverbs as adverbials is to give us MORE
INFORMATION ON THE ACTION or the circumstances of the
action. It tells us how, where, or when an action happened.

My aunt is temporarily putting up with me. (adverb of duration)

Alice shrieked loudly when she saw Mawi (adverb of manner)
John goes away on holiday twice a year (adverb of frequency)
She completely forgot about the meeting (adverb of degree)
Functions of adverbs
2. As modifiers
the function of adverbs as modifiers is to ADD
INFORMATION TO ANOTHER WORD. Such adverbs are
usually adverb of degree
Nur Amalina scored exceptionally well in her SPM exam
(as modifiers of other adverbs)
Fear Factor is an extremely exciting game.
(as modifiers of adjectives)
The sun is right above our head.
(as modifiers of prepositional phrases)
Functions of adverbs
• Adverb of time
• Adverb of duration
• Adverb of frequency
• Adverb of place
• Adverb of direction
• Adverb of manner
• Adverb of degree
Adverb of time
• Are used to specify the precise time or to provide
information about the time of an action in relation to
some other point in time, often “now”. Adverb of
time answer the question “when”

 I hurt my ankle yesterday

 We shall now start the meeting
 I will receive the parcel from him tomorrow
 She is currently working as a marketing manager
Adverb of duration
• Tell us how long something lasts or takes.
• These adverbs answer the question “how long”

 I have been trying to contact you since last night

 Jane spent all afternoon baking cookies
 The tan family has been controlling the share market
for more than two decades
Adverbs of frequency
• Are used to indicate how often we do things or how
many times something happens. Answers the
question “how often”
• Always, nearly, usually, very often, often, sometimes,
occasionally, almost never, seldom, never.
 The newspapers are delivered daily to my house
 Sean seldom comes here because of his busy work schedule
 Endangered animals like tigers are often danger of being
killed.
Adverbs of place
• Used to inform us an incident or event takes place.
Most common adverbs of place also function as
prepositions. Adverb of place answer the question
“where” or “where to”. E.g inside, outdoors, outside,
anywhere, around, near, underneath, downstairs.

 The famous chicken rice shop is there.

 Tanissha buried her jewellery box outside.
 I dropped my pen somewhere around here.
Adverbs of direction
• Used to indicate destinations. They often go with
movement verbs like “go”. Adverbs of direction
answer the question “in what direction” or “where
to” or “where from”

• The couple just laughed and drove ahead.

• The owner does not want anyone trampling around.
• They left the base camp and climbed higher.
Adverb of manner
• Gives more information about the way in which an
event or action takes place or to describe the way in
which something is done. These adverbs answer the
question “how” or “in what manner?”
• E.g. fast, badly, easily, quietly, warmly, politely, carefully, finely,

• Stella stroked her cat gently

• Aaron neatly stacked the books up.
• Her mannerisms are distinctly different from her twin
sister’s
Adverbs of degree
• Make the meaning of a verb, adverb or adjective
stronger or weaker by placing qualities or ideas on a
scale. These adverbs answer the questions “to what
extent” or “how much”

• Taylor practically won all the races.

• Nisha is really good at her work
• The contract workers cleaned the area thoroughly.
Order of adverbs
• Subject and verb • Tanissha exercises
• Manner • Earnestly
• Place • Here
• Frequency • Every morning
• time • Before breakfast

Tanissha exercises earnestly here every morning

before breakfast.
Interrogative adverbs
Interrogative adverbs are questioning words such as
“where”, “when”, “why”, and “how”. They are not
only used to introduce questions but also to introduce
various types of clauses.
• How ? In what way ? • How high are the Petronas
Twin Tower ?
• Why ? For what reason? • Why were they angry ?
• When ? At what time? • When do you need to pay
the bill?
• Where ? In what place ? • Where is KLPAC situated ?
Linking adverbs
• Are used to link ideas or clauses. Also called
conjunctive adverbs

• He broke his arm; therefore, he will not be coming to work

tomorrow.
• Malek did not attend the revision classes. Consequently, he was
reprimanded by his teacher.
• These herbal supplements are very effective. Besides, they are not
very expensive.
• Two of the workers were retrenched, and, as a result, everyone
went on strike.
Common linking words
Linking adverbs
Too, also, besides, furthermore, as
well, moreover, at the same time
Again, likewise, equally, similarly, in the
same way
Yet, instead, however, alternatively, on
the contrary, nevertheless
Functions
To introduce a related point or to add
an extra place of information
To add a new fact that illustrates the
same point as the one you have just
made
To add a sentence that contrasts with
the previous one or to give a different
point of view
Sentence adverbs
• Are used to convey the speaker’s belief on the
content of what he is saying or to show the speaker’s
attitude or viewpoint towards certain events.

• He’s surprisingly only 16 years old

• I will inform you, perhaps, by 7 o’clock.
• Fortunately, the event went on smoothly.
• Apparently, they have been trying to use the online banking
system for weeks.
Common sentence adverbs
• Really, surely, luckily, actually, perhaps,
certainly, surprisingly, blindly, clearly,
apparently, naturally, admittedly, naturally,
hopefully, fortunately, supposedly.
Focussing adverbs
• Are used when we want to indicate or focus on the main quality
of something or on the most relevant thing involved in what we
are saying. For example when we want to indicate the main
reason for something, we use focussing adverbs like especially,
particularly or exclusively. Focussing adverbs are also used to
express some kind of restriction (e.g. just, only, merely) and to
refer back to something (too, also, either)

• Even Ram heard about the incident.

• Only Sherry has the key to the guest room.
• Ramli Ibrahim is specifically interested in Indian classical dance.
 Prepositions
• Many of the most common words in English
are prepositions.
• Prepositions also have special functions as
part of a verb or adverb.
• Some words can function both as prepositions
and as adverbs or even conjunctions
 Forms of preposition

Prepositions

Simple preposition Complex preposition

Simple preposition Complex preposition

Monosyllabic
Monosyllabic Polysyllabic
Polysyllabic Derived
Derived from
from participles
participles
(( in,
in, on
on )) (inside,without)
(inside,without) (barring,
(barring, concerning)
concerning)
As for, apart from, on top of, because of, along with, instead of, except for, etc.
As for, apart from, on top of, because of, along with, instead of, except for, etc.
 preposition

Preposi
Preposi Preposi Preposi Preposi
tion of
tion of tion of tion of tion of
directio
place n time manner means
 Preposition of place
For specific addresses or general vicinity
at e.g. Mary lives at 51, Jalan Maya Sari

- To designate names of lanes , streets, roads.

On e.g. The temple is located on Pudu street
- Touching the surface
e.g. There is an oil spot on my apron

- For the names of towns, states, countries and

In continents
e.g. Shah Alam is in the state of Selangor
-Beneath the surface
e.g. There is a pen in the drawer
 Preposition of place
Over / - When you want to relate things vertically
under e.g. The laptop is under the conference table

Among, -In a group

amid, by, e.g. The bride was surrounded by her family and friends.
around
Opposite -When things are facing each other
e.g. The cineplex is opposite the shopping mall

Next to -When objects are side by side

e.g. The coat hanger is next to the cupboard
 Preposition of place
off At a distance from the point
e.g. The ball rolled off the pool table.

near -Close to the point

e.g. Mrs Taylor was standing near the French doors

around - Surrounding an area or all around a place

e.g. We sat around the conference table and discussed the
drama script