The adverbs in English

Adverbs tell us in what way someone does something. Adverbs can modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.Adjectives tell us something about a person or a thing. Adjectives can modify nouns or pronouns. Adjective Mandy is a careful girl. Mandy is very careful. Mandy is a careful driver. This sentence is about Mandy, the driver, so use the adjective. Mandy drives carefully. This sentence is about her way of driving, so use the adverb. Adverb Mandy drives carefully.

Form
Adjective + -ly Adjective Dangerous Careful Nice Easy Horrible Electronic irregular forms Good Fast Hard well fast hard Adverb dangerously carefully nicely easily horribly electronically

If the adjective ends in -le, the adverb ends in -ly. Example: terrible - terribly If the adjective ends in -e, then add -ly. Example: safe - safely Tip: Not all words ending in -ly are adverbs. adjectives ending in -ly: friendly, silly, lonely, ugly nouns, ending in -ly: ally, bully, Italy, melancholy verbs, ending in -ly: apply, rely, supply There is no adverb for an adjective ending in -ly. Types of adverbs 1) Adverbs of manner quickly kindly 2) Adverbs of degree very rather 3) Adverbs of frequency often sometimes 4) Adverbs of time now today 5) Adverbs of place here nowhere

The position of adverbs in sentences

We can put adverbs in different positions in sentences. There are three main positions but also a lot of exceptions. In English we never put an adverb between the verb and the object. We often play handball. - CORRECT We play often handball. - WRONG

The three main positions of adverbs in English sentences 1) Adverb at the beginning of a sentence Unfortunately, we could not see Mount Snowdon. 2) Adverb in the middle of a sentence The children often ride their bikes. 3) Adverb at the end of a sentence Andy reads a comic every afternoon.

More than one adverb at the end of a sentence If there are more adverbs at the end of a sentence, the word order is normally: Manner - Place - Time Peter sang the song happily in the bathroom yesterday evening.

Adverbs of frequency
always, usually, regularly, normally, often, sometimes, occasionally, rarely, seldom, never are adverbs of frequency. The position of these adverbs is: before the main verb Adverb of frequency I Peter Mandy can has always usually sometimes Verb get up play got at 6.45. football on Sundays. lots of homework.

after a form of to be am, are, is (was, were) Adverb of frequency never late.

Verb Susan is

The adverbs often, usually, sometimes and occasionally can go at the beginning of a sentence. Sometimes I go swimming. Often we surf the internet. Somtimes these adverbs are put at the end of the sentence. We read books occasionally.

Adverbs of Frequency
The most common adverbs of frequency are always, usually, often, sometimes, seldom, rarely, and never. The following chart shows the relative frequencies of these adverbs. It is important to understand that the percentages only show approximate frequencies; other sources will have slightly different numbers. What is important is not the absolute number, but only the relative frequency.

What are adverbs?

Traditionally an adverb is defined as a word that modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, or a whole clause or sentence. There are many kinds of adverbs; common types include adverbs of manner that tell how (easily, quietly), adverbs of time that tell when (afterwards, later), adverbs of place and direction that tell where (there, downstairs, backward, up), adverbs of degree that tell how much (very, almost, extremely) and adverbs of frequency that tell how often (always, sometimes, never).

What do we mean by adverbs of frequency?

Adverbs of frequency tell us how often an action takes place.

Are there other adverbs of frequency?

Yes. In addition to the adverbs in the chart above, other common adverbs of frequency include constantly, generally, normally, regularly, frequently, routinely, repeatedly, occasionally, infrequently, and hardly ever.

Where do we put adverbs of frequency?

The basic rule is that adverbs of frequency come before the main verb but after present and past forms of be (am, are, is, was, were). In the case of tenses that use an auxiliary, we put the adverb between the auxiliary and the main verb. The following tables show the position of the adverbs of frequency in affirmative, negative, interrogative, and imperative sentences.

Affirmative Sentences
Subject Auxiliary
The side effects I

Adv. of Frequency
usually sometimes

Main Verb
go have

Predicate
away after a few hours. trouble accessing my

favorite web site. Beethoven Kevin Brian I has has will often never always always went been wanted be to Baden for the summer. a fan of SUVs. to own a restaurant. grateful to you.

Affirmative Sentences with BE

Subject
The bus Some people

BE
is are

Adv. of Frequency
usually never

Predicate
on time. satisfied.

Negative Sentences
Subject Auxiliary
Suzanne doesn't It I doesn't don't

Adv. of Frequency
usually often ever

Main Verb
get snow download

Predicate
involved in politics. here at Christmas. music from the Internet.

Negative Sentences with BE

Subject BE + not Adv. of Frequency
usually often

Predicate
necessary for men. at a loss for words.

Iron supplements aren't Professor Morgan isn't

Interrogative Sentences
Auxiliary Subject
Does Do Did Don't

Adv. of Frequency

Main Verb
have read play get

Predicate
breakfast at home? the fine print? basketball? tired?

Kimberly usually you Chris you always ever ever

Interrogative Sentences with BE

BE Subject
Are you Isn't Ted

Adv. of Frequency
always usually

Predicate
so cheerful in the morning? here by eight o'clock?

Imperative Sentences
Adv. of Frequency
Always Never Always do forget be

Verb

Predicate
your best! this rule! truthful!

Distribution of Adverbs of Frequency by Sentence Type

Adv. of Frequency always usually often sometimes/occasionally rarely/seldom/hardly 1 ever/scarcely ever never ever
1

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Imperative X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Although used in sentences with affirmative form, the meaning is negative.

Distribution of Adverbs of Frequency by Sentence Position

Adv. of Frequency always usually often sometimes/occasionally rarely/seldom/hardly ever/scarcely ever never ever
2 2

Initial X X X X

Medial X X X X X X X

Final

X X

Rewrite the complete sentence using the adverb in brackets in its correct position. Example: I play tennis on Sundays. (often) Answer: I often play tennis on Sundays.

1) He listens to the radio. (often)

2) They read a book. (sometimes)

3) Pete gets angry. (never)

4) Tom is very friendly. (usually)

5) I take sugar in my coffee. (sometimes)

6) Ramon and Frank are hungry. (often)

7) My grandmother goes for a walk in the evening. (always)

8) Walter helps his father in the kitchen. (usually)

9) They watch TV in the afternoon. (never)

10) Christine smokes. (never)

Rewrite each sentence with the adverb of frequency (in brackets) in its correct position. Example: I play tennis on Sundays. (often). Answer: I often play tennis on Sundays.

1) Have you been to London? (ever)

2) Peter doesn't get up before seven. (usually)

3) Our friends must write tests. (often)

4) They go swimming in the lake. (sometimes)

5) The weather is bad in November. (always)

6) Peggy and Frank are late. (usually)

7) I have met him before. (never)

8) John watches TV. (seldom)

9) I was in contact with my sister. (often)

10) She will love him. (always)