Adverbs and Prepositions

GRAMMAR - ADVERBS AND PREPOSITIONS - ADVERBS
ADVERBS and PREPOSITIONS

ADVERBS are words or groups of words telling
frequency, manner, place, or time and primarily
used as modifiers of VERBS, ADJECTIVES or other
ADVERBS.
PREPOSITIONS are usually followed by objects in
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES that can also be used to
show duration, frequency, manner, place, reason,
time, or to demonstrate CONTRAST.
Whilst many of the common English PREPOSITIONS
have related ADVERBS, or PREPOSITIONAL
ADVERBS, there are other types of ADVERB which are
often derived from ADJECTIVES.
EXAMPLES
ADVERB: Emily is quite sad.
PREPOSITION: Emily is at home, but her keys are in
the hall.
PREPOSITIONAL ADVERB: Emily is standing outside.
She is waiting alone. Still wet from the shower, Tracey
threw her keys down to her. Emily could then get in.
NOTICE: The use of "in" as PREPOSITION and
PREPOSITIONAL ADVERB.
NOTICE: Do not use an ADVERB as the subject of a
PREPOSITION
Correct
I went somewhere else.
somewhere else.
Incorrect
I went to
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I was still busy late last night.

I was still busy at
late last
night.
The ship is moored downstream.
The ship is
moored in
downstream.
John got home yesterday.
John came to home
on
yesterday.
His office was moved downtown.
His office was
moved to
downtown.
NOTICE: When "Downtown" is used as a noun, the
second example is correct. Take care with words such
as "home", "downtown", "today", "last night",
"next week" and so on, as they can be used as both
ADVERBS and NOUNS.
ADVERB
NOUN
She will return tomorrow.
They say that
tomorrow is
another day.
She went home alone last night.
Where is her
home?
You should go to see her next week.
Next week is
my vacation.
ADVERBS
ADVERB POSITIONS
Where an ADVERB modifies either an ADJECTIVE
["quite careless"] or another ADVERB ["quite
carelessly"], it appears immediately before the word it
is modifying.
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Where an ADVERB modifies a VERB the positioning

can be quite versatile, but its positions within the
sentence can change its meaning:
"Softly she whispered to the child." [Keeping her voice
down so that she did not disturb other people]
"She whispered softly to the child." [Keeping her voice
down to soothe the child or not to disturb it]
"She softly whispered to the child." [Describes the type
of whisper she used]
ADVERB FUNCTIONS
Frequency: "frequently", "often", "rarely",
"sometime".
Manner: "happily", "quickly", "slowly",
"unwillingly".
Place: "anywhere", "everywhere", "here",
"nowhere", "over there", "there".
Time: "today", "tomorrow", "yesterday", "the day
after".
Frequency Adverbs
The most common frequency adverbs in English are:
Always
Frequently
Usually
Often
Sometimes
Occasionally
Seldom
Rarely
100% of the time

about 90% of the
about 80% of the
about 70% of the
about 50% of the
about 40% of the
about 20% of the
about 10% of the
time
time
time
time
time
time
time
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Never
00% of the time
Note: The percentages here are rough estimates
and should be used for guidance only.
FREQUENCY ADVERBS can be placed at various
points in the sentence, but are most commonly
used before the main VERBS and after "be"
VERBS.
I always come to work on time.
They are seldom home when we call.
He's usually eating breakfast at this time.
She's never been to Dublin.
A: Do you come here often?
B: No. I'm here occasionally.
A: What do you usually do here?
B: Sometimes I just sit and ponder the meaning of life.
Note: The adverbs seldom, rarely, never and hardly
ever are considered negative.
A: Do you always carry a briefcase?
B: (Yes,) I usually do.
No, I usually don't.
No, I rarely do.
No, I hardly ever do.
Other FREQUENCY ADVERBS and EXPRESSIONS
are as follows:
Every day/week/month
Every other day/week
Once a week/month/year
Twice a year/day, etc.
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(Every) once in a while

Every so often
These expressions are used at the beginning and
end of sentences, not before main VERBS.
Every once in a while I visit my grandmother in
Minnesota.
I visit my grandmother in Minnesota every once in a
while.
I every once in a while visit my grandmother in
Minnesota. (Incorrect)
Regularly
(according to schedule)
Normally
(commonly nowadays)
Traditionally
(commonly in the past)
These words can come at various points in the
sentence.
I regularly floss my teeth.
I floss my teeth regularly.
Traditionally, that was considered child's play.
I normally get up around 6 o'clock.
Normally, I get up around 6 o'clock.
ADVERBS OF MANNER (HOW?)
absolutely
almost
alone
barely
carefully
fast
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hard
hardly
mostly
pretty
quickly
quite
really
slowly
together
very
well
ADVERBS OF PLACE (WHERE?)

(Note: Do not use these with "to.")
anywhere
away
back*
downtown*
everywhere
here
home*
nowhere
out
over there
there
*These are also used as nouns and sometimes adjectives.
ADVERBS OF TIME (WHEN?)

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already
immediately
last night
lately
later
next week
now
recently
right now
soon
still
then
this morning
today
tomorrow
tonight
yesterday
yet
. . . ago
ADVERB FORMS
Many ADVERBS, particularly MANNER ADVERBS, can
be formed by adding "-ly" to an adjective
["dependably", "easily", "happily", "quickly",
"slowly", "willingly"], however, not every word that
ends "-ly" is an ADVERB [ to be "friendly", to be
"neighbourly"] and there are many common
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ADVERBS which do not end "-ly" ["almost", "just",

"still", "not"].
ADVERBS versus ADJECTIVES
Sometimes a word can be both and ADVERB and an
ADJECTIVE. To tell the difference in use, it is important
to considered the context and function of the word
within the sentence.
"The fast train to Cardiff leaves Paddington at three
o'clock."
Here, "fast" is an ATTRIBUTIVE ADJECTIVE,
modifying the noun "train", which follows it in the
sentence structure.
"The train took the curve too fast."
Here, "too fast" is an ADVERB which modifies the
VERB "to take".
"The bed was hard and the Princess got no sleep at
all."
Here, "hard" is a PREDICTIVE ADJECTIVE following
the VERB "to be" but still modifying a NOUN, in this
case "the bed".
"Tripping over his feet, Oscar fell, hitting the ground
hard."
Here the ADVERB "hard" modifies the VERB "to hit".
The COMPARATIVE INFLECTION "-er" and
SUPERLATIVE INFLECTION "-est" combine with both
ADVERBS and ADJECTIVES, although to a lesser
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degree. To make the COMPARATIVE FORM of "-ly"

adverbs add "more" before the word and not "-er" to
the end. Because it is comparatively unusual the
SUPERLATIVE FORM which adds "most" before the
word and retains the "-ly" ending, become the focus or
stress of the sentence and draw attention to the
emphasis.
"I was most favourably impressed by your
appearance."
Below is a list of ADVERBS and you can use them to
create these forms.
ADVERB LIST
A
aboard
abnormally
about
abroad
absentmindedly
absolutely
abundantly
accidentally
accordingly
actively
actually
acutely
admiringly
affectionately
affirmatively
after
afterwards
agreeably
almost
already
always
amazingly
angrily
annoyingly
annually
anxiously
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anyhow
anyplace
anyway
anywhere
appreciably
appropriately
around
arrogantly
aside
assuredly
astonishingly
away
awfully
awkwardly
B
badly
barely
bashfully
beautifully
before
begrudgingly
believably
bewilderedly
bewilderingly
bitterly
bleakly
blindly
blissfully
boldly
boastfully
boldly
boyishly
bravely
briefly
brightly
brilliantly
briskly
brutally
busily
C
calmly
candidly
carefully
carelessly
casually
cautiously
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certainly
charmingly
cheerfully
chiefly
childishly
cleanly
clearly
cleverly
closely
cloudily
clumsily
coaxingly
coincidentally
coldly
colourfully
commonly
comfortably
compactly
compassionately
completely
confusedly
consequently
considerably
considerately
consistently
constantly
continually
continuously
coolly
correctly
courageously
covertly
cowardly
crazily
crossly
cruelly
cunningly
curiously
currently
customarily
cutely
D
daily
daintily
dangerously
daringly
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darkly
dastardly
dearly
decently
deeply
defiantly
deftly
deliberately
delicately
delightfully
densely
diagonally
differently
diligently
dimly
directly
disorderly
divisively
docilely
dopily
doubtfully
down
dramatically
dreamily
during
E
eagerly
early
earnestly
easily
efficiently
effortlessly
elaborately
eloquently
elegantly
elsewhere
emotionally
endlessly
energetically
enjoyably
enormously
enough
enthusiastically
entirely
equally
especially
12 | P a g e

essentially
eternally
ethically
even
evenly
eventually
evermore
every
everywhere
evidently
evocatively
exactly
exceedingly
exceptionally
excitedly
exclusively
explicitly
expressly
extensively
externally
extra
extraordinarily
extremely
F
fairly
faithfully
famously
far
fashionably
fast
fatally
favourably
ferociously
fervently
fiercely
fiery
finally
financially
finitely
fluently
fondly
foolishly
forever
formally
formerly
fortunately
13 | P a g e

forward
frankly
frantically
freely
frequently
frenetically
fully
furiously
furthermore
G
generally
generously
genuinely
gently
genuinely
girlishly
gladly
gleefully
gracefully
graciously
gradually
gratefully
greatly
greedily
grimly
grudgingly
H
habitually
half-heartedly
handily
handsomely
haphazardly
happily
hastily
harmoniously
harshly
hastily
hatefully
hauntingly
healthily
heartily
heavily
helpfully
hence
highly
hitherto
honestly
14 | P a g e

hopelessly
horizontally
hourly
how
however
hugely
humorously
hungrily
hurriedly
hysterically
I
icily
identifiably
idiotically
imaginatively
immeasurably
immediately
immensely
impatiently
impressively
inappropriately
incessantly
incorrectly
indeed
independently
indoors
indubitably
inevitably
infinitely
informally
infrequently
innocently
inquisitively
instantly
intelligently
intensely
intently
interestingly
intermittently
internally
invariably
invisibly
inwardly
ironically
irrefutably
irritably
J
15 | P a g e

jaggedly
jauntily
jealously
jovially
joyfully
joylessly
joyously
jubilantly
judgmentally
just
justly
K
keenly
kiddingly
kind-heartedly
kindly
knavishly
knowingly
knowledgeably
kookily
L
lastly
late
lately
later
lazily
less
lightly
likely
limply
lithely
lively
loftily
longingly
loosely
loudly
lovingly
loyally
luckily
luxuriously
M
madly
magically
mainly
majestically
markedly
materially
16 | P a g e

meaningfully
meanly
meantime
meanwhile
measurably
mechanically
medically
menacingly
merely
merrily
methodically
mightily
miserably
mockingly
monthly
morally
more
moreover
mortally
mostly
much
mysteriously
N
nastily
naturally
naughtily
nearby
nearly
neatly
negatively
nervously
never
nevertheless
next
nicely
nightly
noisily
normally
nosily
not
now
nowadays
numbly
O
obediently
obligingly
obnoxiously
17 | P a g e

obviously
occasionally
oddly
offensively
officially
often
ominously
once
only
openly
optimistically
orderly
ordinarily
outdoors
outrageously
outwardly
outwards
overconfidently
overseas
P
painfully
painlessly
paradoxically
partially
particularly
passionately
patiently
perfectly
periodically
perpetually
persistently
personally
persuasively
physically
plainly
playfully
poetically
poignantly
politely
poorly
positively
possibly
potentially
powerfully
presently
presumably
prettily
18 | P a g e

previously
primly
principally
probably
promptly
properly
proudly
punctually
puzzlingly
Q
quaintly
queasily
questionably
questioningly
quicker
quickly
quietly
quirkily
quite
quizzically
R
randomly
rapidly
rarely
readily
really
reasonably
reassuringly
recently
recklessly
regularly
reliably
reluctantly
remarkably
repeatedly
reproachfully
responsibly
resentfully
respectably
respectfully
restfully
richly
ridiculously
righteously
rightfully
rightly
19 | P a g e

rigidly
roughly
routinely
rudely
ruthlessly
S
sadly
safely
scarcely
scarily
scientifically
searchingly
secretively
securely
sedately
seemingly
seldom
selfishly
selflessly
separately
seriously
shakily
shamelessly
sharply
sheepishly
shoddily
shortly
shrilly
significantly
silently
simply
sincerely
singularly
shyly
skilfully
sleepily
slightly
slowly
slyly
smoothly
so
softly
solely
solemnly
solidly
solicitously
20 | P a g e

somehow
sometimes
somewhat
somewhere
soon
specially
specifically
spectacularly
speedily
spiritually
splendidly
sporadically
spasmodically
startlingly
steadily
stealthily
sternly
still
strenuously
stressfully
strictly
structurally
studiously
stupidly
stylishly
subsequently
substantially
subtly
successfully
suddenly
sufficiently
suitably
superficially
supremely
surely
surprisingly
suspiciously
sweetly
swiftly
sympathetically
systematically
T
temporarily
tenderly
tensely
tepidly
21 | P a g e

terribly
thankfully
then
there
thereby
thoroughly
thoughtfully
thus
tightly
today
together
tomorrow
too
totally
touchingly
tremendously
truly
truthfully
twice
U
ultimately
unabashedly
unanimously
unbearably
unbelievably
unemotionally
unethically
unexpectedly
unfailingly
unfavourably
unfortunately
uniformly
unilaterally
unimpressively
universally
unnaturally
unnecessarily
unquestionably
unwillingly
up
upbeat
unkindly
uplifting
upright
unselfishly
upside-down
unskilfully
22 | P a g e

upward
upwardly
urgently
usefully
uselessly
usually
utterly
V
vacantly
vaguely
vainly
valiantly
vastly
verbally
vertically
very
viciously
victoriously
vigilantly
vigorously
violently
visibly
visually
vivaciously
voluntarily
W
warmly
weakly
wearily
weekly
well
wetly
when
where
while
whole-heartedly
wholly
why
wickedly
widely
wiggly
wildly
wilfully
willingly
wisely
woefully
23 | P a g e

wonderfully
worriedly
worthily
wrongly
Y
yearly
yearningly
yesterday
yet
youthfully
Z
zanily
zealously
zestfully
zest
EXERCISE:
Practice using these ADVERBS by adding them to
descriptions of people or places you know well. Be
creative, not truthful. Exaggerate and use your
imagination.
The next section explains the use of PREPOSITIONS.
24 | P a g e
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GRAMMAR - ADVERBS AND PREPOSITIONS - ADVERBS