 Exercises On Module 4 Page 18-19

1. Language in context
a) What category of adverb (e.g. adverb of degree) does each of these
items belong to?
b) What alternative words or expressions could be used without changing
the meaning?
c) Which adverb cold be used in an alternative sentence position?

Answer :

(1) a. attitude marker

Adverbs I 77
b. The following don't have so specific a meaning as traditionally but could be used
in its place: usually, conventionally, normally.
c. traditionally could precede /with little change to meaning (although this would
give more emphasis to the adverb).
(2) a. manner
b. on a personal basis and on a one-to-one basis are possible alternatives.
c. individually could precede to renew or separate to and renew (although many
people would consider this 'splitting' of the infinitive to be unacceptable).
(3) a. focusing
b. particularly can't be replaced (especially is similar in meaning but most people
would want to avoid putting this adverb together with special).
c. The word order can't be changed.
(4) a. manner
b.a. // together is a possible alternative.
c. The word order can't be changed.
(5) a manner
b one-by-one is a possible alternative.
c The word order can't be changed.
(6) a frequency. This can also be analysed as focusing adverb (hardly) + adverb of
relative time (ever).
b rarely or seldom are possible alternatives.
c The word order can't be changed.
(7) a time
b at the moment and these days are possible alternatives.
c nowadays could precede I hardly ever.
(8 & 9) a focusing
b to some extent is a possible alternative.
c The adverb could follow I.
(10) a focusing
b too could be used but would need to be placed after processing.
c also could follow want.
2.
A. Which words are adverbs?
B. What category of adverb (e.g. adverb of degree etc.) does each of these words
belong to?
C. What effect would removing these adverbs from the texts have?
Answer :
( a, b) effectively (manner); simply (manner); simply (focusing); completely (degree
(absolute)); still (relative time); boldly (manner); elegantly (manner); beautifully
(manner); softly (manner); confidently (manner); outside (place)
( c ) The texts still make sense (except the Woody Allen extract where, placed
immediately before past participles, the adverbs are the main descriptive words),
but the adverbs provide a substantial amount of 'colouring-in' detail. Without
adverbs the texts would be more straightforwardly descriptive. We would lose
much of the author's opinion and attitude.