ADVERBS. f An adverb is a word that describes or modifies a verb, an adjective, or anot It answers the questions where, when, how, how often, and to what ertent Examples: She went out. (where) My friend arrived yesterday. (when) She scooped the syrup carefully. (how) My cousins always quarrel. (how often) Adverb modifying an adjective: | was extremely pleased with your rendition of the song. (to She faces a tremendously difficult situation. This manual is very easy to follow. Adverb modifying another adverb: He wrote so neatly. You will have to listen very carefully. Prepositional phrases also act as adverbs. They are called prepositional adverb pir: They modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs. Examples: Modifying Verbs: Place: I rested under the tree. (where) The stray cat jumped over the fence. (where) Time: The volcano spews ashes in the morning. (when) Burglars break doors at night. (when) Manner: late the sizzling steak in short order. I gazed at the moon through my telescope. Modifying adjective: Tam upset at the situation Modifying adverb: The back hove dug deep into the earth, (The underlined phrase modifies deep, an adverb that modifies the verb dug.) The word deep can be used as an adjective, an adverb, or even a noun (if it is used with the article the.)Consider the following examples: | do not want to fall into the deep. As anou He was commended for a deep portrayal of his role as a As an adjective: e holocaust survivor. As adverb: He is wandering deep into the forest. How do we know if a word is used as an adverb or a preposition? Here is the clue: word is followed by a noun or pronoun (also called an object), it is a preposition a part of a prepositional phrase. If it is alone and clearly describes an action ver’, | adverb. Examples: The learners gathered outside the classroom. In this example, the word outside is used as a preposition because it has an ob noun classroom. Together, the words form a prepositional phrase that acts as an 2 modifying the verb gathered. The entire phrase answers the question where. The learners ran outside. In this second example, outside is used as an adverb modifying the verb ran. It does no have an object, and therefore, cannot be considered a preposition. | will just walk around. (adverb) Stop running around the glass table. (preposition) I went there before. (adverb) He spoke before an audience. (preposition) The conversation coasted along. (adverb) The conversation coasted along ghosts and vampires. (preposition) Just remember that while the second examples above conti? prepositions, they are in fact a part of prepositional phrases, which their entirety, act as adverbs. They are known as prepositional adver? phrases which function in the same way as single-word adverbs. Adjective and Adverb Usage (Degree of Comparison) Adjectives and adverbs have forms that let us show how things compare to each other 0F one another. There are three degrees or forms of comparison for adjectives and adverbs: Positive, Comparative and Superlative.Positive degree The positive degree is used to compare two equal things or persons. Examples: Adjective Adverb Phil is as charming as his brother James. Sheena plays the guitar as badly as Jim My soccer ball is as big as a watermelon. She sings as beautifully as Sara Roy is as intelligent as his cousin Clarisse. The boy runs as fast as his friend Comparative degree The comparative degree is used to compare two unequal things or persons. Examples: Adjective Adverb Phil is more charming than Luis. Sheena plays the guitar worse than Joe. My soccer ball is bigger than a watermelon. She sings more beautifully than Sharon. Roy is more intelligent than his brother. The boy runs faster than his friend. Superlative degree Examples: The superlative degree is used to compare three or more things or persons. Adjective Adverb Phil is most charming among the players. Sheena plays the worst among the three guitarists. My soccer ball is the biggest among the balls at home. She sings most beautifully in her music class. Roy is the most intelligent in the class. This boy runs the fastest in his group Adjective Adverb Positive | Comparative | Superlative Positive Comparative | Superlative bad worse worst badly worse worst good better best well better best panReview Your Grommor & Observe the following rules to form the comparative and superlative degrees of adjectiy, and adverbs: For adjectives with one or two syllables, add —er to form the comparative, and ~est to form the superlative. Examples: young younger youngest wise wiser wisest weak weaker weakest smart smarter smartest tall taller tallest If a two-syllable adjective ends in y, change y to i, and add —er or --est. Examples: creepy creepier creepiest pretty prettier prettiest friendly friendlier friendliest happy happier happiest dainty daintier daintiest For adjectives with more than two syllables, use more or most before the adjective to form their comparative and superlative degrees. Examples: delicious more delicious most delicious intelligent more intelligent most intelligent intimidating more intimidating most intimidatingFor adverbs that end in —ly, use more and most regardless of the number of syllables. Examples: freely more freely most freely painfully more painfully most painfully slowly more slowly most slowly quickly more quickly most quickly The opposites of more and most are less and least, respectively. Use them comparative and superlative of adjectives and adverbs. Adjectives: aware less aware least aware boring less boring least boring impressive less impressive least impressive smart less smart least smart happy less happy least happy worrisome less worrisome least worrisome Adverbs: courageously less courageously least courageously courteously less courteously least courteously graciously less graciously least graciously painfully less painfully least painfully vigorously less vigorously least vigorouslydaily too difficult @ FREQUENCY (How often) sometimes very small My father rides the taxi daily. often moderately easy extremely large esterday DY TIME (When) ater She will arrive later. now ‘tonight MANNER (How) hastily He waited cautiously impatiently. impatiently aa hed asa ] Tu tC CR CC ay x Yi eden a) ( &to what extent She arranged the ceramic plates very carefully. Nat soneatly extremely well very carefully PLACE (Where) The balloons floated above. Irushed outside. Next year, she will travel overseas for leisure. © MANNER (How) consumed the ice cream in short order The train rammed the passing van at lightning speed: DESCRIBING “VERB TIME (When) Igraduated in 1989. rea eee his vieto PREPOSITION AL fend woh te door daughter PHRASE AGTING TSN) DESCRIBING AN ADJECTIVE DESCRIBING AN ADVERB He should arrive early in the morning. FIGURE NO.9 ‘The plane flew late at night.