GRAMMAR/STRUCTURE 1

BY: ZUMA
 Adverbs such as quickly, badly, or warmly describe
verbs.
 Adverbs are words that modify everything but
nouns and pronouns. They modify adjectives,
verbs, and other adverbs. A word is an adverb if it
answers how, when, or where.
 Examples:
 He speaks slowly.
Answers the question how.

 He speaks very slowly.

Answers the question how slowly.
 Rule 1
Generally, if a word answers the question how, it is
an adverb. If it can have an -ly added to it, place it
there.
Examples:
 She thinks slow/slowly.
 She is a slow/slowly thinker.
 She thinks fast/fastly.
 We performed bad/badly.
 Rule 2
A special -ly rule applies when four of the senses -
taste, smell, look, feel - are the verbs. Do not ask if
these senses answer the question how to determine
if -ly should be attached. Instead, ask if the sense
verb is being used actively. If so, use the -ly.

Examples:
 Roses smell sweet/sweetly.
 The woman looked angry/angrily.
 The woman looked angry/angrily at the paint
splotches.
She feels bad/badly about the news.
 Rule 3
The word good is an adjective, while well is an
adverb.

Examples:
 You did a good job.
 You did the job well.
 You smell good today.
 You smell well for someone with a cold.
 Rule 4
When referring to health, use well rather than good. 
Examples:
 I do not feel well. 
 You do not look well today.

NOTE:
You may use good with feel when you are not
referring to health.
Example:
I feel good about my decision to learn Spanish.
 Rule 5
Never drop the -ly from an adverb when using the
comparison form.
Correct:
 She spoke quickly.
 She spoke more quickly than he did.

Incorrect:
 She spoke quicker than he did.

Correct:
 Talk quietly.
 Talk more quietly.

Incorrect:
 Talk quieter.
 Form of adverb in general: adjective + -ly
Adjective adverb
Slow slowly

Exceptions in spelling
Exception example
silent e is dropped in true → truly
true, due, whole
y becomes I happy → happily
le after a consonant sensible → sensibly
after ll only add y full → fully
The following adjectives are also
used as adverbs (without
modification):
daily, enough, early, far, fast,
hourly, little, long, low, monthly,
much, straight, weekly, yearly, …
Position
of
Adverbs
 Adverb of Manner
(e.g.: slowly, carefully, awfully)
These adverbs are put behind the direct object
(or behind the verb if there's no direct object).
Subject verb(s) direct O adverb
He drove the car carefully
He drove carefully
 Adverbs of Place
 (e.g.: here, there, behind, above)
 Like adverbs of manner, these adverbs are put

behind the direct object or the verb.

Subject verb(s) object adverb
I didn't see him here.
He stayed  behind.
 Adverbs of Time
(e.g.: recently, now, then, yesterday)
Adverbs of time are usually put at the end of the
sentence.
S V indirect O direct O time
I tell you the story today

If you don't want to put emphasis on the time, you

can also put the adverb of time at the beginning of
the sentence.
TimeS verb(s) indirect O direct O
Today I tell you the story.
 Adverbs of Frequency
(e.g.: always, never, seldom, usually)
Adverbs of frequency are put directly before the
main verb. If 'be' is the main verb and there is no
auxiliary verb, adverbs of frequency are put behind
'be'. Is there an auxiliary verb, however, adverbs of
frequency are put before 'be'.
S aux/be adverb V O, place or time
I often go in the evenings.
He doesn't always play tennis.
We are usually here in summer.
I have never been abroad.
 Comparison (-er/-est)
Comp in –er Super in -est
one-syllable adv harder hardest
adv = adj (early) earlier earliest
Comparison (more / most)
Comp more Super most
adverbs more happily most happily
Ending
in -ly (happily)
Positive comparative superlative
Well better best
Badly worse worst
Ill worse worst
Little less least
Much more most
far(place + time) further furthest
far (place) farther farthest
late (time) later latest
thank you very
much
Fill in the correct form of the adjective or adverb.
1. Once upon a time there were three little pigs who wanted to
see the world. When they left home, their mom gave them
some advice: Whatever you do, do it the (good) ….. you can.
2. So the three pigs wandered through the world and were the
(happy) ….. pigs you've ever seen.
3. They were playing (funny) ….. games all summer long, but
then came autumn and each pig wanted to build a house.
4. The first pig was not only the (small) …. but also the (lazy) …..
of the pigs.
5. He (quick) ….. built a house out of straw.
6. The second pig made his house out of wood which was a
bit (difficult) ….. than building a straw house.
7. The third pig followed his mum's advice and built a strong
house out of bricks, which was the (difficult) ….. house to
build.
8. The pig worked very (hard) ….. , but finally got his house
ready before winter.
9. During the cold winter months, the three little pigs lived
(extreme) ….. (good) ….. in their houses.
10. They (regular) ….. visited one another and had the
(wonderful) ….. time of their lives.
Exercise on Comparison of Adverbs
Fill in the correct adverb form (comparative or
superlative) of the adjectives in brackets.
1. I speak English (fluent) … now than last year.
2. She greeted me (polite) … of all.
3. She smiled (happy) … than before.
4. This girl dances (graceful) … of all.
5. Could you write (clear) …?
6. Planes can fly (high) … than birds.
7. He had an accident last year. Now, he drives
(careful) … than before.
8. Jim can run (fast) … than John.
9. Our team played (bad) … of all.
10. He worked (hard) … than ever before.
Find the adj in the 1st sentence and fill the gap with the adv.
1. Joanne is happy. She smiles ….
2. The boy is loud. He shouts ….
3. Her English is fluent. She speaks English ….
4. Our mum was angry. She spoke to us ….
5. My neighbor is a careless driver. He drives ….
6. The painter is awful. He paints ….
7. Jim is a wonderful piano player. He plays the piano ….
8. This girl is very quiet. She often sneaks out of the house ….
9. She is a good dancer. She dances really….
10. This exercise is simple. You … have to put one word in each
space.