Correct use of adverbs (part2)
June 5, 2023 2023-06-21 4:39
Correct use of adverbs (part2)
This is a text according to the training and IELTS test. If you have any questions, we will be happy to comment on this page.
This text is in accordance with the IELTS training in CaliforniaKL College and the IELTS test. If you have any questions, please leave a comment on this page.
Grammar Explanation: Adverbs
Adverbs are the words that modify or give extra information about verbs, adjectives, other words or whole clauses. This unit examines the form and use of adverbs, including adverb pairs with very similar forms, as well as adverbs and adjectives with the same form. This unit also looks at the position of adverbs which modify verbs and at those adverbs which convey a viewpoint or attitude or modify a whole sentence.
Form
Forms of Adverbs
Some adverbs are not derived from other words, while others are formed by adding suffixes (eg. -ly) to other words, or are formed from groups of words. These are some common examples of adverbs (note spelling):
| Not formed from other words | just, well, soon, too, quite, still |
| Fixed phrases | kind of, of course, at last |
Formed from other words adjective + -ly noun / preposition + ward(s)/-wise compounds |
tragic => tragically, excitable => excitably, easy => easily, real => really home => homeward, after => afterwards, price => prices, health => healthwise some + times => sometimes |
Confusing Forms
In some cases adverbs have the same forms as adjectives; in other cases, two different adverbs are derived from the same adjective:
Adverbs which have the same form as adjectives:
- close, dead, fast, fine, long, low, pretty, short, straight, wide, wrong
Common adverbs from the same base, with different meanings:
direct (= without stopping)
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directly (= immediately/very soon)
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late (= not on time/not early)
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lately (= recently)
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high (= to a great height)
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highly (= extremely)
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hard (= with a lot of effort/ severely)
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hardly (= scarcely, almost not)
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right (= direction/correctly)
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rightly (= correctly in my opinion)
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free (= without paying)
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freely (= without limitation or control)
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deep (= to a great depth/distance)
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deeply (= thoroughly)
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Note: There are a few adjectives which look like adverbs, eg. friendly, lonely, cowardly. We cannot make these adjectives into adverbs in the usual way. We use alternative words or phrases, or the adjective with manner or way:
X He left cowardlyly, sneaking out the back door.
✓ He left like a coward … ✓ He left in a cowardly way …
We use some common adjectives as adverbs in informal conversational English, although some speakers consider this incorrect:
- They sell things very cheaply in that market.
In the informal US English real and good can be used instead of really and well:
- She’s a real nice girl. The team’s running well this season. continue part 3
