UNIT
11
Adverbs: formation and position
FORMATION OF ADVERBS • Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives and clauses, providing further information such as frequency, manner, degree, etc. • Adverbs are often formed by adding the suffix -LY to an adjective or less frequently to a noun, with a few spelling alterations in some cases: ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
+ -ly (changes)
usual / surprising / unexpected / hour
no alteration
probable / simple / gentle / true happy / noisy / easy / shy
-e is dropped -y ➝ -ily
automatic / heroic / public
-ic ➝ -ically
usually / surprisingly / unexpectedly / hourly probably / simply / gently / truly happily / noisily / easily / but: shyly (monosyllable) automatically / heroically / but: publicly (exception)
• When an adjective ends with -ly you must use the adverbial phrase in a (adjective) way / manner: friendly ➝ in a friendly way / silly ➝ in a silly way • Some adverbs have the same structure as adjectives. The main ones are late, early, daily, hard, live, long, high, low, right, wrong, fast, close, wide. • In some cases these adverbs/adjectives may have other same-rooted adverbs with different meanings. Here are the most frequent pairs: late ➝ Am I late? (not on time) hard ➝ I studied hard yesterday (a lot) close ➝ The school is quite close (near)
lately ➝ I haven’t seen him lately. (recently) hardly ➝ I hardly studied yesterday (almost not) closely ➝ Study this example closely (in detail)
• There are 3 main positions for adverbs: initial position (at the beginning of a clause), mid-position (before or around the verb) and end-position (at the end of a clause). • Several adverbs can be placed in more than one position, but never put an adverb between the main verb and a direct object. POSITION OF ADVERBS place there, around, outside, nearby, somewhere, upwards, abroad ➝ My brother often travels abroad. mostly at the end of the clause time
yesterday*, tomorrow*, now*, today*, later, yet, early, soon ➝ I haven’t met Jack yet, but I saw Alice yesterday. mostly at the end of the clause (* = beginning, too)
already, just, still, ever ➝ Have you ever seen him? No, I’ve never seen him. between auxiliary and the Past participle
frequency
hardly ever, never, always, sometimes*, usually*, often* ➝ It hardly ever snows in winter here. ➝ I usually go by bus, but sometimes I walk. before the main verb, after be or auxiliary and modal (* = beginning, too)
occasionally, frequently, normally (end or before verb) ➝ I go to the opera occasionally (or: I occasionally go...) end of the clause or before the main verb
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