Adverb is a qualifier which qualifies
a verb or an adjective or an adverb itself.
Kinds of Adverb :
(a) According to meaning
1) Adverbs of Time : They are the adverbs which tell us when an action takes place. For example :
- I shall meet you tomorrow.
2) Adverbs of Place : They are the adverbs which tell us where an action takes place. For example :
- He left his bag there.
3) Adverbs of Manner : They are the adverbs which tell us how an action takes place or in what manner. For example :
- Gautam Buddha left his family stealthily.
4) Adverbs of Frequency : They are the adverbs which tells us how often an action takes place. For example :
- The Delhi Police is with you always.
5) Adverbs of Degree or Quantity : They are the adverbs which tells us how much or in what degree or to what extent. For example :
- I have pleaded enough and now I give up.
Rule : So as an adverb of degree must not be used absolutely.
Example :
Incorrect : He is so rich.
Correct : He is very rich.
Rule : That should not be used instead of so as an adverb.
Example :
Incorrect : He went only that far.
Correct : He went only so far.
Rule : The adverb too should not be used instead of very or much and vice versa.
Example :
Incorrect : She is too intelligent.
Correct : She is very intelligent.
Rule : Much is used with past participle used as adjectives, not with present participles.
Example :
Incorrect : The match became much interesting.
Correct : The match became very interesting.
6) Adverbs of Affirmation and Negation : They are the adverbs which tell us whether an action is done or not. For example :
- He has not left the place.
7) Adverbs of Reason : They are the adverbs which tell us why an action takes place. For example :
- She therefore decided to be a rich woman.
(b) According to use
1) Simple Adverb : It only modifies some word (verb, adjective or an adverb). All the above examples belong to this category.
2) Interrogative Adverb : It not only modifies some word, but also introduces a question. For example,
- How did you come here?
3) Relative Adverb : It not only modifies some word, but also refers back to some antecedent. For example,
- How can I forget the day when happiness was showered on me from all sides?
Forms of Adverb :
Rule : Adjective should not be used for adverb.
Example :
Incorrect : The moon shone bright in the sky.
Correct : The moon shone brightly in the sky.
Rule : Some adverbs have two forms, the form ending in -ly and the form which is the same as adjective. For example, loud, quick, high, hard, near, late, pretty.
Example :
Incorrect : He fought hardly for the No. 1 spot.
Correct : He fought hard for the No. 1 spot.
Similarly,
Incorrect : It would hard rain today.
Correct : It would hardly rain today.
Comparison of Adverbs :
Rule : If the adverb is of one syllable, the comparative is formed by adding -er and the superlative by adding -est to the positive.
Example :
Incorrect : The hare ran more fast than the dog.
Correct : The hare ran faster than the dog.
Rule : Adverbs ending in -ly form the comparative by adding more and the superlative by adding most.
Example :
Incorrect : The petrol price hike issue has been debated hotlier than the urea scam.
Correct : The petrol price hike issue has been debated most hotly than the urea scam.
Position of Adverbs :
Rule : Adverb of manner, place and time are generally placed after the verb or after the object if there is one.
Example :
Incorrect : The sun is brightly shining.
Correct : The sun is shining brightly.
Rule : Adverbs of frequency and most of the adverb of quantity are
(i) normally put between the subject and the verb if the verb consists of any one word.
(ii) put after the first word if there is more than one word in the verb.
(iii) put after the verb if the verb is am/are/is/was/were; and
(iv) put before an auxiliary or a form of the verb be, when the adverb is stressed.
Example :
Incorrect : He comes home late often.
Correct : He often comes home late.
Rule : When there are two or more adverbs after a verb (and its object), the normal order is : adverb of manner, adverb of place, adverb of time.
Example :
Incorrect : I read the proof yesterday meticulously at home.
Correct : I read the proof yesterday at home meticulously.
Some more rules :
Rule : Two negatives should not be used in the same sentence unless we wish to make an affirmation.
Example :
Incorrect : She did not despise none of her lovers.
Correct : She despised none of her lovers.
OR
She did not despise any of her lovers.
Rule : Ever should not be used for never.
Example :
Incorrect : She seldom or ever has sweet talks with her son.
Correct : She seldom or never has sweet talks with her son.
Rule : Else should be followed by but.
Example :
Incorrect : It is nothing else than fatigue.
Correct : It is nothing else but fatigue.
Rule : Never should not be used for not.
Example :
Incorrect : She met her friend after a long time and her friend never recognized her.
Correct : She met her friend after a long time and her friend did not recognized her.
SOME MORE RULES :-
- Too/ So
'So' means 'very' and normally as an adverb intensifies an adjective (so beautiful, so nice). 'Too' means 'more than enough' and as an intensifier qualifies an adjective but in a negative sense. Both are not replaceable by each other. As an intensifier 'So' works as a conjunction and takes 'that' after it.
It is difficult for him to pass because he is too weak in languages. (Replace 'too' with 'very')
He is so polite in his nature and hence everybody loves him. (Replace 'so' with 'very', otherwise use 'that' in place of 'and hence')
He is very serious in his work that his success is sure. (Replace 'very' with 'so')
'Too' is used in a structure that tells the cause why a work cannot happen. The structure is Too + Adj + to V1
He is too wise to be deceived. (=He is so wise that he cannot be deceived.)
She is too poor in health to miss the examination. (Replace 'miss' with 'appear in')
- Very, Much, Very much, Too much, Much too
'Very' simply qualifies an adjective or adverb.
Very intelligent, Very slowly
'Much' meaning 'a lot' is preferably used with negative verbs.
He does not know much.
In affirmative, 'a lot' or a great/good deal is preferred.
He knows a lot.
'Much' in other cases is used in constructions like 'as much that', 'so much that', 'too much'. Then the meaning of as-as, so-that, or too is applied.
He speaks so much that it is difficult to bear him.
'Much' is also used to intensify a participle i.e., V3 form of the verb used as adjective.
He is a much acclaimed scientist of nuclear technology.
'Much' can be used with comparative and superlative degrees.
Much better, Much the best
'Very much' is used in affirmative and to qualify verbs and adjectives.
He is very much poor.
Even today honest people are very much praised.
'Too much' has the same meaning (more than enough) and usage as ''too'.
'Much too' means very much and is used in the positive sense.
He is much too devoted in his work.
- Rather / Fairly
While 'rather' is used to show disliking and this with unfavorable adjectives, 'fairly' is used to show liking.
In hot summer, tea seems fairly hot. (rather)
In winter, tea seems rather hot. (fairly)
- Quite
With adjectives which are superlative by their meaning i.e., their degree cannot change 'quite' means 'completely'.
Her behavior in the party was quite charming. (=very or completely)
However, with those adjectives whose degree can change, 'quite' means 'not very'.
His performance in the match was quite good. (=very good)
Thus, in this sentence if we have to give a positive sense, then 'quite' should be replaced by 'very'.
- Enough
As an adverb 'enough' always comes after the adjective or adverb it qualifies.
In that alien land he was enough generous to help me with money. (generous enough)
The boy is learning the matter enough quickly. (quickly enough)
- The following words are both adjectives an adverbs and hence 'ly' never used with then to make them adverb.
Fast, Long, Low, Straight, Well
- In the following group both the words are used as adverbs, but their meanings are entirely different.
'Late' means delayed and 'Lately' means recently.
He reacted to the proposal lately and he missed the chance. (late)
We have late come across a person who can foretell the future. (lately)
'Direct' means straight and 'Directly' means 'soon'.
I am coming directly from home. (direct)
Be prepared, the chief guest will be here direct (directly)
In the same way 'Deeply' is used with the feelings and not for depth, while 'highly' is used with abstract things not for height.
Deeply influenced, Highly admired
- If any of the following words/expressions comes at the beginning of the sentence, then the subject of the sentence is preceded by the auxiliary verb of the sentence through the sentence does not become interrogative.
Hardly, Scarcely, Seldom, Rarely, Never, Nor, No, Not, Only be, Only in this way, Only when/then, In no circumstances, On no account, So + Adj
There is no other way; only by hard labour you can get success. (can you).
Nobody in this class was able to answer the question; nor I was. (was I).