Adverbs

Adverbs

• An adverb can modify 3 different parts of speech – a verb, an adjective, or another adverb

• Adverbs answer the questions Where? When? In What Way? To What Extent? about the verb, adjective, or adverb.

• Most adverbs have an –ly ending.

Adverbs That Modify Verbs

Where?

drove down stay nearby

When?

report later come tomorrow

In What Way?

cautiously approached

walk quietly

To What Extent?

hardly counted scarcely escaped

Adverbs That Modify Adjectives

•When an adverb modifies an adjective, it usually answers the question:

To What Extent?

Very old violins are valuable.

Adverbs That Modify Other Adverbs

• When an adverb modifies another adverb, it usually answers the question:

To What Extent?

Some violins are played extremely rarely.

Adverbs That Do Not End With -ly

afterward almost very quite often therehard sometimes sooneverywhere long laterhere fast straightSimilarly, not all –ly words are

adverbs. Lovely, friendly, lively, kindly, lonely, homely, and elderly are used as adjectives.

Find the Adverbs

• People usually handle old violins carefully.

• Quickly tell your friend the answer.

Comparative Forms of Adverbs

• The comparative form of an adverb compares two actions.

– For short adverbs, add –er as an ending when comparing.

louder faster harder later

– For long adverbs, use more before the adverb when comparing.

more rapidly more harshly

Superlative Forms of Adverbs

• The superlative form of an adverb compares more than two actions.

– For short adverbs, add –est as an ending when comparing.

loudest fastest hardest latest

– For long adverbs, use most before the adverb when comparing.

most rapidly most harshly

Irregular Comparative and Superlative Forms of

Adverbs

Adverb Comparative Superlative

well better best

badly worse worst

little (amount) less least

Use the Correct Comparative

or Superlative Form • The DeAngelos had to walk

________ of all to school. (far)• Not surprisingly, parks that are

________ to population centers have the _________ visitors. (near, many)

farthest

nearest

most

Distinguishing Adjectives from Adverbs

• Adjectives and adverbs are often confused, especially when they appear after verbs.– The musicians are professional.

• The predicate adjective professional follows a linking verb and describes (modifies) musicians.

– The musicians behaved professionally.• The adverb professionally follows and

describes (modifies) the action verb behaved.

Distinguishing Adjectives from Adverbs

Adjectives Adverbs

The sound is bad.The band sounds good.The soloist seems well. (healthy)Music is a real art.

The actor sang badly.(Good is never an adverb.)The band played well.

Music is really popular.

Which is correct, Adjective or Adverb?

• I am (real, really) glad we left the park before the thunderstorm.

• He was (good, well) enough to go back to school when his fever was gone.

• I (sure, surely) appreciate all the assistance that was given.

• She proved that she could play (good, well) enough to be first chair flute.