Adverb Uses: modifiers to other words

Adverb Uses

Overview

Adverbs and Prepositional Phrases

ADVERB	PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
An adverb modifies a wide variety of sentence elements: a verb, an adjective, a prepositional phrase, a dependent clause or an independent clause.	A similar meaning may often be expressed with a prepositional phrase.
MANNER — HOW?	MANNER
Professor Wiley teaches enthusiastically. He looks at us curiously. (modifies a verb) See Adv for Manner.	Professor Wiley teaches with enthusiam. He looks at us in a curious manner.
PLACE (LOCATION) — WHERE?	PLACE (LOCATION)
He teaches at Stanford. He loves it there. He wants to go back. (modifies a verb) See Adv for Place.	He teaches at Stanford. He loves teaching in the university.
TIME (TEMPORAL) — WHEN	TIME (TEMPORAL)
He teaches daily. He is teaching us now. (modifies a verb) See Adv for Time.	He teaches in the morning. He is teaching us at this moment.
TIME (FREQUENCY) — HOW OFTEN?	TIME (FREQUENCY)
He usually draws diagrams. He rarely raises his voice. (modifies a verb) See Adv Frequency.	In general, he draws diagrams. Occasionally, he raises his voice.
DEGREE — HOW MUCH, TO WHAT EXTENT?	DEGREE
He is very talkative. He is completely crazy. He is exceptionally bright. (modifies an adjective) He writes too slowly. He speaks extremely fast. He does pretty well. (modifies an adverb) He arrives exactly on time. He came right over to my desk. (modifies a prepositional phrases) This is approximately where he stands. He is exactly whom we should ask. (modifies a wh- clause) See Adv for Degree.	He is, for the most part, crazy. (adjective)
FOCUS	FOCUS
Only we came here because we want to learn. (modifies a subject) We only came here because we want to learn. (modifies a verb) We came here only because we want to learn. (modifies a reason clause) We came here only when he was teaching. (modifies a time-relative clause) (Modifies a particular sentence part such as a subject, a verb, an object, a phrase, a dependent clause, etc.) See Adv for Focus.	We came here in particular because we want to learn. (a reason clause) We arrived here at least before he finished his lecture.

Adverbials

Circumstance, Stance, and Linking

Adverb vs. Prepositional Phrase

ADVERB	PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
Adverbials (1) add information about the situation in the clause (circumstantial); (2) express the speakers attitude or opinion about the situation in the clause (stance); (3) link the situation in one clause to the situation in another clause.	A similar meaning may often be expressed with a prepositional phrase.
CIRCUMSTANCE	CIRCUMSTANCE
He walked a short distance. place: how far? in what direction?	He walked from one whiteboard to the next. place: how far? in what direction?
He has been lecturing a while. time: how long, how often?	He has been lecturing for several hours / since 2 p.m. time: how long, how often?
He will rest before he comes to class. time: Time-relative to what?
He will sing as a bird sings. manner: Comparison	He will sing like a bird. (manner: Comparison)
	He will listen with headphones. (means: By/ With
	He will listen by using headphones. (means: By/ With)
He was ill because of influenza. cause: Because of / By	He was ill from influenza. (cause: Because of / By)
He will stay home so that he can get better. purpose: So that	He will stay home in order to get better. pupose: In order to
He will teach though he is not feeling well. concession: Because/ Though	He will teach in spite of not feeling well. (concession: Because/ Though
He will teach if he can. condition: Pres-Future Real)
He will be honored as a result of his work. result: Cause & Effect)
STANCE: OPINION REGARDING THE TRUTH OF A THE SITUATION	STANCE: OPINION
Perhaps, he is done, but we'd better ask to be sure. Actually, he knows that this is to complicated for us. Professionally, he is the best. See Adv for Opinion.	With luck, he is done, but we'd better ask to be sure. In fact, he knows that this is to complicated for us. From a professional view, he is the best.
STANCE: ATTITUDE (TOWARD A SITUATION)	STANCE: ATTITUDE
Fortunately, everyone was paying attention. Surprisingly, everyone was happy about it. See Adv for Evaluation.	In a fortunate way , everyone was paying attention. In a surprising way, everyone was happy about it.
STANCE: SPEECH-ACT — CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH ONE IS SPEAKING	STANCE: SPEECH-ACT
Frankly, he's looking for a new job. Briefly, he doesn't know what else he can do. See Adv for Speech Acts.	In truth, he's looking for a new job. In brief , he doesn't know what else he can do.
LINKING – RELATING THE IDEA OF ONE CLAUSE TO THE IDEA OF THE NEXT	LINKING
First, he's a very likeable guy. Therefore, someone will hire him quickly. See Adv for Linking.	In the first place, he's a very likeable guy. For all these reasons , someone will hire him quickly.

Adverb

Placement

Modifier Placement Matters — it changes the meaning!

BEFORE A VERB	BEFORE AN ADJECTIVE
She nearly passed all her exams. (She passed none.)	She passed nearly all her exams. (She passed most of them.) Nearly could modify either passed (verb) or all (adj. / determiner).

BEFORE A VERB

BEFORE AN ADJECTIVE

She nearly passed all her exams. (She passed none.)

She passed nearly all her exams. (She passed most of them.)

Nearly could modify either passed (verb) or all (adj. / determiner).

Place the word as near as possible to the word it modifies:

WORD MODIFIED	RECOMMENDED PLACEMENT	EXAMPLE
AN ADJECTIVE	before	She passed nearly all her exams. (She passed most of them.)
AN ADVERB	before	She passed very nearly all her exams. (She passed most of them.)
A PREPOSITION	before	She passed her exams nearly on time. (She was late.)
A CONJUNCTION	before	She took her exams exactly where I took them.
A VERB	before	She nearly passed all her exams. (She passed none.)
AN AUXILIARY + VERB	after auxiliary and before main verb	She could barely pass her exams. (She passed.)
AN INFINITIVE	placed after "to" or after infinitive	She wanted to really do well. /She wanted to do really well.

precede (v.) – come before

Grammar-Quizzes.com

PRACTICE ON POINTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR