GRAMMAR & STRUCTUREAdverbs: Part One

  Definition

Adverbs give more information about verbs.

Example

    Jill walks slowly.

Explanation

Adverbs --

describe the action of a verb. usually end in "ly." have irregular forms. usually follow the verb they describe.

GRAMMAR & STRUCTURE — ExamplesAdverbs: Part One

   

Sentences using regular adverbs

Example Sentence Adverb

Benjamin runs quickly. quickly

My teenage daughter drives carefully. carefully

Bart sings loudly in the shower. loudly

The cat walks quietly in the house. quietly

The server brings us our food slowly. slowly

Sentences using irregular adverbs

Example Sentence Adverb

The boy hits the ball hard. hard

Heather swims fast. fast

My father wakes up early. early

My mother wakes up late. late

Shondra plays the piano well. well

GRAMMAR & STRUCTURE — ExercisesAdverbs: Part One

   

Answer the following questions to check your knowledge of adverbs.

Choose the adverbs in the following sentences.

ExampleThe receptionist answers the telephone constantly.

receptionisttelephoneconstantlyanswers

The correct answer is "constantly".

1. The server clears the table quickly.  server  table  quickly  clears     2. The boat sails slowly across the water.  slowly  sails  across  boat     3. The children play noisily in the corner.  children  corner  in

  noisily     4. The chef skillfully cuts the meat.  cuts  skillfully  chef  the     5. The tourists talk happily about their trip.  talk  about  happily  tourists     Choose the correct word to complete the sentences.     6. The mountain is ______ to climb.  hard  hardly     7. The family plays ______ together.  well  good     8. Cars move ______ along the highway.  fastly  fast     9. I wake up ______ every morning.  earlily  early     

10. Grant is ______ for work after lunch.  late  lately

GRAMMAR & STRUCTUREAdverbs: Part Two

   

Definition

Adverbs describe how, when, where, and how often an action happens.

Example

    Gerry often plays badminton at lunch.

Explanation

Adverbs --

answer the questions: When? How often? How long? and Where? can come at the beginning, end, or in the middle of a sentence.

GRAMMAR & STRUCTURE — ExamplesAdverbs: Part Two

   

Adverbs of Time: When?

after (later than) I'll phone you after work.

already (at some past time) I already saw that movie.

during (at the same time) I phoned John during the TV commercial.

finally (in the end)I've been waiting for six weeks, but I finally got a letter from my friend travelling in Europe.

just (close past)They just got married. Now they are leaving on their honeymoon.

last (the most recent) Last night I went out for dinner.

later (after a time)Why don't we go for coffee later? I can't go now.

next (nearest in future) I'm going to Hawaii next week.

now (at this time, present)Why don't we go for coffee later? I can't go now.

recently (close past)Judy recently won a big prize for her latest novel.

soon (close future)Soon I'll be on holidays and then we can go to Paris.

then (at that time, future or past)Soon I'll be on holidays and then we can go to Paris.

tomorrow (the next day, future) Tomorrow is my birthday.

when (at that time, past or future) Call me when you finish your homework.

while (at the same time) While you were out, your girlfriend called.

yesterday (the day before, past)Did you watch the hockey game on TV yesterday?

Adverbs of Time: Frequency (How often?)Shown in order of most often to least often

always I always have lunch at 12 o'clock.

often I see Jane often. She works in the same building as I do.

every I have dinner at my grandmother's house every Thursday.

once a ______ I have dinner with my grandmother once a week.

usually When I visit my grandmother, we usually watch TV after dinner.

sometimes Sometimes my grandmother and I play cards.

from time to time I see Tom from time to time. I saw him a month ago.

seldom I seldom see Mary. I can't remember the last time I saw her.

rarely I rarely see Jim. He lives 50 kilometres from me and I haven't seen him in two years.

never I will never go to that restaurant again. It was terrible!

Adverbs of Time: Duration (How long?)

for (amount of time) The doctor told Tom to stay in bed for three days.

forever (all time) Tom wants to live in Canada forever.

from ___ to ____ Mary is going to be in Tokyo from April 1 to April 21.

since (action begins at a specific time in the past)

Tom has been afraid of heights since last year, when he fell off a ladder and broke his leg.

still (action continues) Mary is still on holidays. She returns next week.

until (action finishes at a specific point)

We can't leave the children until the babysitter arrives.

Adverbs of Place: (Where?)

everywhere (in all places) Flowers are blossoming everywhere in the city.

here (the place you are) Bring the letter here, so I can read it.

there (a place far from you) Jack was there this morning. Do you know where he is now?

GRAMMAR & STRUCTURE — ExercisesAdverbs: Part Two

   

Answer the following questions to check your knowledge of adverbs.

Choose the adverbs in the following sentences.

ExampleI am going on holiday soon.

holidaygoingsoonon

The correct answer is "soon".

1. I rarely eat meat.  I  meat  rarely  eat     2. I want to go there for dinner.  there  go  for  dinner     3. I seldom eat dinner at that restaurant.  at  that  seldom  restaurant     4. I just returned from a wonderful trip to Europe.  just  from  wonderful  trip

     5. What are you doing here?  here  doing  what  are     Choose the type of adverb used in each of the following sentences.     6. Angela seldom works in the office.  adverb of frequency (how often)  adverb of time (when)  adverb of place (where)  adverb of duration (how long)     7. George will be tired when he arrives.  adverb of frequency (how often)  adverb of time (when)  adverb of place (where)  adverb of duration (how long)     8. I never have time to exercise.  adverb of frequency (how often)  adverb of time (when)  adverb of place (where)  adverb of duration (how long)     9. We have to work until we finish the project.  adverb of frequency (how often)  adverb of time (when)  adverb of place (where)  adverb of duration (how long)

     10. Tim feels tired because he just woke up.  adverb of frequency (how often)  adverb of time (when)  adverb of place (where)  adverb of duration (how long)