The Adverb

The adverb is a part of speech which expresses some circumstances that attend an action or state, or points out some characteristic features of an action or a quality.

Kinds of Adverb

Manner happily, quickly, well, fast, hard, bravely, etc.

Place here, there, near, up, down, inside, outside, etc.

Time now, soon, still, then, yet, today, yesterday, tomorrow, etc.

Frequency often, always, usually, never, occasionally, twice, etc.

Degree very, too, much, little, hardly, rather, quite,

Measure and firstly, secondly, enough, nearly, almost, etc.

quantity

Cause and therefore, accordingly, consequently, etc.

consequences

Interrogative Where? When? Why? How? etc.

Relative and (to introduce subordinate clauses): when, where, why, however, besides, yet, still,

conjunctive

The majority of adverbs are formed by adding -ly to an adjective: slow-slowly, heavy-heavily, beautiful-beautifully;

The adjectives warmly, coldly, deeply, happily are used mainly of feelings.

She was smiling happily. He was deeply offended.

The following adjectives do not change at all when used as an adverb: fast, hard, high, early, late, better, best, long, little, much, last, wide, worse, far, near, daily, right, straight, wrong, still, low, etc. Compare:

He is a fast driver. He usually drives fast.

We had a late supper. We came home late.

It was a very hard question. We worked hard.

Some of the adjectives can be made into adverbs by adding -ly, but in these cases the meaning changes:

hardly I've hardly seen her today. (= almost not)

highly I can highly recommend it. (= very much)

lately Have you been to the cinema lately? (= recently)

lastly And lastly, I want you to sign this letter. (= finally)

widely She has travelled widely. (= to many different places)

nearly I'm nearly ready. (= almost)

Some adjectives already end in -ly: friendly, lovely, silly, cowardly. If you want to use these words as adverbs, you have to say in a ... way/manner:

She spoke to me in a friendly way.

Word order

Adverbs generally go after the verb.

The birds sang merrily after the silent days of winter. When the children heard the music, they came near. How did I do in the test? - You did very well.

gut we usually put the adverbs: usually, always, also, often, seldom, never, almost, probably, nearly, just, already, sometimes, hardly, quite before a verb, but after be or an auxiliary verb.

He often goes to work by car.

I don't usually stay at home on Sundays.

I have never been to the Far East.

You are always late.

We also use adverbs before adjectives, other adverbs, before Participle.

Sometimes we use them to modify the whole sentence.

I'm terribly sorry, (adverb + adjective)

He did it very quickly, (adverb + adverb)

The conference was badly organized, (adverb+Participle II)

Fortunately nobody was injured in the crash.

verb + object + adverb or adverb + verb + object

We can say: / translated this text easily. or: / easily translated this text. We do not put adverbs between the verb and the object.

Our guide spoke English fluently. (Not: spoke fluently English)

We enjoyed the party very much.

Note the difference:

He answered the questions foolishly. (His answers were foolish.)

He foolishly answered the questions. (It was foolish of him to answer at all.)

Sometimes can also be used at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.

Sometimes it is cold in May. It's cold in May sometimes.

Lately, recently, too, before, either (in negative sentences), yet (уже in questions; ещё in negative sentences) are put at the end of the sentence.

Have you seen this film yet? - No, I haven't seen this film yet.

I have never been to London before. Have you been there too ? - No, I haven't been there either.

I haven't heard from him lately. I've got a letter from him recently.

Somewhere, anywhere, nowhere follow the same basic rule as some, any, no.

-Are you going anywhere? - Nowhere.

- Let's go somewhere.

- I am not going anywhere today.

Any more/any longer/no longer

We use not... any more, not... any longer, no longer to say that a situation has changed.

Mr Smith doesn 't work here any more (or any longer). no longer goes in the middle of the sentence

We are no longer friends, (not ... "no more") She is no longer a student, (not ... "no more")