Adverbs as Part of Speech

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Before moving ahead with the Adverbs, let’s have a look at what are parts of speech in brief:

Parts of Speech Parts of speech are the basic categories of words according to their function in a sentence. It is a category to which a word is assigned in accordance with its syntactic functions. English has eight main parts of speech, namely, Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives, Verbs, Adverbs, Prepositions, Conjunctions & Interjections. In grammar, the parts of speech, also called lexical categories, grammatical categories or word classes is a linguistic category of words.

Adverb: It is a word used to modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb or an entire clause.

Examples:
Anita walks slowly.
Divya talks softly.
Bharti ran away very quickly. (Adverb phrase modifies the verb ran)
The toolkit has been kept in the garage. (Adverbial prepositional phrase modifies the verb kept)

Types of Adverbs as Part of Speech

Given below is the detailed explanation of the various types of Adverbs with relevant examples.

Adverb of Time

It describes when for how long something happens and answers the question ‘when’ through words like soon, early, late, now, before, still, yet, later, tomorrow, etc. In an interrogative sense, when and how longfunction as the adverb of time.

Examples:The show will resume soon.
We are preparing for dinner now.
How long had you been hiding in the bushes?
When did you arrive?

Adverb of Place

Describe the direction, distance, movement, or position involved in the action of a verb and thus answers the question ‘where’ through the words like here, there, everywhere, north, south, forward, downward, behind, etc. In an interrogative sense, where functions as adverb of place.

 Examples:The boat was moving downstream.
Where are you going?
They say that God is present everywhere.

Adverb of Manner

It describes how something happens or someone does something. It actually answers the question ‘how’ or in ‘what manner’ through words like beautifully, wonderfully, smartly, badly, bravely, etc. In an interrogative sense, how functions as adverb of manner. Usually, the adverb of manners are formed from adjectives.

Examples:The lion moved slowly towards its prey.
How did she behave in the party?
Maya behaved badly in the get together.

 Adverb of Degree or Quantity

It describes the degree or extent of the verb, adjective, or adverb they are modifying. It answers the question ‘how far’ through words like very, quite, almost, fairly, truly, pretty, somewhat, etc. In an interrogative sense, how far and how much function as adverb of degree or quantity.

 Examples:You are pretty close to the correct answer.
How far do you think they can go with this attitude?
It took us quite a long time to reach the destination.

 Adverb of Frequency (or Number)

It describes how frequently or how often something happens. Words like always usually, twice, firstly, daily, monthly, etc. are adverbs of frequency.

    Examples:Twice did I land up in jail.
Preeti rarely skips her meals.
I am usually awake by 7 o’ clock in the morning.

Adverb of Reason

It describe ‘why’ something happens or is the case. Words like therefore, thus, hence, consequently, etc. are adverbs of reason.

Example:Pratima has never behaved so oddly. We must therefore conclude that something is wrong.

Adverb of Focus and Viewpoint

I is used to focus on a particular word or phrase, such as also, exclusively, just, mostly, notably, primarily, especially.

Examples:Priya gets gifts for all, even for her distant cousins.

Primarily, the research focuses on human behavior in adverse circumstances.
I don’t like kids, especially the cranky ones.

Adverb of Viewpoint

It is used to express that a particular idea is being looked at from a certain point of view, or to specify what aspect of something is being talked about. Words like personally, in my point of view, according to you, scientifically, biologically, etc., are adverbs of viewpoint.

Examples:
Logically speaking, completing this task within the given time frame is next to impossible.
According to Parth the ship should have sunk by now.

Adverb of Affirmation

Expresses what the speaker knows about the truth of the statement. Words like perhaps, certainly, undoubtedly, clearly, allegedly, etc. are adverbs of affirmation.

Example: You have certainly fallen prey to greed.

Adverb of Negation

It is used to modify the meaning of a verb, adjective or another adverb in a negative way with words such as not, hardly, barely, never, seldom.

Example: I do not work on holidays.

Relative Adverbs

It joins two clauses by relating itself to a noun and indicates time, place, reason or manner.

Examples: 
I know the house where he lives.
I don’t know the time when the function begins.
I don’t know why he left the room.

Order of Adverbs as Part of Speech

If more than adverb is used to describe a verb, a specific order should be maintained while placing them in a sentence, so that the sentence sounds smooth. Place multiple adverbs in the following order:

Example: 
I have to run quickly (manner) to the hospital (place) everyday (frequency) after breakfast (time) in order to see my patients (purpose).

Comparison of Adverbs

Like adjectives, there are three degrees of comparison in adverbs: the positive, the comparative and the superlative. The adverbs form their comparatives and superlatives using –er and –est and more and most. Some adverbs have comparative and superlative degrees completely different from their positive forms:

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Near	Nearer	Nearest
High	Higher	Highest
Angrily	More angrily	Most angrily
Gladly	More gladly	Most gladly
Much	More	Most
Little	Less	Least

Forms of Adverbs as Part of Speech

• Adverbs formed by adding –ly to an adjective:

He had a quick run to save the child from an accident. (Adjective)
He ran quickly to save the child from an accident. (Adverb

• Adverbs that are identical to adjectives:

Neeraj owns a fast and powerful bike. (Adjective)
Please do not drive too fast. (Adverb)

• Adverbs such as as, even, how, never, next, now, rather, so, soon, still, then, too, etc. are not derived from an adjective or any other word.

Are you still hiding the truth?
She does not even know our situation.

Few tips to Use Adverbs as Part of Speech

1. The sentence based on too…to format can only be replaced with so…that,  if ‘cannot’ is also added while conversion.

Example:The box is too heavy to lift.The box is too heavy that one cannot lift it. (Incorrect)
The box is so heavy that one cannot lift it. (Correct)

2. Two negatives cancel each other. So avoid using double negatives unless we make an affirmation.

Example.
I have not done nothing wrong. (Incorrect)
I have not done anything wrong. (Correct)

3. The adverbs ‘hard’ and ‘hardly’ carry completely different meanings. The former means ‘diligently’, ‘intensely’, while the latter means ‘scarcely at all’. Therefore be careful while using them.

Examples:They work hardly in the fields. (Incorrect)
They work hard in the fields. (Correct)

Rita has hard uttered a word today. (Incorrect)
Rita has hardly uttered a word today. (Correct)

4. The sentences which begin with seldom, never, hardly, scarcely or rarely, have the following structure: Adverb + Verb + Subject

Example:Seldom we have gathered together. (Incorrect)
Seldom have we gathered together. (Correct)