FOR FREE MATERIALS

Adverb

An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

e.g.

He speaks softly (Here the adverb ‘softly’ modifies the action or the verb ‘speaks’)

He speaks very softly (Here the adverb ‘very’ modifies the adverb ‘softly’)

He is very tall (Here the adverb ‘very’ modifies the adjective ‘tall’)

Types of adverb:-

Rule 1:

Adverb of time is put before the verb that they modify.

Already, often, usually, never, sometimes, hardly, ever, frequently, recently, etc. put before the verb.

e.g.

I hardly go there.

Sumit recently called me.

Adverb of manner is put after the transitive verb but no such restriction is there in the case of the intransitive verb; it can be put before such verb or after such verb.

e.g.

She left hurriedly.

Rama performed gracefully.

Rule 2:

Words that denote anything negative (such as hardly, seldom, never, not, neither, rarely, nothing), are not be accompanied by negative adverbs.

e.g.

I hardly do not go there. (wrong)

I hardly go there. (correct)

I rarely take coffee. (correct)

Note: Adverb ‘not’ cannot be replaced by the adverb ‘never’. ‘Never’ can be used to denote regular or habitual actions.

e.g.

I never smoke.

I never appeared in any banking examination last month. (wrong)

I did not appear in any banking examination last month. (correct)

I do not care what you do. (correct)

Note: Negatives are not used with forbid, both, deny, until, unless, lest.

e.g.

Rama denied the effort that her mother put for her success. (correct)

You are forbidden not to enter the hall. (wrong)

You are forbidden to enter the hall. (correct)

Rule 3:

Correct phrase – seldom or never, seldom if ever, little if anything, little or nothing

Wrong phrase – seldom or ever, little or anything

e.g. 

I seldom or never go to parlor these days. (correct)

I seldom or ever go to parlor these days. (wrong)

Rule 4:

When a sentence begins with an adverb, an inverted form of the verb is used to put an emphasis.

e.g.

Never will I help him again.

Hardly do I get time to read story books.

Rule 5:

Also, too, as well as – mean ‘moreover’, ‘besides’, ‘in addition to’ in affirmative sentence.

Note:  ‘also’ is not placed at the end of the sentence.

e.g.

Sumita knows dancing and cooking also. (wrong)

Sumita knows dancing and also cooking. (correct)

Rohit bought a backpack and a trolley as well.

Rule 6:

When two persons are doing one action –

In affirmative sentence in negative sentence

So, auxiliary + subject Neither + auxiliary + subject

e.g. 

Nadeem loves dogs and so does his friend.   

e.g.

Piyali will not attend the party and neither will Pamela.

Rule 7:

Rule 8:

Very – when present participle (verb+ing) is used as adjective, adverb I positive degree I a sentence, ‘very’ is used.

Much – when past participle (verb+ed) is used as adjective, adverb I positive degree I a sentence, ‘much’ is used.

e.g.

We had a very interesting conversation.

I was much interested in taking part in the event.

Rule 9:

‘enough’ when used as an adverb, it is put after the adjective that it modifies.

e.g.

You are smart enough to do this.

Mohan is quick enough to finish the job before time.

Rule 10:

‘so’ is used with ‘that’

‘too’ is used with ‘to’

e.g.

She is  too tired to study.

Sara is so sick that she cannot sit for the examination.

Note:  ‘very’ and ‘much’ can replace ‘so’ and ‘too’

Rule 11:

‘rather’ is used before a noun.

e.g. It is rather a risk.

‘rather’ is used as an adverb of degree like - quite, pretty, fairly.

e.g.

She is  rather smart.

Bunty is behaving  rather humbly.

Rule 12:

In case of ‘else’ we use ‘but’

In case of ‘other’, ‘otherwise’ we use ‘than’

e.g.

It is nothing else but my hallucination.

I was given no other choice than tea.

Rule 13:

Words used as noun, adjective, adverb-

Note:  Words ending with ‘ly’ do not always imply adverbs.

Monthly, weekly, friendly, manly, orderly, sickly are adjectives.

Exercise:  Spot the error

1. My friends and I/ are planning to/ visit Manali /and Sikkim also. / no error. (Rule 5)

2. Sri Ramnath Kovind has been/ elected as the/ president of India. / no error. (Rule7)

3.  I rarely do not/ take coffee in winter; /it does not /suit my health. / no error. (Rule 2)

4. Jyoti had no other option/ but leaving her job/ to look after her parents. / no error. (Rule 12)

5. I seldom or ever/ go to Hyderabad/ to meet my cousins. / no error. (Rule 3)

6. Kiara will not come/ home late and/ not will her brother. / no error. (Rule 6)

7. She is too nervous/ that her hands/ are trembling. / no error. (Rule 10)

8. Hardly does he/ go to the gym/ these days. / no error. (Rule 4)

9. You should wash/ your hands always/ before eating. / no error. (Rule 1)

10. I never called/ you anytime/ last week. / no error. (Rule 2)