B1 Grammar
B1 Grammar
Adverbs
Adverbs
Use:
Adverbs can be used to describe verbs. They describe HOW you do something.
Examples: She walks quickly; He sings nicely.
Form:
1) You can make many adverbs by adding –ly to an adjective.
slow -> slowly; loud -> loudly
If an adjective ends in ‘y’, change it to an ‘i’.
heavy -> heavily; funny -> funnily
Add ‘ally’ to adjectives ending in ‘ic’.
Physical -> physically; energetic -> energetically
2) Some adverbs are irregular, and do not end in ly. These include:
good -> well She dances well.
hard -> hard He works hard.
fast -> fast He runs fast.
late -> late He arrives late.
3a) Usually, the adverb goes after the verb it describes.
She talks quietly NOT She quietly talks.
He runs fast. NOT He fast runs.
3b) If the verb has a direct object WITHOUT A PREPOSITION the adverb should go after the object.
You sang that song nicely. NOT You sang nicely that song.
He did the job well. NOT He did well the job.
3c) If the verb is followed by a preposition and an object, you can put the adverb in different places.
He quickly walked to the shop.
He walked quickly to the shop.
He walked to the shop quickly.
4) Adverbs are NOT used to describe the following verbs. These verbs use adjectives.
Be I am quiet. NOT I am quietly.
Seem It seems strange. NOT It seems strangely.
Look That looks nice. NOT That looks nicely.
Smell That smells good. NOT That smells well.
Sound That sounds great. NOT That sounds greatly.
Feel That feels funny. NOT That feels funnily.
5) Some words end in ‘ly’ but they are not adverbs. Friendly is an example. Friendly is an adjective. We can say ‘She is friendly’ but not ‘She talks friendly’. There is no adverb for friendly, but we can say ‘She talks in a friendly way’. Elderly and lonely are also adjectives, not adverbs. Kindly and early are adjectives and adverbs.