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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, conjunctive where, why, however, besides, yet, still, etc. 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 / 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. He acted in a very silly manner. The same is true for three or more syllables. He talks in such a fascinating way. Some adverbs have degrees of comparison.
NOTES: 1) You can use -er, -est with the adverbs often, quickly, slowly. 2) If an adverb in the superlative degree is followed by of-phrase, it can be used with the definite article or without it (in the meaning лучше всех, хуже всех, правильнее всех, etc.) Haroun Tazieff went (the) furthest of all scientist in studying active volcanoes. But a superlative (without the) + of all is quite common. He likes drawing best of all. When there is no of-phrase in the sentence we don't use article with the superlative degree (in the meaning лучше всего, хуже всего, позже всего, etc.) Не comes home latest on Saturday and leaves home earliest on Monday. Mr. Fisher arrived early. He arrived earlier than expected. He arrived (the) earliest of all. I often used to travel. I used to travel more often in my previous work. In my new job I travel most often in winter. Who laughs last laughs longest. Constructions with superlatives Like adjectives, adverbs can be used in constructions with comparisons: as ... as and not as/so ...as (with the positive form) than with the comparative form the + comparative the + comparative. Will it cost 100$? - No, it won't cost as much as that. ft will cost less than 100$. I will buy it. - The sooner the better for you. 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") Quite and Rather Quite = less than "very" but more than "a little". Quite goes before a/an: quite a long way, quite a reasonable price. Rather is similar to quite, but we use rather mostly with negative words and negative ideas. It's rather cold, so you'd better stay at home. He is quite intelligent but rather lazy. But: rather nice = usually nice rather interesting = more interesting than expected. Even We use even to say something is unusual or surprising. Even his best friend didn 't lend him the money. He can't cook. He can't even boil an egg. Even + comparative = even hotter/earlier Even + if, when, though: Even if you don't phone me, I'm sure we'll see each other soon. For, during and while We use: for + period of time to say how long something goes on: for 2 years, for a week, for the whole life. during + noun to say when something happens: during the war. while + subject + verb: while I was watching TV. Really Really can be used to emphasize verbs, adjectives and adverbs. / really think that war should be banned. Acid rains are really dangerous both for people and the environment. He drove really dangerously. Still, else, already Still is used to say that a situation or action is continuing. You usually put still before the main verb, but after be or an auxiliary verb. In negatives it goes before the auxiliary verb. It's still raining, let's stay at home. You still haven't answered my questions. Are they still waiting? Compare: He lost his job a year ago. He hasn 't found another job yet. He is still unemployed. Else is used after question words without a noun following, and after indefinite pronouns. What else would you like to tell us? Who else knows about it? Where else did you see him ? Ask somebody else about it. Already expresses surprise that something has happened sooner than expected, or that something that has been done need not be repeated. We normally use it in positive sentences and questions. It can come in the mid or end position. Is the taxi already here? or: Is the taxi here already? I've already translated the text. I've translated the text already. Compare: He lost his job a year ago. Has he found any job already ? He hasn 't found another job yet. He is still unemployed. Hardly/scarcely ever, never, rarely and seldom are not used with a negative verb. We have never seen him again. Hardly/scarcely ever did he manage to come here. Too and Enough Too goes before an adjective or adverb. Mrs Smith doesn 't want to marry my uncle. She thinks he's too old. I'm afraid we 'II miss our train as you are walking too slowly. Enough goes after an adjective or adverb, and before a noun. The coffee isn't strong enough. You didn't put enough coffee in. She isn't old enough to get married, or: She is too young to get married. I think this jacket is too short. - You are right. It is not long enough. Much: In positive statements we usually use very much or a lot/a good deal/a great deal. In a negative statement we can use either very much or much. Much (=greatly), with or without very, can be used with the participles: upset, shocked, impressed, etc. Positive: / like this town very much. He rides a lot/a great deal. Negative: / don't like this town very much, or: I don't like this town much. She was (very) much impressed by his good manners. Much can modify comparative or superlative adjectives and adverbs: much better, much more quickly. Also, Too, As well Also usually goes in mid position, but too and as well go in end position. My mother bakes lovely cakes. She also makes bread. / She makes bread, too/as well. Absolutely, completely and totally can go in mid position or at the end. We completely lost our way. / We lost our way completely. I totally disagree. /1 disagree totally. Sentence adverbs modify the whole sentence/clause and express the speaker's opinion: Actually (=in fact/really), apparently, certainly, clearly, evidently, obviously, probably, undoubtedly, definitely, perhaps, possibly, surely, (unfortunately, honestly, (un)luckily, officially. He is obviously intelligent. She was certainly here, there is no doubt about it. Fortunately nobody was injured in the crash. Compare: Honestly, he didn't get the money (truthfully). He didn 't get the money honestly (adverb of manner = dishonestly). Practice 7. Read the text, analyze all the adverbs used in it. Fit for Humans not for Pigs This week there is going to be a festival of British Food and Farming in Hyde Park in London. The festival hasn't began yet and farmers are still bringing their animals. But a pig farmer has already run into a serious problem. Yesterday he arrived with his pigs from the Welsh Hills - hundreds of miles away. The pigs were very thirsty when they arrived in Hyde Park and the farmer immediately gave them some London water. Then he was very surprised because the pigs refused to drink the water. London water is fit for humans but not for pigs. 2 Form the adverbs corresponding to the following adjectives: bad, slow, quick, merry, sweet, happy, sad, brave, correct, careful, sudden, hard, sorrowful, bright, good, fast, near, slight, terrible, complete, entire, beautiful, wonderful, loud, proud, serious, painful, long, cold, warm, silent, strong. 3. Give the comparative and superlative degrees of the following adverbs: well, far, late, easily, slowly, long, early, comfortably, near, quickly, clearly, badly, often, correctly. 4. Use the correct form of comparison. \. The (much) you read the (soon) you enlarge your vocabulary. 2. Shall I speak (loud) or will you sit (near)? 3. I like this picture (well) of all. 4. My English isn't very good but I understand it (perfect) if people speak (slowly) and (clearly). 5. The children got up (late) this morning, they didn't have to go to school. 6. He was difficult to understand because he spoke so (quickly). I asked him to speak not so (fast). 7. It's a pity you live so far away. I wish you lived (near). 8. You hardly ever write to me. Why don't you write a bit (often)? 9. Your English has improved. You speak a lot (fluently) you did when we last met. 10. You are driving too fast. Can you drive a bit (slowly)? 11. It is a sort of paradox, but it is true - we are never (much) in danger than we think ourselves (much) secure. 12. We'd better not go any (far) today. Let's stay here. 5. Put the adverbs in the right place. 1. I like to drive (very much). And you? 2. When we heard the news, we phoned Jane to her office to tell her everything (immediately). 3. Mary can speak English, as she lived in London with her parents (fluently). 4. I'm going to England, (soon) 5. I've been walking all morning, (around the town) 6. Have you been to the theatre? (recently) 7. I cleaned the house and cooked the dinner, (also) 8. My mother is very tired when she gets home from work, (usually) 9. The boy has to hurry to school in the morning because he gets up late, (always, so) 10. I have good memory for faces but I forget names, (always) 11. The driver of the car was injured in the accident, (seriously) 12. He raised his head and looked at me in surprise, (slowly) 6. Choose the right word. 1. Please, shut the door quiet/quietly. The children are sleeping. 2. Can you be quiet/quietly, please? I have a headache. 3. The soup tastes nice/nicely. - Help yourself. 4. Do you feel nervous/nervously before examinations? 5. Hurry up. You are always slow/slowly. 6. He looked at me angry/angrily when I interrupted him. 7. Ann can play the piano very well/good. 8. Your friend seems very nice/nicely. 9. This melody sounds beautiful/beautifully. 10. Many interesting suggestions were made during/ while the meeting. 11. Can you lay the table during/while I get the dinner ready? 12. I felt real/really ill last week. I couldn't eat for/during three days. 13. The film was quite/rather exciting but frightening. 14. We judge ourselves by what we feel capable doing, during/while others judge us by what we have already done. 15. You will not succeed unless you work harder/hardly. 7. Read the following sentences with the given adverbs in the right place. 1. The buses are full in this town and it's difficult to get to work sometimes (usually). 2. The children quarrel with each other (often). 3. I know what to say about it (scarcely). 4. My father goes for a walk in the nearest park on Sundays (always). 5. We are going for a walk (just). Will you join us? 6. I have seen a worse piece of work (rarely) I have (never). 7. In my opinion he ought to have spoken to you (never). 8. We've met a more ill-mannered man (seldom) than you are. 9. You can prove it to be true (never) because it isn't so (just). 10. None of them have been there before (ever) and they wanted to go again (never). II. "You are to do as your parents tell you (always)!" -"I do (always)". 12. "Were you able to understand mathematical problem (ever)?" - "No, I could (never)". 13. Julius Caesar, who was a great general, was a writer (also). 14. They want to build a hotel here, but they haven't got permission (yet). 15. This English text is easy for me (too). Will you give me a more difficult one? 16. My sister speaks English better than I do (much). 17. It doesn't rain here often at this time of the year (very). 18. Thank you very much. It's very nice of you (really). 8. Underline the correct adverb. 1. I totally/fully forgot my grandmother's birthday. 2. He lied so convincingly/sincerely that I totally/strongly believed him. 3. They strongly/seriously advised us to book the tickets in advance. 4. I distinctly/fully remember packing the sun cream in my bag. 5. Mozart tragically/seriously died when he was still quite young. 6. I can't distinctly/fully understand what you mean. 7. I absolutely/strongly adore chocolate ice-cream. 8. She is sincerely/seriously considering giving up her job. 9. People traditionally/continually prepare coloured eggs for Easter. 10. He works in this office all this year/all the time. 11. We normally/forever get in touch with customers by post. 12. Are you studying French for long/at the moment? 13. I'm feeling rather run down lately/at present, doctor. 14. I always stay on duty since/until 6 o'clock. 15. I'm not making much money these days/so far this year. 16. I study hard/hardly so I spend lots of time in the library. 17. The audience enjoyed the play so much that they clapped aloud/loudly. 18. The fire extensively/widely damaged the 500-year-old building. 19. From the beginning things went bad/badly between my boss and myself. 20. He bought our tickets, and five minutes later/after the train arrived. 21. Everybody was talking but stopped at the time/the moment Mr Smith entered the room. 22. I managed to talk to Carol just as/while she was leaving. 9. Choose the correct words to complete each sentence. 1. The beach is less/least crowded today than last week. 2. He is very/much younger than he looks. 3. The economic situation is too bad/much worse than expected. 4. His operation was far more/much serious than we thought. 5. Every novel she writes is different than/from the last. 6. He never gets to work on time/in time. 7. We were only allowed through customs all the time/one at a time. 8. Hurry up or we won't be in time/on time to see the opening ceremony. 9. I like him but at times/in time he makes me furious. 10. The party was quite/quiet boring at the start, but it changed considerably when they started playing better music. 11. At the end/in the end of the corridor there was a room with a small green door leading to the garden. 12. Has the postman been yet/already/still? I'm expecting a letter from the bank. 13.1 used to belong to the sports club, but I'm no longer/ any longer a member of it. 14. It's only eleven and you have/already/yet/still had two coffees since breakfast. 10. Complete the sentences using as ... as, than or the ... the and the proper degree of the following adverbs: fast, long, soon, much, well, often, quietly, hard, far, little, many 1. I'm sorry I'm a bit late. I got here ... I could. 2. We need the information quickly, so please let us know ... possible. 3. "How long can I stay with you?" - "You can stay ... you like". 4. It was a difficult question. I answered it ... I could. 5. She wants to keep fit, so she goes swimming ... she can. 6. I didn't want to wake anybody, so I came in ... I could. 7. I don't know much about the Roman period in the history of England. You know ... me. 8. You don't work particularly hard. Most students work ... and pass exams ... you. 9. I'm sure that you know much about cars but you know ... my father. He's been driving for thirty years already. 10. The station was nearer than I thought. It wasn't ... they told me. 11. I'm pleased that our firm works ... it did last year. We produce twice ... we did at the beginning of the year. 12. I don't earn ... money as I'd like. My father earns about three times ... I do. 13. Can you send me the money ... possible, please. 14. There's plenty of food. You can have ... you like. 15. We travelled ...we expected. It didn't take us ... we thought to get there. 16. ... you start... you'll be back. 17. ... you read ... you know. ... you know ... you forget. ... you forget ... you know. So why study? 18. He swims far ... I do. Now he is swimming ... he's ever done it. 11. Complete the requests. Model: You can't hear what your teacher is saying. Could you speak more loudly please? 1. The taxi driver is going very slowly. Could you ...? 2. Someone's teaching you to use a computer but he explains very quickly. Could you...? 3. Your friend rings, but you are watching your favourite TV programme. Could you...? 4. You are visiting your grandmother in hospital. She doesn't want you to leave yet. She says, "Could you ...?" 5. Your manager wants you to come to work at 7.30 tomorrow, but not at 8 as you usually do. Could you ...? 6. You don't work hard at English. Your English teacher asks you,"...?" 7. Your friend's writing is difficult to read. What do you say? 12. Adjective or adverb? Complete the sentences with one of the words from the list. fast good happy terrible quite really well extremely hard hardly ill bad 1. When I heard that Kate had passed her driving test I was really .... 2. Alex dances very ... and never steps on people's feet. 3. He was so tired that he could ... keep his eyes open. 4. The hotel was ... , but we didn't like the food in the restaurant. 5. Clara was extremely ... and spent a month in hospital. 6. George was driving too ... and was stopped by the police. 7. It's not a wonderful film, but it's ... good. 8. Helen worked very ... and was given an extra holiday. 9. When I realized I hadn't paid for the coat, I felt .... 10. I can't afford to buy that car because it's ... expensive. 11. David felt ... because he was working very .... 12. I was not ... interested in that car, I could ... drive at that time. 13. Paula felt... when her exams were over. 13. Choose the correct answer to complete the sentences. 1. We went to the play and had a great meal at Luigi's Cafe, ... we went dancing at the Factory. a) in the end b) afterwards c) after all 2. She sounded quite nervous ... of her speech but she soon relaxed. a) at the beginning b) in the beginning c) at the end 3. We liked our new neighbors ... but then thing began to go wrong. a) first b) firstly c) at first 4. We looked everywhere for Caroline's passport but ... we gave up and she got a new one. a) at the end b) in the end c) at first 5. I'm not disappointed with today's result. ...,we have won ten matches already this season. a) At the end b) In the end c) After all 6. I wrote to her a month ago, and I'm ... waiting for a reply. a) yet b) still c) already 7. Rita isn't going out with Nick. She told him she didn't want to see him .... a) no longer b) longer c) any more 8. Someone paid a great deal of money for the house. It was ... expensive. a) very b) quite c) a bit 9. The party took ... longer than we expected and it was ... nice walking through the park at night. a) quiet b) rather c) quite 10. Thousands of people are starving because they can't get... food. a) enough b) quite c) too 11. These new trains go ... faster nowadays than they used to. a) much b) more c) most 12. It's still raining. How much ... can it go on? a) long b) longer c) longest 14. Adjective or Adverb? Form and use adverbs where necessary. Linkverb + adjective: Action verb + adverb; Model: She looked sad. She looked at me sadly. (She seemed sad.) (In a sad way.) It was Getting Dark ... I can't remember the accident very (clear). It was getting (dark) and it was (terrible) cold, but it wasn't raining (heavy). My head was aching (bad) and I was (hungry). I was walking out of the park when I (sudden) saw a boy playing (happy) on the pavement. The child seemed (happy) and didn't pay any attention to the cars passing by (quick). A man was sitting (quiet) on the bench. He seemed very (unhappy) and (angry). When I came up (near), he looked up and smiled (sad) at me. I left (curious) about him but I couldn't think what to say. I just stood there (foolish), looking at the man (cold). A car appeared (sudden) from behind the corner and I rushed (hurried) to the child. Now I'm lying (quiet) in hospital. I'm trying (careful) to remember what has happed to me. The man is sitting (near) me. He is trying to explain that drivers don't drive (careful) along narrow roads nowadays, but I am not listening to him (attentive). /5. Read the text and cross out 15 "unnecessary " words for the general sense of the passage. Add some adjectives and adverbs to the passage such as cold, extremely, young, etc., to make your story more colourful and expressive. She was so Hungry ... A close friend of my mother lives in the country in Yorkshire, and she often goes to the beautiful town of Harrogate to do her weekly shopping. After doing her shopping she usually has tea in a small tea shop. One afternoon she was looking forward to having tea. She went to her usual tea shop, but it was crowded with people from the antiques fair. The waitress was rather embarrassed that there was no room for a regular customer, but she offered her a place at a small table, sharing with a middle-aged man. The lady was disappointed but wanted a cup of tea very much, so she agreed. The waitress showed her a table by the front window, where the man was sitting. The man smiled politely then returned to his paperback book. After a few minutes he got up and left. The lady was drinking her tea when she noticed that there was a slice of fruit cake on the man's plate. She looked around carefully but there was no sign of him. She was feeling extremely hungry and it seemed a dreadful shame to waste it, so she picked it up and ate it. Just as she was finishing the cake, the man appeared and returned to the table. Task: Work in pairs. Tell each other about the most embarrassing incident you can remember. 16. Read the text and choose the best definition for a coach potato. Are you a Couch Potato? Centuries ago, people didn't have much free time, because everybody was working too hard. In Britain in the nineteenth century, people had more spare time, but because the Victorians hated relaxing and doing nothing, they invented football, rugby and cricket. People took up more gentle activities too, like gardening, bird-watching and train spotting, and it was even possible simply to watch a sport and give the impression that you actually doing something. Gradually, leisure activities have become less and less demanding and most people have a variety of more or less energetic interests or hobbies. But now there is a new type of person who thinks that lying on the sofa watching television on Sunday afternoon or reading the newspaper from cover to cover is the most exciting activity they can manage. This is the twentieth-century coach potato. For them, every activity is too much trouble and laziness is an art form. So how do you spend your free time? Are you a couch potato? 17. Read and discuss in pairs. Life is a Gamble Life is a gamble, says James Burke, who has worked out the odds6 for you. Odds - probability or likelihood, that something will or will not happen.
Task: Discuss the following statements if you think they are true or false. 1. Sunday is the most dangerous day of the week for driving. 2. Women drivers are more likely to have car accidents than men drivers. 3. A farmer's job is more dangerous than a policeman's. 4. More young people than old people get robbed. 5. Rich people are burgled more frequently than people who are less well off. 6. You are more likely to get heart disease if you are fat. 18. Put the words on the right into the correct place and make any necessary changes to the punctuation. Jack and Liza's Holiday Just after Christmas two years ago, Jack and Liza decided to go away for New Year. They didn't want to stay in a hotel with crowds of people and they were delighted when they saw an advertisement in the Sunday Times for a holiday flat in a village near Oxford." It was not an ordinary flat. It was on the top floor of an old Tudor mansion. They booked it and on New Year's Eve they set off in the car. It was raining and freezing cold, they were happy and excited. They had been driving for three hours when they saw the house in the distance. It looked magnificent with tall chimneys and a long, wide drive. They drove up to the huge front door, went up the steps and knocked. Nothing happened. They knocked again. The door opened and a small, wild-looking old lady stood there .... suddenly somewhere so / really however immediately although heavily nearly finally incredibly loudly more loudly angrily/ slowly hysterically desperately fortunately just warmly Task: 1. Complete the story, using the adverbs on the right. 2. Speak about your best or worst holidays you remember best of all. 19. Read and retell the text, try to use all the adverbs you come across in it. Acid Rains Every year more and more plants and animals disappear. Nature is very carefully balanced and if this balance is dis- turbed, animals can disappear very fast forever. Every day, thousands of species of animals draw closer to extinction. There are countless number of species which may become extinct before they are even discovered. In many lakes the fish are dying. Fishermen are worried because every year there are fewer fish and some lakes have no fish at all. Scientists are beginning to get worried too. What is killing the fish? The problem is acid rain. Acid rain is a kind of air pollution. It is caused by factories that burn coal or oil or gas. These factories send smoke high into the air. The wind often carries the smoke far from the factories. Some of the harmful substances in the smoke may come down with the rain hundreds of miles away. The rain in many places isn't natural and clean any more. It's full of acid chemicals. When it falls in lakes, it changes them too. The lakes become more acidic. Acid water is like vinegar or lemon juice. It hurts when it gets in your eyes. It also kills the plants and animals that usually live in lake water. That is why the fish are dying in lakes. Now scientists are also beginning to study the effect of acid rain on larger animals. For example, they believe that some deer in Poland are less healthy because of acid rain. If deer are hurt by the rain, what about people? This is the question many people are beginning to ask. No one knows the answer yet. But it is an important question for us all. 20. Give the Russian equivalents to the following proverbs. Use them in your short situations. 1. All is well that ends well. 2. Better to do well than to say well. 3. East or West, home is best. 4. Easy come, easy go. 5. Misfortunes never come singly. 6. Better late, than never. 7. Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. |
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