Author: Prajwal Chandra

An Adverb is a word which modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb in a sentence.

Examples:

1. She is writing very fast.
2. She is a very beautiful girl.
3. The lion runs very quickly.

In the 1^st example, the adverb ‘very’ describes the verb ‘writing’ .
A girl is writing,  but how is she writing?
She is writing very fast.

In the 2^nd example, how much beautiful a girl is?
 She is very beautiful and here ‘very’ modifies the adjective ‘beautiful’.

Similarly, in the 3^rd example,  ‘very’ modifies the another adverb ‘quickly’

Some important points to note:

(1)  Always place an adverb as near as possible to the word it modifies in order to make our meaning clear.

Example:

is she has only five rupees with her.

Here ‘only’ is placed near the adjective five as it modifies the adjective.

Read the following examples :

Wrong:  We only have four hour to finish the exam.

Right:  We have only  four hour to finish the exam.

Wrong:  She just wants to take one class.

Right:  She wants to take just one class.

(2) When an adverb modifies an adjective or another adverb, the adverb usually comes before it.

Examples :

1. The lady sings quite sweetly.
2. Do not run so fast.

(3) Use of hardly, Scarcely

Hardly – means scarcely, barely when used as an adverb .

 It conveys a negative meaning.

Hardly and scarcely are followed by when

Examples:

(i) Hardly had he reached the airport, when the plane departed.

 (ii) Scarcely had he reached the station, when the train left.

Note:  No sooner is always followed than.

Example:  No sooner did he leave the house than it started raining.

Exercise:

1. My friend only wants to borrow rupees ten thousand.
2. He worked hardly for the exams and got first division .
3. He always is at home on Sundays.
4. She wept inconsolably.
5. Vizag is rather a laidback city.
6. The bag is not enough big to accommodate all luggage.

Answers:

1. My friend  wants to borrow ten thousand rupees.
2. He worked hard for the exams and got first division .
3. He is always is at home on Sundays.
4. This is correct.
5. Vizag is a rather laidback city.
6. The bag is not big enough to accommodate all luggage