An Adverb is a word which modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb in a sentence.
Examples:
- She is writing very fast.
- She is a very beautiful girl.
- The lion runs very quickly.
In the 1st example, the adverb ‘very’ describes the verb ‘writing’ .
A girl is writing, but how is she writing?
She is writing very fast.
In the 2nd example, how much beautiful a girl is?
She is very beautiful and here ‘very’ modifies the adjective ‘beautiful’.
Similarly, in the 3rd 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 :
- The lady sings quite sweetly.
- 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:
- My friend only wants to borrow rupees ten thousand.
- He worked hardly for the exams and got first division .
- He always is at home on Sundays.
- She wept inconsolably.
- Vizag is rather a laidback city.
- The bag is not enough big to accommodate all luggage.
Answers:
- My friend wants to borrow ten thousand rupees.
- He worked hard for the exams and got first division .
- He is always is at home on Sundays.
- This is correct.
- Vizag is a rather laidback city.
- The bag is not big enough to accommodate all luggage
