Adverbs

Adverbs definition: It is a modifier of an action word, a descriptor, another intensifier, a relational word, an expression, a statement or a sentence that communicates some connection of quality, place, time, degree, number, cause, resistance, assertion, or forswearing.

Adverbs basically show the time, manner, frequency, place, degree, level of certitude, and it also solves the questions such as when, where, how, and to what extent.  This is known as the adverbial function, and it can be carried out by single words (adverbs) or by multi-word adverbial phrases and clauses. They have traditionally been considered one of the parts of speech. 

Functions

The English word adverb is derived (via French) from the Latin adverbium, which is composed of ad- (“to”), verbum (“word”, “verb”), and the nominal suffix -ium. The term implies that adverbs’ primary function is to act as modifiers of verbs or verb phrases. In these circumstances, adverbs may furnish information about the way, location, time, repetition, or other aspects of the activity denoted by the verb or phrase. Here are some examples:

1. She sang very loudly (loudly modifies the verb sang, indicating the manner of singing)
2. We just left it here (here modifies the verb phrase left it, indicating place).
3. I was at work yesterday (yesterday modifies the verb worked, indicating time).
4. You make a lot of mistakes (often modifies the verb phrase make mistakes, indicating frequency).
5. He undoubtedly did it (undoubtedly modifies the verb phrase did it, indicating certainty).

Adverbs can be utilised as alterants for adjectives and more adverbs, most frequently to show degree. For example,

1. You are quite wrong. (The adverb quite modifies the adjective wrong).
2. She sang extremely loudly (the adverb extremely modifies another adverb – loudly).

They can also modify determiners, prepositional phrases, or entire clauses or sentences, as shown in the examples below:

1. She drove us almost all the way to the station (almost modifies the prepositional phrase to all the way to the station).
2. Certainly, he needs to act (certainly modifies the sentence as a whole).

Adverbs thus serve a variety of modifying functions. The primary exception is the function of noun modifier, which is performed instead by adjectives. However, because some adverbs and adjectives are homonyms, their functions are occasionally confused:

• Even numbers are divisible by 2
• The dog even drank

In sentence one, the word “even” is an adjective as it is a prepositive modifier that alters the noun “numbers.” In sentence two, the word “even” is a prepositive adverb that alters the verb “drank.”

Even if an adverb can come previous to or after a noun or after a noun phrase, the adverb doesn’t get modified either in such cases, as in:

• Internationally there are a shortage of clothes in my wardrobe
• There is a shortage internationally of clothes in my wardrobe
• There is an international shortage of clothes in my wardrobe

Adverbs can be used as predicate expressions in some cases; in English, this is especially true for adverbs of location:

• Your bench is there
• There is my pass (wherein “pass” is subject and “there” is the predicate in a syntax that entails a subject-verb inversion)

When an expression with more than one word performs the function of an adverb, it is referred to as an adverbial phrase, adverbial clause, or simply an adverbial.

Classification Of Adverbs

Adverbs, like other parts of speech such as nouns and verbs, come in a variety of forms. Adverbs are typically classified based on the types of questions they answer or the information they provide. 

Conjunctive Adverbs

Unlike the other types of adverbs we’ll look at, Conjunctive adverbs play an important grammatical role in sentences. A conjunctive adverb is an adverb that functions similarly to conjunction; it is used to connect two clauses or two sentences. As an example: 

‘I had gone to the shop. However, the shop was already closed.’

The conjunctive adverb in the second sentence, on the other hand, indicates that this sentence is related to the one immediately preceding it. On the other hand, the adverb functions as a conjunction by connecting these two sentences. Conjunctive adverbs can also be used with a semicolon instead of a period, like :

‘She was not too busy in her work; nevertheless, she ignored him.’

Examples:

• They were playing on the ground. Meanwhile, one of their mates was asleep
• Beans are not a healthy breakfast. Instead, you should eat sprouts

Adverbs of frequency

The frequency of an event is described using a variety of adverbs. By doing so, these adverbs describe how frequently something occurs. Examples include: Yearly, weekly, daily, usually, never etc

Examples in sentences are:

• I occasionally put my laptop in the bag
• He never drives fast
• Sometimes, He does the housework

Adverbs of time

Some adverbs indicate when something occurs. Adverbs of time include words that refer to specific times as well as time periods in general. Examples include: Early, soon, eventually, today, yet etc.

Examples in sentences are:

• They will meet tomorrow
• My dog hasn’t learned to bite yet

Adverb of Manner

Adverbs of manner describe how something occurs. This category includes a large number of adverbs, including many -ly adverbs formed from adjectives. Examples include: Loudly, slowly, furiously, nicely etc.

Examples in sentences are:

• The artist skillfully drew the sketch
• He bravely fought with the lion

Adverb of Degree

Adverbs of degree, in general, describe the intensity of an action or quality. These adverbs are frequently used to describe adjectives and other adverbs as intensifiers. Examples include: Quite, more, highly, deeply, barely etc.

Examples in sentences are:

• This is really awesome
• She barely cooks the food

Adverb of place

Adverbs of place describe the location of an event. Examples include There, left, south, somewhere etc.

Examples in sentences are:

• He can’t find his key anywhere
• The dog went north to find its owner

Examples of Adverbs

Examples of adverbs can be given in the following categories:

Adverbs Tell How It Happened

Adverbs belong to the descriptive language category because they describe how something was done. As an example:

• Expertly: He expertly manipulated her
• Randomly: He randomly threw the cards
• Wickedly: He laughed wickedly

They Tell Where It Happened

Some adverbs describe where an action takes place. Here are some examples of adverbs like this:

• Everywhere: She found litter everywhere
• Inside: The ball was inside the box, and the doll on the table
• Somewhere: He worked somewhere to earn a living

They Tell When It Happened

Adverbs that describe the timing of action include:

• Early: He arrived early
• Never: She never breaks the trust

Tell the Extent of Action

Adverbs can also be used to describe the extent to which something was done, such as:

• Only: He only drinks tea
• Not: She is not taking part in the race

As Identifiers

• He absolutely refuses to stay
• You need to improve to some extent

Adverb Phrases

• She lived in the north of India
• He goes to a pub every week