Adverbs

Types & placement

Types of adverbs
Adverbs of:
place and time
Frequency
Expectation
Focus
Degree
Manner
Viewpoint
Comment
Adverbs modify:
Adjectives: shes very fluent (immediately
before adj)
Adverbs: she speaks quite fluently (before
adverbs)
Verbs: she speaks fluently
Clauses: Ive never heard such a fluent
speaker
Adverbs can be placed in:
Front/ Mid/ End position depending on the
type of adverb and what it modifies
When advs modify verbs and sentences:
Front or end position of clause or sentence:
e.g: Usually Jane has a shower once a week.
 Adverbs of place and time
nearby, tomorrow, upstairs, there, here, abroad, backwards, immediately

Adv of place are used to add information on

location or direction
Usually come in end position
E.g: She went upstairs
before adverbs of time
E.g: Ill be there tomorrow.
(place) (time)
Adverbs of frequency
annually, usually, often, ever, twice
Definite vs indefinite frequency
End position:
Definite: annually, daily, twice (a week):
E.g: The conract is renewed annually.
Mid position:
Indefinite: usually, seldom, ever, often, never,
always:
E.g: It usually rains in the evening.
 Expectation adverbs
E.g: already, still, o longer, any longer, any more
To express a connection between events and
expectations
Mid position:
Already: to indicate that an event has happened earlier
than expected
Still: smthg is going on longer than expected
Mid or end position: no longer, any longer an event
was expected to continue but didnt
N.B: When NO LONGER is fronted, invert sub and Aux
End position: YET
an event is or was expected (put at end of questions/
negatives, expressions of uncrtainty)
 Focus adverbs
even, just, only
To draw attention to one part of the sentence
N.B: Focus and meaning change as the adverb
changes position
E.g: Mark only works on Fridays (only on
Fridays)
E.g: Only Mark works on Fridays (only Mark)
 Degree adverbs
really, totally, completely, very, modertely, pretty, a bit, rather, quite,
less, too, enough, more
To say to what extent something is done or felt
Mid or end:
He totally forgot, he failed completely
Too, A bit, a little, pretty, quite, very rather before adjectives
and adverbs
Less/ more comparison
Enough: after adjective and adverbs

N.B: No very before verbs

e.g: Im not very enjoying it!
N.B: No a bit, a little with (adjective+noun)
e.g: Its a bit loud music!
 Manner adverbs
carefully, clearly, quickly, thoroughly
To say how something is done/ How something is
said
Usually in end position:
E.g: She responded angrily.
N.B: Manner comes before time:
E.g: she works hard now.
 Viewpoint adverbs
commercially, socially, scientifically, individually
To describe perspective or pt of view being
considered
Usually in end position/ or front position with
comma (,)
It did well commercially.
Financially, the project makes sense.
 Comment adverbs
probably, surprisingly, definitely, fortunately, of course, no doubt, presumably, actually, frankly,
honestly, sadly, certainly

To include comment or opinion about whats being said or written

Mid position:
E.g: It was probably a misunderstanding.
Front/ end position with commas:
E.g:
Surprisingly, she did well on the test.
Ill be glad to come, of course.
Definitely, certainly, obviously: Say how sure
Fortunately, seriously: Say how we feel
E.g:
There must definitely be a mistake.
Fortunately, no one was hurt.