ADVERBS

1. Adverbs of manner tell us how an action was done. Adverbs of manner are formed by
adding -ly to adjectives.
Examples
a. The pupils talked softly.
b. We walked home quickly.
c. Musa asked politely for more food.
d. She put the baby gently on the bed.
We can also use adverbs to compare how people or animals do things. There are three degrees of
comparison:positive, comparative and superlative.
The positive form of the adverb is used when no comparison is made.
Examples
a. Lee swam quickly.
b. Fatimah spoke loudly.
c. Puan Mariam drove carefully.
The positive form is also used when comparing the actions of two persons or things that are similar or
equal.
Examples
a. We worked as carefully as the other class.
b. Fatimah spoke as loudly as her friends.
c. Taha spoke as clearly as Nathan.
The comparative form of the adverb is used when two unequal persons or things are compared.
The comparative form is formed by adding more to the adverb.
Examples
a. She spoke more angrily than Mrs Tan did.
b. Fred walks more slowly than Kumar.
c. Your dog barks more fiercely than mine.
The superlative form of the adverb is used when the action of three or more persons or things are
compared.
The superlative form is formed by adding the most to the adverb.
Examples
a. Jane dances the most gracefully in her group.
b. The new teacher speaks the most gently in our school.
c. She sang the most beautifully in the contest.
LIST OF ADVERBS ACCORDING TO THE DEGREES OF COMPARISON
Positive Comparative Superlative
angrily more angrily the most angrily
badly worse the worst
beautifully more beautifully the most beautifully
bravely more bravely the most bravely
carefully more carefully the most carefully
carelessly more carelessly the most carelessly
clearly more clearly the most clearly
closely more closely the most closely
differently more differently the most differently
early earlier the earliest
easily more easily the most easily
far farther the farthest
fast faster the fastest
gently more gently the most gently
gracefully more gracefully the most gracefully
greedily more greedily the most greedily
happily more happily the most happily
hard harder the hardest
late later the last
lazily more lazily the most lazily
long longer the longest
loudly more loudly the most loudly
much more the most
neatly more neatly the most neatly
quickly more quickly the most quickly
roughly more roughly the most roughly
soon sooner the soonest
slowly more slowly the most slowly
sweetly more sweetly the most sweetly
well better the best
2. Adverbs of frequency are used to show how often an action is done.
Examples
a. often Aziz enjoys fishing. He often goes fishing during the holidays.

b. usually Marina comes here almost every day. She usually comes here in the
evening.
c. always David drinks milk every day. He always drinks milk in the morning.

d. seldom Ben does not like comics. He seldom reads comics.

e. never John has not come here even once. He has never come before.
3. Adverbs of time tell us when something happens or had happened.
Examples
a. before ii.She read the passage before she answered the questions.
b. We ate our food before we drank the water.

b. after i.They went home after the party.

ii.He cut the cake after the children sang a song.