Many things.........

I have decided to divide it in the following parts:

1st part. Introduction

2nd part: classification of adverbs

3rd part:Detailed study of process adverbials.

4thpart:Conclusion.

5th part:bibliography.

1..Introduction: the Adverb..

Quirk says that because of its great hetereogeneity the adverb class is the least satisfactory
of the traditional parts of speech.Indeed it is tempting to say simply that the adverb is a
word that does not fit the definitions of other parts ot speech.

1.1Functions.

Adverbs are words which give us more information about the action performed by the
verb.They say “how”,”where”, or “when” the action is done.They are also qualifier of
a sentence, an adjective, a prepositional phrase or another adverb.

Luckily he did not die (sentence qualifier)

He ran quickly ( verb modifier)

1.2.Form.

1.2.1.adverbs in -ly.

The boundary between adjective and adverb is very difficult to define according to
form.Many adverbs of manner and degree are derived from adjectives and participles by
means of the adverbial suffix “-ly” but in some cases the addition of “-ly” to an adjective
forms both an adverb and a new adjective ( weakly, sickly, deadly,…)

1.2.1.1.Spelling notes:
a) consonant + “y”. The final “y” changes to “i”:

happy, happily

b) vowel + “y”.The final “y” is retained:

coy,coyly (but day, daily)

c) final “e” is retained.

Exceptions:

True/truly, due/duly, whole/wholly

d) adjectives ending in vowel + “l” double the “l”.

final, finally

e) adjectives ending in “-le” with syllabic value, change this syllable to “-ly”:

noble,nobly,simple,simply

f) adjectives ending in “-able/ible” drop the final “-e” and add “-y”.

sensible,sensibly,capable,capably

1.2.2.Suffixes used in adverb formation.

1.2.2.1.From adjectives.

a) –WARD(S) in adverbs of manner and direction:

walk backwards

b) –WAYS and –WISE: meaning “ in the manner of….”,”as far as….is concerned”.

Place the sticks crosswise

He looked sideways at her

1.2.3.Prefixes used in adverb formation.

There are few adverbs that have been formed from other parts of speech by the addition of
the prefix “-a”:

Ashore,aloft,abroad…..
1.2.4.adjectives in “-ly” with no adverb form.

Some adjectives ending in “-ly” cannot be used as adverbs and have no adverb form,having
to use an adverb phrase instead:

Friendly in a friendly way

Silly in a silly way

As a conclusion we can say that the only general statement that can be made concerning
adverbs is that they are used as modifiers to other wirds or sentences.

2.Classification of adverbs.

2.1.According to form.

2.1.1.Simple.

Indivisible words:

Much,quite,so,as,too,still,not,here,in,out,then,back,….

2.1.2Derivative.

Formed from adjectives and sometimes nouns and other adverbs by the addition of a suffix:

Certainly,quietly, simply,daily,nearly,….

2.1.3.Compound.

Formed from two words,but have become so fused together that the two parts have made a
word whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual parts:

Anywhere, sometimes, however, always,almost,already,together,….

2.1.4.Adverbial phrases.

Formed by a group of two or more words functioning as an adverb.These groups can be

formed by:

a) two simple adverbs or a preposition + adverb:

before then, until then,just then, how far,up to now

b) also by a preposition + adjective.

At present,at all,in front,all at once

c) and finally many of them contain a noun with some other element,such as :

at the side,as a matter of fact,of course, no doubt

2.2.According to content.

2.2.1.Manner:

They express how an action was done.Most adverbs ending in “-ly” belong to this
group.They usually modify verbs and sentences:

Suddenly, well,steadly,slowly,……

2.2.2.Time.They express when an action is or was done,they generally modify the whole
sentence:

after, already, before, late, once, soon, still

2.2.3.Frequency and repetition.They express where how often and how many times an
action is done.Their grammatical functions are varied: they are more often used as
incidental components than as essential components of the sentence, and many of them are
most frequently modified themselves by adverbs of other kinds.They often differ from
adverbs of time in the position they occupy in the sentence.Some of them are:

always, often, frequently,never,generally,…..

2.2.4.Place and position.They express where or in what order an action is or was done,
they generally modify the whole sentence or any part of it.The term “adverb of place”
covers the wider field of “motion to”, motion from,separation,…Adverbs of place
commonly used are:

here, there, above, across, around, away, back,….

2.2.5.Degree.They express to what degree.They are not generally used with verbs,but with
adjectives or other adverbs:

completely,absolutely,deeply,entirely,greatly,….
2.2.6.Quantity.they form another group that is very connected with the adverbs of
degree.Some of them are:

much,little, a lot, a great deal, quite, enough,..

3.Detailed study of process adverbials.

According to Quirk, these adverbials define in some way the process denoted by the
verb.They answer the question”how” specifying the action is perfomed or how events take
place.These adverbials can be classified into three categories:

a) manner

b) means

c) instrument

how did he open the parcel?

He opened it anxiously (manner)

He opened it by tearing the paper (means)

He opened it with his hands(instrument)

It is possible to obtain more detailed information about the instrument with which the
action is performed by asking:

What did he open it with?

With what did he open it? (formal)

Process adverbials are always used with dynamic verbs.Using stative verbs is incorrect:

He feels hurriedly

She knows it slowly

Process adverbials usually carry the information focus,therefore preferring a final

position.When the adverbial is obligatory for the verb,then only final position is possible:

He speaks clearly

*he clearly speaks

However,it is possible to place the process adverbial immediately before the lexical part of
the verb when it is the passive voice.In this way the focus of attention is drawn towards the
verb:

Traffic was quickly diverted towards another bridge.

If the focus of attention is required somewhere else on the sentence, then initial position is
possible:

By pulling that lever you can control the engine

3.1.Manner adverbials.

There are three possible ways of expressing manner:

a) adverbs( usually ending in “-ly”) and adverb phrases.

From now on we will proceed carefully

They looked backwards

Turn the wheel clockwise

Many manner adverbs can be easily formed from adjectives using the suffixes “-wise”,”-
wards”,”-ways”,”-style”, “-fashion”,as I have shown before.

When a manner adverb is appropriate for the sentence it is usually a better choice than other
structures since it is usually shorter and less formal.

b) prepositional phrases.

-in a ……………manner/way/style/fashion

-with+ abstract noun phrase

Alternative prepositional phrases are not difficult to construct since most –ly adverbs have
a matching adjective,and many adjectives have matching nouns.

From now on we will proceed in a careful way.

From now on we will proceed with care.

“like this,that,this way,that way” can replace the phrase “in this/that manner”
I like my bed made in this way.

The omission of the preposition “in” makes this structure sound more informal.

A manner phrase can convey other meanings simultaneously:

1) manner with comparison:

she behaves like a queen ( in the manner of a queen)

The same meaning is expressed by manner clauses introduced by “as”.

Please do as you are told

Do as I say, no as I do

If the compared situation is unreal then the clause can begin with “as if” or “as though”

She acted as if she felt guilty for something

2)manner with result and intensification.

He was seriously hurt in the accident ( the result of the accident was being in a serious
condition)

3)manner with time-duration.

He was moving very slowly ( each movement took ages)

The effect of time-duration is more clearly appreciated when the adverb takes initial or
medial position.

4) manner with time-when.

Do that again ( one more time and in the manner you did it before)

c) Clauses.

From now on we will proceed as we were told.

3.2.Means.

“by” followed by a prepositional phrase expresses the meaning “by means of”:
I usually go to work by bicycle.

We kept ourselves warm by staying near the fireplace.

He was treated surgically.

Notice that adverbs meaning “means” or instrument” cannot be modified:

*he was treated very surgically

to express mode of transport the preposition “on” is a possible alternative to “by”:

I go to work on foot ( not by foot)

I go to work on the bus / by bus

In by-phrases of transport the article is dropped.

I go to work by (*the) bus / on the bus.

3.3.Instrument.

“With” is used to introduce prepositional phrases of instrument.”Without” expresses the

non use of an instrument.

He jumped without a parachute

He was killed with a knife

The verb “use” with an object can have an instrumental meaning.

The murderer used a knife to kill his victim

A subject formed by a prepositional phrase denoting instrument is another possible

structure:

A knife killed him.

4.Conclusion.

In this unit we hhave studied the ways to express Manner,Means, and Instrument in English
through a careful analysis of it.

5.Bibliography.

 
Quirk,R. et al. (1985)”A comprehensive Grammar of the English language”.Longman.