ADVERBS : Formation and Position of Adverbs

ADVERBS : Formation and Position of Adverbs

Adverbs are used to say how, how often, where or in what manner we do something. • She danced very gracefully. • They were all chatting happily when we arrived. • He drove carefully along the icy road. • The technician explained the problem very clearly. • Tom often travels by train. • The children are playing outside. • Jane really likes that band.
Formation of adverbs	Adjective	Adverb
Most adverbs are formed by adding -ly to the adjective :	slow careful	slowly carefully
For adjectives ending in -y, -e, -ic, the adverbs are formed as follows :	happy humble historic	happily humbly historically
Some exceptions:	good hard fast early late daily straight	well hard fast early late daily straight
N.B.  Although they end in -ly, the following words are adjectives, NOT adverbs : friendly, lively, lonely, lovely, silly, ugly  for example : a friendly person, a silly remark, an ugly duckling, and so on ...

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Position of Adverbs
Different types of adverbs go in different positions.

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Type	Position	Example
manner	These adverbs usually go after the verb. They go after the object. If the object is long, the adverb can go before the verb.	He spoke clearly. He read the instructions carefully. He read carefully the instructions. He slowly moved the newspaper and picked up the book.
frequency	They go after the verb ‘be’. They go before all other verbs. Between two verbs if there are two. After the first verb if there are more than two. Before two verbs if the second verb is an infinitive. Frequency phrases (e.g. once a week) go at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.	Tom is often late. Eva sometimes takes the bus. You can always change it later. I would never have found the way. We generally try to eat healthy food. Every so often Anna goes to the library. She plays tennis once a week.
place	Here, there, inside,etc. usually go at the end of a sentence.	Come and sit here. They are waiting inside.
degree	Really, quite,etc.usually go before the verb. If there are two verbs they go between. A lot, very much, etc. go at the end.	I really love that dress. I would just like a glass of water. He watches television a lot.