2. An adverb is a word or an expression that
generally modifies a verb, adjective, another
adverb, determiner, clause, preposition, or
sentence. Adverbs typically express manner,
place, time, frequency, degree, level of
certainty, etc., answering questions such as how,
in what way, when, where, to what extent.
3. 1. Cross the street now.
(The adverb now modifies the verb cross)
2. The street is too wide.
(The adverb too modifies the adjective wide.)
3. The children crossed the street very carefully.
(The adverb carefully modifies the verb crossed.) (The adverb very modifies the adverb carefully.)
4. Adverbs, like adjectives, have degrees of
comparison. They are the positive, the
comparative, and the superlative.
Remember the following rules in making
comparisons with adverbs.
5. 1. The comparative degree of some adverbs is formed
by adding -er to their positive form and the
superlative degree by adding -est.
Examples:
Positive
high
fast
Comparative
higher
faster
Superlative
highest
fastest
6. 2. The comparative degree of some adverbs ending in
-ly is formed by prefixing more or less to the positive
and the superlative degree by prefixing most or least.
Examples:
Positive
patiently
skillfully
Comparative
more patiently
less skillfully
Superlative
most patiently
least skillfully
7. 3. Some adverbs change in form of irregularly.
Examples:
Positive
good
bad
Comparative
better
worse
Superlative
best
worst
8. 4. Many adverbs denoting time and
place (always, again, already, before,
note, here, above, inside, within, down,
away, etc.) and adverbs denoting
absoluteness or completeness
(eternally, round, never, universally)
have neither comparative nor
superlative forms.
9. Examples:
Incorrect: Mark is less always ready for a any disaster.
Correct: Mark is almost always ready for any disaster.
Incorrect: Earth's landscapes are more eternally
changing than its seas are.
Correct: Earth's landscapes as well as its seas are
eternally changing.
10. Some problems can arise when we use modifiers. To
avoid mistakes in making comparison, you should
remember the following pointers.
Do not use both -er and more (or -er and less) to
form the comparative degree, or both -est and
most (or -est and least) to form the superlative
degree.
Incorrect: We should walk more faster to get there on
time.
Correct : We should walk faster to get there on time.
11. Add other or else to the sentence when you
compare a person or a thing with one of the
members of its own class or kind.
Incorrect: Raymart jumps higher than anyone on the
team.
Correct : Raymart jumps higher than anyone else on
the team.
12. Adverbs such as never, no, hardly, not, and scarcely
are all negatives. Two negatives should not be used
to express one negative meaning.
Incorrect: She was so sleepy she couldn’t hardly stay
awake.
Correct : She was so sleepy she couldn’t stay awake.
Correct : She was so sleepy she could hardly stay
awake.
