Adverbs

Question 1

What are they used for?

Answer 1

They tell us about a verb (how somebody does something or how something happens). They usually go after the verb.

Many of them are formed in this way: adjective + ly

Sam drove carefully

Question 2

Position?

Answer 2

a) after the verb (and after the object if present)

She speaks English perfectly ( v + o + ad)

b) you can also use adverbs before adjectives and other adverbs

• reasonably cheap (It’s a reasonably cheap restaurant)
• incredibly quickly (Maria learns languages incredibly quickly)

c) also before a past participle

• two people were seriously injured in the accident

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Question 3

irregular adverbs

Answer 3

good –> well, but:

a) well + past participle = adjectives (ex. well-known)

b) well is also an adjective = in good health

How are you today?
I’m very well, thanks

fast –> fast

hard –> hard

late –> late

long –> long

far –> far

straight –> straight

early –> early

daily –> daily

lively –> lively

Question 4

lately = ?

Answer 4

recently

Have you seen Kate lately?

Question 5

hardly = ?

Answer 5

a) hardly = very little, almost none. It goes before the verb

She hardly spoke to me
we hardly know each other

b) I can hardly do st = It’s very difficult for me, almost impossible

Your writing is terrible. I can hardly read it (=it’s almost impossible to read it)

c) hardly + any/anybody/anyone/anything/anywhere

How much money do you have? - Hardly any (=very little, almost none)

Hardly anobody in our class passed (=very few students passed)

d) hardly ever = almost never

I hardly ever go out

e) hardly also means = certainly not

It’s hardly surprising that you’re tired. You haven’t slept for days (=It’s certainly not surprising)

The situation is serious, but it’s hardly a crisis (= It’s certainly not a crisis)