Adverbs Flashcards
What is an adverb?
A word that modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, or a whole sentence.
It is typically a subjective characterization of a state of things (he did not run badly - badly is the adverb)
Adverbs often end in -ly, but some (such as fast) look exactly the same as their adjective counterparts.
“This dress is a very unflattering shade of purple”
What is the adverb?
“very” and “unflattering”
“very” modifies another adverb (“unflattering”)
“unflattering modifies an adjective (“shade of purple”)
“shade of purple” modifies a noun (“dress”)
“I will seriously consider your suggestion.”
What is the adverb?
seriously (seriously consider)
“Seriously” is an adverb that modifies a verb (“consider”)
When is it grammatically incorrect to use an adverb?
Linking verbs such as feel, smell, sound, seem, and appear.
Linking verbs need predicate adjectives, not adverbs.
“I sound poorly through the microphones” is incorrect.
“I sound poor through the microphones” is correct.
“The woman is quite pretty”
What is the adverb?
“Quite” (quite pretty)
“Quite” is an adverb that modifies an adjective (“pretty”)
and “Pretty” is an adjective because it modifies a noun (“woman”)
“The weather report is almost always right.”
What is the adverb?
“almost” and “always”
“always” is an adverb that modifies an adjective (“right”)
“almost” is an adverb modifying another adverb (“always”)
“Accordingly, he went down to the station that afternoon”
What is the adverb?
“Accordingly”
“Accordingly” is an adverb that modifies a sentence (“he went down to the station that afternoon”)
What is a sentence adverb that should be avoided in formal writing?
“Hopefully”
A lot of readers hate reading ‘Hopefully” as a sentence adverb.
“Is my singing too loud?”
Identify the adverbs
“too” and “loud”
“loud” modifies a verb (“singing”)
“too” modifies another adverb (“loud”)
What is one of the most easily misplaced adverbs?
‘Only’
He only fed the cat
and
He fed only the cat
has different meanings.
