Bank Exams English Notes 2019 | Govt Exams English Notes

An adverb is a word which modifies the meaning of a verb, an adjective or an adverb. 

Example: Govinda reads quite clearly.

Kinds of Adverb:

(a) According to meaning

1) Adverbs of Time : They are the adverbs which tell us when an action takes place. 

    Example: I shall meet him tomorrow.

Rule : Time adverbs cannot be used in the present perfect, instead the past indefinite is used for them.

Example : I saw a 3D Sci-fi movie last night.

2) Adverbs of Place : They are the adverbs which tell us where an action takes place. For example,

Example: He left his wallet there.

3) Adverbs of Manner : They are the adverbs which tell us how an action takes place or in what manner. For example, Gautam Buddha left his family stealthily.

4) Adverbs of Frequency : They are the adverbs which tell us how often an action takes place. For example, The Delhi Police is always with you .

5) Adverbs of Degree or Quantity : They are the adverbs which tell us how much or in what degree or to what extent. For example, I have tried enough and now I give up.

   Rule : The adverb “so” as an adverb of degree must not be used absolutely.

   Example : He is very arrogant.

   Rule : That “should not be used instead of ” so “as an adverb”.

   Example : He went only so far.

   Rule : The adverb “too” should not be used instead of “very” or “much” and vice versa.

   Example : She is very beautiful.

   Rule : Much is used with past participles used as adjectives not with present participles.

   Example : The match became very boring after some time.

    Rule : Adverb of degree comes just before the adjective it qualifies.

    Example: He is too weak to walk.

6) Adverbs of Affirmation and Negation : They are the adverbs which tell us whether an action is done or not. For example, He has not left the place.

7) Adverbs of Reason : They are the adverbs which tell us why an action takes place. For example,

She therefore decided to be a rich woman.

(b) According to use

1) Simple Adverb : It only modifies some words (verb, adjective or an adverb). All the above examples belong to this category.

2) Interrogative Adverb : It not only modifies some words but also introduces a question. For example, How did you come here?

3) Relative Adverb : It not only modifies some words but also refers back to some antecedent. For example, How can I forget the day when happiness was showered on me from all sides?

Forms of adverb :

Rule : Adjective should not be used for adverb.

Example: The moon shone brightly in the sky.

Rule : Some adverbs have two forms, the form ending in-ly and the form which is the same as the  adjective. For example, loud, quick, high, hard, near, late, pretty.

Example: He fought hard for the No. 1 spot in the game.

Comparison of adverbs :

Rule : Adverbs ending in -ly form the comparative by adding more and the superlative by adding most.

Example : The petrol price hike issue has been debated more hotly than the urea scam.

Rule : If the adverb is of one syllable, the comparative is formed by adding-er and the superlative by adding -est to the positive.

Example : The hare runs faster than a dog.

Position of adverbs :

Rule : Adverbs of manner, place and time are generally placed after the verb or after the object if there is one.

Example: Shee wrote that article last year.

Rule : When there are two or more adverbs after a verb (and its object), the normal order is; adverb of manner, adverb of place, adverb of time.

Example: I read the proof meticulously at home the day before yesterday.

Rule : Adverbs of frequency and most of the adverbs of quantity are

i) normally put between the subject and the verb if the verb consists of only one word;

ii) put after the first word if there is more than one word in the verb;

iii) put after the verb if the verb is am/are/is/was/were;

Rule : Two negatives should not be used in the same sentence unless we wish to make an affirmation.

Example: He did not despise any of his lovers.

Rule : Else should be followed by but.

Example: It is nothing else but a misunderstanding.

Rule : Never should not be used for not.

Example:: He met his friend after a long time and his friend did not recognise him.