Adverbs

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What are adverbs?
1.   As the word itself suggests, an "adverb" can be added to a verb to modify its meaning.  Usually, an adverb tells you when, where, how, in what manner or to what extent an action is performed.  Very many adverbs end in "ly" - particularly those which are used to express how an action is performed.  Although many adverbs end in "ly", lots do not, such as: fast, never, well, very, most, least, more, less, now, far, there.   
Examples:
Anita placed the vase carefully on the shelf.
       (The word "carefully" is an adverb.  It shows how the vase was placed.) 
 Tara walks gracefully.
       (The word "gracefully" is an adverb.  It modifies the verb "to walk".)
 He runs fast.
       (The word "fast" is an adverb.  It modifies the verb "to run".)
 You can set your watch by him. He always leaves at 5 o'clock.
       (The word "always" is an adverb.  It modifies the verb "to leave".) 
 The dinner guests arrived early.
       ("early" - adverb; modifies "to arrive") 
 She sometimes helps us.
       ("sometimes" - adverb; modifies "to help") 

2.     Although there are thousands of adverbs, each adverb can usually be categorised in one of the following groupings:

 Adverbs of Time 
 Press the button now.
      ("now" - adverb of time) 
 I have never been.
      ("never" - adverb of time) 
 I tell him daily.
      ("daily" - adverb of time) 

 Adverbs of Place 
 Daisies grow everywhere.
      ("everywhere" - adverb of place) 
 I did not put it there.
      ("there" - adverb of place) 

 Adverbs of Manner 
 He passed the re-sit easily.
      ("easily" - adverb of manner) 
 The lion crawled stealthily.
      ("stealthily" - adverb of manner) 

 Adverbs of Degree 
 That is the farthest I have ever jumped.
      ("farthest" - adverb of degree) 
 He boxed more cleverly.
      ("more cleverly" - adverb of degree and manner.)
      (This is covered more in the lesson "Comparatives") 

3.    Although the name "adverb" implies that they are only used with verbs, adverbs can also modify adjectives and other adverbs:

Examples:
The heavenly blue light shone on the water.
      (The adverb "heavenly" modifies the adjective "blue".)
 Peter had an extremely ashen face.
      (The adverb "extremely" modifies the adjective "ashen".)
 Badly trained dogs that fail the test will become pets.
      (The adverb "badly" modifies the adjective "trained".)
      ("Trained" is an adjective formed from the verb "to train". This is covered in
       the lesson "Verbs".)
 She wore a beautifully designed dress.
      (The adverb "beautifully" modifies the adjective "designed".)
 Peter Jackson finished his assignment remarkably quickly.
      (The adverb "quickly" modifies the verb "to finish". The adverb "remarkably"
       modifies the adverb "quickly".)

4.    When an adverb modifies an adjective, there is no need to join the two with a hyphen. 

Examples:
Thomas was a highly respected member of the team.
      (There is no need to join the adverb "highly" to the adjective "respected" with a
        hyphen.)
 She passed him the most crimson apple in the basket.
      (There is no need to join the adverb "most" to the adjective "crimson" with a
        hyphen.  Incidentally, "most" is an adverb of degree.)
  [picture]
 Dawn was an exceptionally-talented teenager. 
      (There is no need to join the adverb "exceptionally" to the adjective "talented"
       with a hyphen.)

5.    However, with words like "well" and "fast" (which are both adjectives and adverbs), a hyphen can be used to avoid ambiguity. 

Examples:
We will be visited by a well-known actress. 
      (In this example, a hyphen is added to differentiate between "well-known" (i.e. a
       widely known actress) and "well" and "known" (i.e. healthy and recognised
       actress).  As unlikely, as the latter may be, it is grammatically feasible.  The
       hyphen eliminates all ambiguity.)
 He tried to sell me 200 fast-growing chickens.
      (A hyphen is added to differentiate between "fast-growing" (i.e. chickens which
       grow quickly) and "fast" and "growing" (i.e. chickens which are good runners 
       and still growing).  As unlikely as the latter may be, the hyphen eliminates all
       ambiguity.)
 

 USE A HYPHEN WITH "WELL" 

The following rule will suffice in practically every situation: When preceding an adjective with an adverb, only use a hyphen if the adverb is the word "well".
well-known play (< hyphen with "well")
 widely known play (< no hyphen with any other adverb)

6.    The use of hyphens with adjectives is covered in more detail in Sections 1 and 2 of the lesson "Hyphens" and in Section 3 of the lesson "Adjectives".

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  What are adverbial clauses and phrases?

1.   Quite often, an "adverb" in a sentence comprises several words.  These types of adverbs are called adverbial phrases or adverbial clauses.  Adverbial phrases and clauses (shown in bold below) can usually be categorised as one of the following:

 Adverbs of Time 
 A crow attacked your cat while I was waiting for the bus.
Every time he cracked a joke, the punters roared with laughter.
      (Note the comma.  This is explained in the hot tip below.)

 Adverbs of Place 
 It is colder and wetter in the north of Germany. 
 Put the sign where the students can read it.

 Adverbs of Manner 
 That dog is walking around like he owns the place.
 She is acting as if she has stolen something.

 Adverbs of Degree 
 You are not as clever as you think you are.
 He is as modest as is he is brilliant.

 Adverbs of Condition 
 If I have the time, I will show you the cellar after the shift.
I will come with you provided my suit is back from the dry cleaners. 

 Adverbs of Concession 
 Although only four years old, Oliver can do long multiplication.
 I will cover for you although I may lose my job.

 Adverbs of Reason 
 We were forced to abandon the match because the skies opened up.
Since it is your birthday, you can sit in the front. 

2.    There are very few problems associated with adverbial clauses.  The main grammar point is whether to use a comma or not.

 USE A COMMA WHEN IT'S AT THE FRONT 

When an adverbial clause or phrase is at the front of a sentence, it is usual to use a comma.
A crow attacked your cat while I was waiting for the bus.
     (no comma required - adverbial clause at the end of the sentence)
While I was waiting for the bus, a crow attacked your cat.
     (comma required - adverbial clause at the start)
It is colder and wetter in the north of Germany.
      (no comma required - adverbial clause at the end of the sentence)
In the north of Germany, it is colder and wetter.
       (comma required - adverbial clause at the start)

This is also covered in Section 2 of the lesson "Commas".

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