Grammar for advanced learners: Adverbs - Thấm Tâm Vy

Nội dung text: Grammar for advanced learners: Adverbs - Thấm Tâm Vy

1. GRAMMAR FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS ADVERBS  There are a few adjectives which look like adverbs, e.g. friendly,lonely, cowardly. Adverbs are words which modify or give extra information about verbs, adjectives, We cannot make these adjectives into adverbs in the usual way. We use alternative other words or whole clauses. Let’s examine the form and use of adverbs, including words or phrases, or the adjective with manner or way: adverb pairs with very similar forms, as well as adverbs and adjectives with the same - He left cowardlyly, sneaking out the back door. form. We also look at the position of adverbs which modify verbs and at those adverbs => He left like a coward => He left in a cowardly way which convey a viewpoint or attitude, or modify a whole sentence. We use some common adjectives as adverbs in informal conversational English, although some speakers consider this incorrect: FORM - They sell things very cheap in that market. A. FORM OF ADVERBS. In informal US English real and good can be used instead of really and well: Some adverbs are not derived from other words, while others are formed by adding - She’s a real nice girl. The team's running good this season. suffixes to other words, or are formed from groups of words. These are some common USE examples of adverbs (note spelling): A. Modifying, and adding information not formed from other words: just, well, soon, too, quite, still The most common use of adverbs is to modify adjectives; the adverb usually comes fixed phrases kind of, of course, at last before the adjective: formed from other words - I thought his answers were pretty good on the whole. * adjective + ly: tragic => tragically, excitable => excitably, Some adverbs, e.g. really, almost, quite, pretty, can modify another adverb: easy => easily, real => reall - The French team did really well in the first round. * noun/preposition + Certain adverbs, e.g. quite, roughly, about, approximately, can also modify following -ward(s)/-wise home => homeward, after => afterwards, price => noun phrases, prepositional phrases and numbers: pricewise, health => healthwise - Her news came as quite a shock. * compounds some+times => sometimes - In our school roughly fifty students have mobile phones. B. CONFUSING FORM. ln some cases adverbs have the same forms as adjectives; in A key use of adverbs is to add information about the time, manner or place of an action other cases two different adverbs are derived from the same adjective: or state described in a sentence: Adverbs which have the same form as adjectives: - He hit the ball hard and this time it flew into the back of the net. close, deod, fost, fine, long, low, pretty, short, straight, wide, wrong Note that we can use noun phrases (this time) and prepositional phrases (into the bach Common adverbs from the same base, with different meaning of the net) as adverbs. direct (= without stopping) directly (= immediately/very soon) We can use adverbs with as, so, too, enough, etc.: - We flew direct from La Guardia to Houston. - Don't go. I'll be with you directly. - She performed so enthusiastically that the judges overlooked her inexperience. late (= not on time/not earl') lately = recently) - We missed the bargains because we didn't get there soon enough. - The plane arrived late due to bad weather. - She's been rather ill lately. Some adverbs are used in conversation to show the speaker's attitude. high (= to a great height) highly (= extremely) B. Using adverbs in comparisons - He lifted it high over his head. - Arsenic is highly toxic. We can use adverbs in comparatives and superlatives, usually with more and most: hard (= with a lot of effort/severelyJ hardly (= scarcely, almost not) - In the lottery draw red balls seem to come up more frequently than yellow ones. - He braked hard when he saw the cat. - We hardly know our neighbours. - Of all the relatives at Gran's funeral I think Uncle Ralph felt her loss most deeply. right (= direction/correctly) rightly (= correctly in my opinion) Adverbs which do not end in -ly take the same comparative and superlative forms as - Turn right at the crossroads. - The tribunal rightly condemned the adjectives . - Try to do it right this time! war criminals. free (= without paying) freely (= without limitation or control) - If you tuned the engine more often the car would go faster. - We got into the concert free! - Sheep roam freely over the hills. Note that the comparative and superlative forms of the adverb well are better and best. deep = to a great depth/distance) deeply (= thoroughly) POSITION OF ADVERBS IN SENTENCES - We explored deep into the jungle. - I'm deeply ashamed of my behaviour. A. The three positions. The position of an adverb depends on its meaning and the word or phrase it is modifying. Adverbs which modify adjectives, other adverbs and noun phrases have Thẩm Tâm Vy, July 24th, 2019 GRAMMAR FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS ADVERBS
2. fixed positions, but adverbs which modify a verb or add information about how, when In spoken British English, if we want to emphasise an auxiliary verb or a simple form or where something happens can take several positions in a sentence. of be, we can put a mid-position adverb before it. The auxiliary/verb (underlined) is We call these 'front position' (before the subject), 'mid position' (next to the verb) and usually stressed: 'final position' (after the object or complement): - You really don't understand me at all! But she never is on time! front mid final Compare: - I don't really like him. (unmarked position = I slightly dislike him.) These days I probably take my health much more seriously. - I really don't like him. (emphatic position = I hate him.)  If the object or complement of a verb is very long we can put a final position adverb We can do this in US English even when we are not emphasising the verb: before it: - Madonna never has been shy of image changes. - These days I take much more seriously all those things I used to take for granted.  We do not use other time adverbs (definite time or frequency) in mid position: B. We can use many adverbs in this position. We often use adverbs which link or - We everyday buy our lunch at that sandwich bar on the corner. contrast with information in the previous sentehce: But we can do this in news reports: - I've been incredibly busy this week. Yesterday I worked more than twelve hours. - The Federal Reserve today announced an immediote rise in interest rates. After negative adverbs (e.g. never), or after adverbs of time and place followed by a D. FINAL POSITION. The most frequent position for adverbs in English is the end of verb of movement or position, we put the verb before the subject (= inversion). the sentence. It is the usual position for yet, a lot, any more, any longer, too, as well: - Never have I seen such a disturbing sight. - They aren’t anynore selling it. => They aren't selling it any more. - Here lies the body of our late lamented sovereign. We usually put adverbs of manner (which describe how something is done) and  We do not use adverbs of definite frequency, e.g. daily, weekly, in front position: adverbs of definite frequency in this position: - Monthly I get paid. => I get paid monthly. - He well plays the guitar. => He plays the guitar well. C. This is the usual position for adverbs of indefinite frequency, adverbs of degree, Adverbs of manner which end in -ly (except badly) can go in final or mid position: * adverbs of certainty, one-word adverbs of time, even and only. - Harry painstakingly counted out the coins and arranged them neatly into piles. * adverbs of indefinite: alwags, frequently, generally, hardly ever, never, normally,  We don't use hardly ever or never in final position: * frequency: occasionally, often, rarely, seldom, sometimes, usually - They watch tetevision hardly ever. => They hardly ever watch television. * adverbs of degree: absolutely, almost, completely, entirely, just, hardly, partly,  If we put often, rarely and seldom in final position, we must use very or quite: quite, rather, reallg, slightly, totally - These days I eat desserts rarely => These days I eat desserts very rarely. * adverbs of certainty: certainly, definitely, probably If there are several adverbs in final position, we usually follow a sequence of adverbs * one-word adverbs of time: already, finally, immediately, just, now, no longer, of manner, then place, and finally time: soon, still, then - The statue was lifted carefully into the plinth before the ceremony. With a simple verb we put the adverb between the subject and the verb, but with simple forms of be the adverb goes after the verb: SENTENCE ADVERBS - She arrives always by taxi and she always is on time. A. VIEWPOINT ADVERBS. Adverbs can describe the particular aspect of something => She always arrives by taxi and she is always on time. we are commenting on: If there is a modal or auxiliary verb we put the adverb after the (first) auxiliary verb: - Economically, the current government has been a resounding success. (= The - We've never been to the Greek islands. You can just see the coast. government has successfully managed the economy.) - Sea eagles have occasionally been seen around Loch Lomond. - Atthough economically successful, the government is starting to lose popularity. These adverbs go after do or not: B. ATTITUDE / SENTENCE ADVERBS. Adverbs such as clearly, honestly, - They don't really understand my point of view. obviously, surprisingly, understandably can express our attitude towards an action:  But we put sometimes, still, certainly, definitelg and probably before a negative - You've obviously been eating too many sweets, young man! (This is a logical auxiliary: deduction which is clear to anybody.) - I don’t sometimes understand his arguments. He hasn’t still convinced me. We can also use these adverbs in conversation to introduce, extend, or make a comment => I sometimes don't understand his arguments. He still hasn't convinced me. on a topic or opinion. We usually put these 'sentence adverbs' at the front or end of the sentence, separated by a comma: - Incidentatly, I noticed they were looking for new players down at the Red Lion. Thẩm Tâm Vy, July 24th, 2019 GRAMMAR FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS ADVERBS
3. - I don't think he knows what he's talking about, frankly. bold. This word must not be altered in any way. The exercise begins with an  There are a number of these adverbs where the meaning is not always obvious: example (O). adverb meanings 0. Karen did really well in the test. admittedly This probably qualifies or contradicts what I have just said/heard. highly Karen was highly successful in the test apparently This is something I believe to be true or have heard, although l'm not 1. The car started to accelerate as we turned the corner. certain it is correct. go As we turned the corner the car fortunately This is something positive which contrasts with something else I have 2. She really didn't expect to win so much money. said/heard. I am pleased about this. quite Winning so much money came surprise frankly This is my true opinion, although it may be shocking. 3. Evolution is slower during periods of climatic stability. incidentally I am changing the subject - this is some information which is not happens Evolution during periods of climatic stability directly . 4. We didn't get there in time to hear the overture. by the way connected with the previous information. soon We wanted to hear the overture but we didn't get understondably One can sympathise with this. 5. More or less three-quarters of our students are fee-paying these days. roughly These days our students pay free.  Some adverbs, e.g. naturally and clearly, can be used as sentence adverbs and also 6. In the USA only a few people have heard of our products. as adverbs of manner. Note the different meanings: entirely Our products are in the USA. - Despite being in a zoo, the animals behaved quite naturally. (= in a natural way) 7. She gave such a moving performance that we were virtually in tears. - Naturally, wild animals behave quite differently in captivity. (= what is expected) so She performed we were virtually in tears - The teacher answered the question clearly and precisely. (= in a clear way) 8. Mr Skidmore had a deeper involvement than any of the other directors. - Clearly, the teacher didn't answer the question. (This is obvious.) most Of all the directors, Mr Skidmore was 9. In terms of politics, I felt most of the participants were biased. PRACTICE politically In my opinion most of the participants I. Underline the correct option in italics. 10. I couldn't have made my answers to the questionnaire any more honest than ldid. 1. He slapped him friendly / in a friendly way on the back. as I answered the questionnaire I could. 2. Does that flight go direct / directly or is there a stopover? III. Tick () all those adverbs which can complete the sentences and cross (X) those 3. Many of the senior staff are right / rightly concerned about their pensions. that cannot. In one case none of the adverbs will fit. 4. There's been a lot of talk about European integration late / lately. 1. Clarice opened the door to the secret compartment. 5. Our new cellphone fits easy / easily into the average-sized pocket. A. slowly B. last week C. probably 6. The path leads straight / straightly to the front door. 2. We don't know the identity of the masked stranger. 7. Healthy / Healthwise, stress is probably the most serious problem facing people A. still B. really C. certainly today. 3. You can see the coast from this point. 8. Animals are now able to wander free / freely throughout the game reserve. A. definitely B. just C. as well 9. In late spring the gulls nest high / highly on the cliff face. 4. Our next door neighbours go there 10. The remains of the Spanish galleon lie deep / deeply under the ocean. A. as well B. hardly ever C. a lot 11. The minister will begin by giving a statement. After / Afterwards, you will be able to 5. the boss gives me a hard time. put your questions to him directly. A. Every day B. Daily C. Sometimes 12. Jackson came pretty close / closely to winning that last race. 6. I get the feeling you haven't understood my point. 13. You'll never get better if you don't eat - you've hard / hardly touched your dinner! A entirely B. really C. probably 14. In the Denver play-offs the Miami team did real /good well. 7. The public don't respond in the ways advertisers expect them to' 15. Some of these kids drive their cars far too fast / fastly. A. sometimes B. any longer C. always II. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first 8. I haven't been to the cinema sentence. You must use between three and six words, including the word given in A .yet B. often C. very often 9. Alarming signs of radiation leakage have been reported around the power station Thẩm Tâm Vy, July 24th, 2019 GRAMMAR FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS ADVERBS
4. A. often B. this week C. always 10. have I been subjected to such outrageous demands. V. Make the answers in these mini-dialogues more emphatic by rewriting them A. Never B. Rarely C. Frequently with the adverb in brackets in a suitable position. Make any other changes that are 11. I'm afraid the bank does not permit such large overdrafts necessary. The exercise begins with an example (0). A. generally B. any longer C. any more 0. 'Lucy hasn't turned up yet again.' 12. The patient reacts to any kind of bright light. 'I know. She is unreliable, isn't she?' (really) A. badly B. immediately C. usually => I know she really is unreliable, isn’t she? 13. He plays the saxophone 1. 'Admit it. You took that money out of the till.' A. too B. quite rarely C. never 'I'm sorry. I don't know what you are talking about!' (really) 14. The data from those sensors isn't reliable. 2. 'How ridiculous! They can't fit us in on Saturday because they're full.' A. absolutely B. sometimes C. always 'But that place is full on Saturday evenings!' (always) 15. She treats her children A. carefully B. well C. badly 3. 'Isn't it strange that he never mentions his wife. Don't you wonder why?' IV. Rewrite these sentences putting the words and phrases in brackets in the best 'Yes, I have wondered about that.' (often) order. Note that none of these sentences are emphatic. The exercise begins with an example (0). 4. 'Laurence won't even let us discuss your proposal.' 0. Mv parents (allowed / hardly ever) us to (late/ on weekdays / stay.up). 'I'm not surprised. He doesn't listen to my ideas.' (never) => My parents hardly ever allow us to stay up late on weekdays. 1. Taking advantage of a gap between the players, Owen kicked the ball (into the 5. 'How bizarre. The customs officer really went through my luggage with a fine-tooth net/just before half time/skilfully) comb!' 'That's not unusual; the customs officers are quite thorough.' (usually) 2. Foxes (often/be seen/can) scavenging (on the streets of London/at night) 6. 'You must have some idea of his whereabouts.' 3. David (well/behaves/quite) when he is at home but he (at school/causes trouble/often) 'I'm sorry but we don't know where he is.' (honestly) 4. The post (arrive/sometimes/on time/doesn't) in this part of the city. 7. 'I think you should swallow your pride and apologise to them.' 'Come off it. You can't expect me to just cave in like that.'(really) 5. Jennifer (immediately/didn't/recognise) the man waving (at the end of the show/frantically/from the Balcony). 8. 'Take a break? Cive yourself space? What are you on about?' 'You don't have a clue what l'm talking about, do you?' (absolutely) 6. We (unable/arelusually) to offer refunds on the spot, but we will examine (thoroughly/before the end of the week/your claim). 9. 'Downloading that software seems to be taking an awfully long time.' 'I'm afraid these programs do take a long time to download.' (sometimes) 7. These children (never/have/given/been/probably) the opportunities we all take for granted. 10. 'Look. lt's midday and Tabitha still isn't here.' 'Well, she is in the office before noon these days.' (rarely) 8. Access to the lnternet (no longer/is) available (on weekday mornings/free of charge/at our libraries). VI. Make this dialogue more natural by using suitable adverbs from the box to replace each of the expressions in italics (each adverb can only be used once and 9. Such losses (have/would/normally/avoided/been) by the use of back-up devices. not all the adverbs will be needed). exactly fortunately frankly ideally still seriously understandably admittedly 10. Many of the old masters had assistants who would prepare the oil pigments (each apparently by the way clearly naturally obviously reasonably really morning/by hand/in their studio). Thẩm Tâm Vy, July 24th, 2019 GRAMMAR FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS ADVERBS
5. STEVE Not a bad party last night. Lots of old faces from college were there. CLARE (1) That sounds interesting; can you tell me more? 4. We regret having to announce the suspension of all staff working in our subsidiary. STEVE Yeah. Lizzie was there with her new husband. (2) This is something I’ve heard (currently/under the circumstances/in San Diego/deeply) although it may not be true, he's something very high up and important in the civil service. 5. We seem to get the chance to talk. (about these things/seriously/these days/rarely) CLARE Yes, I've heard that too. (3) This is my true opinion, although it may be shocking , I never really expected her to marry anyone successful. She was 6. Many of my colleagues disapprove of my scheme to update the accounting always so scruffy and laid back. She was never into social status or anything like that. procedures. (thoroughly/over the next quarter/unfortunately/in the sales department) STEVE (4) It is a logical deduction she's changed her outlook on life. I mean, she was very smartly dressed and she kept telling me all about how much money their new house had cost. (5) Do you expect me to believe that? STEVE Yes, she was really bragging about it. CLARE Well, she never used to be interested in money at all. (6) This probably contradicts what I've just said she did like eating out and travelling. STEVE (7) What I'm about to say isn't really related to what we've been discussing your old flame Simon was at the party. CLARE Was he? I haven't seen him for ages. STEVE (8) As one would expect , he couldn't stop asking me questions about you. CLARE I think he still hopes that we might get back together one day. STEVE (9) That is completely accurate CLARE Well, not much chance of that! Oh, was that obnoxious old creep Douglas Jarrold there? STEVE I'm afraid so. (10) I'm pleased about this he was right over the other side of the room so I didn't have to talk to him. He was trying to chat up Mary Bracknell. I can't think why. CLARE (l l) This is obvious he still fancies her. STEVE Maybe. She certainly wasn't very interested in him, (12) which one con sympathise with CLARE Strange how some people never change, isn't it? VII. Rewrite these sentences using all the adverbial expressions in brackets. 0. The press olfice advised us not to discuss the matter. (before the conference/last week/publicly) => Last week, the press office advised us not to discuss the matter publicly before the conference. 1 Ruined, the owner of the business agreed to sell the premises. (reluctantly/within the month/ financially/rather) 2 There is nothing better than collapsing. (onto a sofa/probably/at the end of the day/lazily) 3. Controlled, this effective new drug can reduce blood pressure. (amazingly/within hours/carefully/ dramatically) Thẩm Tâm Vy, July 24th, 2019 GRAMMAR FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS ADVERBS
6. 10. 'Well, she rarely is in the office before noon these days. ANSWER KEY VI. I. 1. Really? 2. Apparently 3. Frankly 4. Obviously 5. Seriously? 6. Admittedly 1. in a friendly way 2. direct 3. rightly 4. lately 5. easily 6. straight 7. By the way 8. Naturally 9. Exactly 10. Fortunately 11. Clearly 12. Understandably 7. Healthwise 8. freely 9 high 10. deep 11. Afterwards 12. close VII. 13. hardly 14. real 15. fast 1. Financially ruined, the owner of the business rather reluctantly agreed to sell the II. premises within the month. 1. started to go faster (and faster) 2. as quite a 3. happens more slowly 2. There is probably nothing better than collaPsing lazily onto a sofa at the end of the 4. there soon enough 5 roughly three-quarters of 6. almost entirely unheard day/At the end of the day there is of/unknown 7. so movingly that 8. (the) most deeply involved 9. were politically 3. Carefully controlled, this amazingly effective new drug can dramatically reduce biased 10. as honestly as blood pressure within hours/can reduce blood pressure dramatically within hours/this III. dramatically effective new drug can amazingly reduce 1. A BX C 2. AX B CX 3. A 8 CX 4. A.  BX C 5. A BX C 4. Under the circumstances we deeply regret having to announce the suspension of all 6. A B CX 7. AX BX C 8. A BX C 9.AX BX CX 10. A B CX staff currently working in our subsidiary in San Diego. 11. A BX CX 12. AX B C 13. A B CX 14. A BX C 15. A B C 5. We rarely seem to get the chance to talk seriously about these things these days. IV. 6. Unfortunately, many of my colleagues thoroughly disapprove of my scheme to 1. Taking advantage of a gap between the players, Owen kicked the ball skilfully into update the accounting procedures in the sales department over the next quarter. the net just before half time. 2. Foxes can often be seen scavenging on the streets of London at night. 3. David behaves quite well when he is at home but he often causes trouble at school. 4. The Post sometimes doesn't arrive on time in this part of the city. 5. Jennifer didn't immediately recognise the man waving frantically from the balcony at the end of the show. 6. We are usually unable to offer refunds on the spot, but we will examine your claim thoroughly before the end of the week. 7. These children have probably never been given the opportunities we all take for granted. 8 Access to the lnternet is no longer available free of charge at our libraries on weekday mornings. 9. Such losses would normally have been avoided by the use of back-up devices. 10. Many of the old masters had assistants who would prepare the oil pigments by hand in their studios each morning. V. 1 'I'm sorry. I really don't know what you are talking about!' 2 'But that place always is full on Saturday evenings!' 3. 'Yes, I often have wondered about that.' 4 'I'm not surprised. He never does listen to my ideas.' 5 'That's not unusual, the customs officers usually are quite thorough.' 6. 'I'm sorry but we honestly don't know where he is.' 7 'Come off it. You really can't expect me to just cave in like that.' 8 'You absolutely don't have a clue what I'm talking about, do you?' 9. 'I'm afraid these programs sometimes do take a long time to download.' Thẩm Tâm Vy, July 24th, 2019 GRAMMAR FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS ADVERBS