General English Level 3 V 3

UNIT 05 Getting away TOPIC 01 I want to do something different this time

	LANGUAGE FOCUS 04 Adverbs - Part 1

Pedro and Jim say:
Pedro:	I've always wanted to go to Africa on safari.
Pedro:	Oh come on Jim, live dangerously for once!
Jim:	I just don't want to move around so quickly . I work hard you know!
Pedro:	I'll tell you both about that some time .

Always, dangerously, quickly, hard and later are adverbs . We usually use adverbs to give more information about the verb in the sentence.

We also use prepositional phrases to give more information about the verb eg across the desert, down the river.

	verb	adverb
They	travelled	slowly.

Types of Adverbs

There are five common types of adverbs.
1. Manner

She asked her teacher politely.
I can't understand you. Please speak slowly.
We looked at the brochures carefully.

Politely tells us how she asked her teacher. Slowly tells us how they spoke. Carefully tells us how we looked at the brochures. Politely, slowly and carefully are adverbs of manner.

Look at more examples of adverbs of manner.

2. Time

We are going out now .
They are playing football tomorrow.
I'll speak to you later.

Now tells when we are going out. Tomorrow tells when they are playing football. Later tells when I will speak to you. Now, tomorrow and later are adverbs of time.

Look at more examples of adverbs of time.

3. Place

I'll meet you downstairs.
The tour goes everywhere in the Pacific.
They live nearby.

Downstairs tells where I will meet you. Everywhere tells where the tour goes. Nearby tells where they live. Downstairs, everywhere and nearby are adverbs of place.

Look at more examples of adverbs of place.

4. Frequency

I've never had any complaints about that tour.
She's always on time.
She plays sport twice a week.

Never tells how often I have complaints about that tour. Always tells how often she is on time. Twice a week tells how often she plays sport. Never, always and twice a week are adverbs and adverbial phrases of frequency.

Look at more examples of adverbs of frequency.

5. Degree

I've nearly finished.
The hotel was partly destroyed.
I really want to have a holiday.

Nearly tells how close I am to finishing. Partly tells how much the hotel was destroyed. Really tells how much I want to have a holiday. Nearly, partly and really are adverbs of degree.

Look at more examples of adverbs of degree.