Form and Function of Adverb

Form and Function of Adverb

          Words are divided into different kinds or classes, according to their use; according to their work they do in a sentence. They are called Parts of Speech. Adverb is one of the parts of speech. It’s definition is as,

“A word that is used to add

something to the meaning of

a verb, an adjective or another

adverb is called an Adverb”       

          Adverbs go with verbs and modify the meaning of verb. Generally adverb occurs after the verb the verb, but in some cases they occur before verbs.  Words normally end in suffix- ‘ly’ are adverbs. e.g. slowly, suddenly, brighten, certainly, very, quite.

1. Vinayak writes stylishly. 2. Radha is very beautiful. 3. She speaks quite well.

          Let’s discuss forms and functions of Adverbs.

Forms of   Adverb:

Most adverbs are formed from adjectives with the suffix ‘-ly’

e.g. clever-cleverly, wise-wisely, kind-kindly, foolish-foolishly.

Some adverbs however do not end in –ly but have exactly the same form as adjective.

          1. This is a hard sum. (Adjective) 2. He works hard all day. (Adjective)

Some Adverbs are made up of a noun and a qualifying adjective. e.g.

sometimes, yesterday, yesterday, meantime, midnight, otherwise, meanwhile

Some Adverbs are compounded with ‘a’. e.g. afoot, aboard, abroad, anew, asleep,

Some Adverbs are compounds of prepositions. Thereby, therein, hereafter, hereby, herein,.

Some adverbs are compound with ‘to’ and ‘be’. e.g. today, tonight, tomorrow, behind, before.

Functions of   Adverb:

1. As a modifier of  an adjective and an adverb:-

          An adverb is used to modify the meaning of adjective and another adverb. It is known as an intensifier. e.g. too, very, extremely, pretty, terrible, rather, indeed

1. That was a very funny film. 2. It is extremely good of you.

          It is also important to note that an adverb ‘enough’ is placed after an adjective that makes the special construction.

1. Your answer is long enough. 2. That is a good enough.

          Some adverbs like ‘too’ and ‘how’ modify an adjective in a noun-phrase. At that time the indefinite article (a, an) is placed after the adjective e.g. 

1. He’s too a kind to give a respect. 2. How tall a man is he?

2. As a modifier of a prepositional phrase:

There are some adverbs which are used to modify preposition phrases. e.g.

1. The nail went directly through the wall.

2.  His parents are dead against the trip.

3. As a modifier of a noun & noun-phrase:-

          Some adverbs denoting place or time can modify nouns. They adverb can stand both before and after the noun. e.g. The above statement-the statement above.

          An adverb can also modify a noun phrase. The degree word like quite, rather, such and what can modify noun-phrases.

1. He told such a funny story. 2. What a fool he is!

4. To express manner, means and instrument:-

Adverbial is used to express manner by the three ways. e.g.  

1. He speaks confidently. 2. He speaks in a confident manner. 3.  He speaks with confidence.

Adverb is used to express means by introduced ‘by’.  e.g. Will you be coming by car. 

Adverb is used to express instrument by introduced ‘with e.g. He threatened him with a big knife.

5. Adverb as adverbials:-

          An adverb can function as an adverbial in a sentence. Adverbial often tells us something extra about an action, happening or state as described by the rest of the sentence.

          Some place adverbials like there, here, everywhere, where are used to express place. They may be placed after the verb or objects. e.g.

I searched everywhere for my book. I want to go the place where he met.

          A few time adverbials like just, now, nowadays, then, today, yesterday. etc show period of time. e.g. 1. My father is not at home now. 2 Nowadays to teach communication is always useful.  

          Time duration adverbials denote a length of time and duration from some preceding point of time. e.g. always, for ever, since, ago, for a while etc They normally have end-position.

e.g. I’ll be in Nainital for the summer.

(6)The adverbs as a complement of a preposition:-

          Generally adverbs are placed after the verb which they qualify but in complement of preposition time adverbs most commonly function as complement of preposition. Many adverbs act as complements of prepositions (after, around, for, from, singe). e.g.

1. I don’t know anybody around here. 2. I haven’t eaten since yesterday.

7. As a modifier of Determiners:-

          Some adverbs are used as a modifier of the determiner, pronoun or numeral. e.g.

1. Approximately five people have died in an accident.

2. He has hardly any friends.

          Here we should note that the indefinite article can be premodified when ‘a’ means one. e.g.

Vinayak will stay about a week.