Adverbs in english language common errors in using adverbs, some suggested solutions

Hanoi pedagogical university n0 2
Foreign languages faculty

Nguyen Xuan Hieu

Adverbs IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE - Common errors
In using ADVERBS, SOME SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS
Submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements of the degree
Of Bachelor of Arts in English

Hanoi, May 2010

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Chapter ONE
INTRODUCTION
1. Rationale

The adverb in English is a key linguistic element. Almost all sentences contain
adverbs. Normally, each sentence contains at least one adverb, which adds
information about place, time, manner, cause or degree to a verb, an adjective, a
phrase or another adverb.

The adverb is divided into many kinds (adverbs of manner, adverbs of place, adverbs
of time, adverbs of frequency, etc.). Moreover, each kind has complicated uses. So, it
causes many difficulties to students of English.

In fact, many grammarians have done research on adverbs. Most English grammar
books tell about the adverb, but it is sometimes not very easy to understand and not all
of the books give all the possible uses of the adverb. For this reason, students of

English usually make mistakes in using adverbs.

With the aim of helping learners of English to overcome these difficulties, this thesis
focuses on finding all kinds of adverbs and all possible uses of the adverb in general
as well as in particular. This research will help students have a scientific, complete
and correct view of the adverb to minimize serious mistakes in using adverbs.
2. objectives of the Research

The study is aimed at achieving the following two goals:
 To show the kinds and the uses of the adverb in the sentence.
 To find common errors which students usually make in using adverbs and then
give suggested solutions to these problems.

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3. Scope of the Research

The main object of the research is the adverb. Factually, the research focuses on the
kinds and the uses of the adverbs in the sentence.

The population involved in the study is 50 high school students in Vinh Phuc
Province. They are the students of the eleventh form in Xuanhoa High School. Their
level of English is quite various because English is not their major subject.
Nevertheless, the expected level among the students in this grade is intermediate. The
research intended to serve the teaching practices and learning practices at high school.
4. Tasks of the Research

The research work involves fulfilling a number of tasks:


To study the kinds, functions, positions of the adverb in contexts to see
that how it operates in English.



To find all kinds and possible uses of the adverb in terms of grammar and
pragmatics.



To find common errors that students usually make in using adverbs. The
causes for the errors will also be paid attention to, and then some
suggested solutions to minimize errors will be given.

5. method of the Research

The aim is to find all possible uses of the adverb and common errors of students in
using adverbs; therefore, the main research method is survey questionnaire. All local
as well as foreign relevant documents are critically reviewed and referred to. The
results are commented on and carefully classified. The errors are analyzed with the
assistance of examination, description and interpretation.

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6. Significance of the research

The research studies the uses of the kinds of adverbs in terms of grammar, meaning
and pragmatics. It also shows common errors the students always make as well as the

reasons for these mistakes. Based on the causes discovered, solutions to minimize the
number of errors are given as well as suggestions to help students use adverbs
correctly and effectively are also made. Therefore, naturally the research has some
significance to students, teachers as well as anyone interested.

On the part of students, they can refer to the study in order to improve and enrich their
knowledge of the adverb such as the kinds, functions, positions of the adverbs and so
on. Moreover, they can themselves avoid some errors by applying some suggestions
mentioned in the thesis. As a result, the adverb may be used correctly and effectively.

On the part of teachers, with the help of the research, by considering the common
errors and causes, they can have own ways to help students to avoid making mistakes
in using adverbs.

For these reasons above, this research is useful for everyone who is interested in the
adverb.
7. overview of the research

The thesis consists of four main chapters:

Chapter one, Introduction, introduces reasons for choosing the topic, objectives,
scope, tasks and significance of the study, the research method as well as an overview
of the thesis.

Chapter two, Theoretical Background, has a background in theory on the adverb and
the previous studies in this field.

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Chapter three, Methodology and Result, presents the research method and the result
of the survey questionnaire.
Chapter four, Findings, gives common errors, causes and suggested solutions.

Besides, there is the last part Conclusion to summarize the key points of the research

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CHAPTER two
Theoretical background
1. Literature review in brief

In English language, adverb is considered equally as other elements, such as verbs,
nouns, adjectives, etc. Therefore, adverb has never been ignored by course books or
syllabus writers or teachers. Actually, English adverb has been paid much attention
and described by such a lot of grammarians like Walker & Elsworth (1988),
Alexander, L (1988), Laurie Rozakis (2003), Haln & Hensley (2000), and so on.
Generally, English adverb is studied concerning to three perspectives: theoretical,
practical, and functional, and the most detailed pictures of English adverb are offered
by Alexander, L. (1988), Eastwood, J. (1992), Quirk (1973) & Greenbaum (1985).

Alexander, L. (1988) presents the detailed picture of English adverb theoretically
while the practical school is presented by Eastwood, J. (1992), and the last school, the
functional grammar of English adverb is offered by Quirk (1973) & Greenbaum
(1985).

Furthermore, regarding to adverb in English, many other grammarians also have
given their own opinions about the grammatical features, functions and so on. Their
contributions make the picture of English adverb more comprehensively.

1.1. What is an adverb?

There are many definitions of an adverb which are listed as follows:

According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (2009), an adverb is a
word that adds to the meaning of a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or a whole
sentence.

In Grammar Practice for Intermediate Students, Walker & Elsworth (1988, p. 105)
define that “An adverb describes how, where or when an action is done.”

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Meanwhile, in Longman English Grammar, Alexander, L. (1988, p. 122) gives a
special definition of adverbs. He defines that “The word adverb (ad-verb) suggests the
idea of adding to the meaning of a verb. This is what many adverbs do. They can tell
us something about the action in a sentence by modifying a verb, i.e. by telling us
how, when, where, etc something happens or is done.”

Adverbs, as stated by Laurie Rozakis (2003, p. 27) in English Grammar for the
Utterly Confused, are words that describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Adverbs
answer the questions: when? where? how? or to what extent?

In the book Teach Yourself Grammar and Style, Haln & Hensley (2000, p. 123)
define that “An adverb is a word or a group of words that modifies a verb, an
adjective, another adverb, or an entire clause or sentence.”

On the whole, from their point of view, it can be seen that adverbs are a part of speech

that modifies verbs, adjectives, clauses, sentences or other adverbs. Adverbs typically
answer questions such as how? when?, where?, and to what extent?, for example:

How?

They are going very slowly.

When?

We met her last night.

Where?

I saw them at the end of the street.

Adverbs can be single words (e.g. slowly) or phrases (e.g. at the end of the street) and
the term adverbial is often used to describe both types. For instances:

Can you speak slowly?
Her house is at the end of the street.

Adverbs are not always essential to the structure of a sentence, but they often affect
the meaning of the sentence. Compare the following examples:

Doris has left.

Doris has just left.

I have finished work.

I have nearly finished work.

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Sometimes adverbs are necessary to complete a sentence:

1. After some intransitive verbs such as lie, live, sit, etc.

For examples:

She was sleeping peacefully.
Ben laughed loudly.

2. After some transitive verbs (e.g. lay, destroy, sing) followed by an object, for
instance:

The fire destroyed the school completely.
He was singing to himself quietly.

Adverbs have many kinds such as: adverbs of manner, adverbs of time, adverbs of
place, adverbs of frequency, sentence adverbs, etc. Each kind has different uses from
others.

1.2. Formation of adverbs

In Longman Dictionary of Grammar and Usage, Aik & Hui (1992) gave the detailed
picture of adverb forms:
Most adverbs are formed from adjectives by the addition of - ly

Adjectives

Adverbs

bad

badly

interesting

interestingly

quick

quickly

slow

slowly

happy

happily

true

truly

There are some rules for forming -ly adverbs from adjectives:

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-

Most adverbs are formed by adding -ly to adjectives: e.g. mad /madly, sudden/
suddenly. This applies to adjectives ending in -l so that the -l is doubled:
beautiful/ beautifully, musical/ musically. But not: full /fully.

-

-y after a consonant becomes -ily: e.g. busy/ busily, funny / funnily. In some
other cases, -y is kept in the adverb, e.g. spry/ spryly, wry/ wryly. Sometimes
two formations are possible: e.g. dry / drily/ dryly, sly/ slily/ slyly. But in sly/
slyly, -yly is the acceptable form.

For examples:

Rachel is busy studying for her exam.
Students were busily writing notes.

(1)

The weather was hot and dry.
“I hear you are a hero,” Phillip said dryly / drily.

(2)

He leaned forward with a sly smile.
He glanced at her slyly / slily.

-

(3)

Delete -e and add -(l)y if an adjective end in -le: e.g. able/ ably, possible/
possibly, whole/ wholly. Others adjectives ending in -e retain the -e when
adding -ly: extreme/ extremely, tame/ tamely. Exceptions: due/ duly, true/
truly.

For instances:

She was ably assisted by her team of researcher.
Earthquakes are extremely difficult to predict.
His work is truly original.

-

Adjectives ending in -ic take -ally: e.g. systematic/ systematically, basic/
basically. Common exception: public/ publicly.

However, there are some exceptions:

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1. Some adverbs are unrelated to other words, for example: always, already, soon,
very, perhaps, etc.
2. Some adverbs have exactly the same form as their corresponding adjectives, such
as: fast/ fast, late/ late, low/ low, hard/ hard, near/ near, etc.

For examples:

Adjectives

Adverbs

Nam is a fast runner in our class.

Slow down - You are driving too fast.

Sorry I‟m late - I over slept.

Ellen has to work late tonight.

3. There are a few words ending in - ly which are adjectives and not adverbs, for
examples: brotherly, deadly, friendly, heavenly, lovely, lively, etc.
4. The adverb of good is well, for instance:

Adjective

Adverbs

The train service is not good.

Did you sleep well?

She is a very good player.

All the team played very well today.

5. Some adverbs have two forms and normally the two forms have different
meanings, for examples:

hard & hardly:
We‟ve all worked hard. (diligently)
I‟ve got hardly any money. (almost no)
late & lately:
I often stay up late. (opposite of early)
I‟ve been unwell lately. (recently)

6. A few adverbs have the prefix a-:

Go ahead / away / along

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7. A few adverbs have the suffix - ward or - wards, for instances:

Go afterwards / northward / backwards/ westward.
8. A few adverbs have the same form as prepositions, for examples:

Prepositions

Adverbs

down the stairs

He went down.

in the box

He went in.

under the sea

He went under.

1.3. Functions of adverbs

In A University Grammar of English and A Comprehensive Grammar of the English
Language, Quirk (1973, p. 25) and Greenbaum (1985, p. 445) showed that there are
two types of syntactic functions that characterize adverbs, but an adverb needs to have
one of these: adverbs as adverbial and adverbs as modifier.

1.3.1. Adverbs as adverbial

An adverb may function as an adverbial, an element distinct from a subject, a verb, an
object, and a complement. As such it is usually an optional element and hence
peripheral to the structure of the clause, for examples:

Perhaps my suggestion will be accepted.
John always loses his pencils.
I spoke to her outside.

Adverbs can function as adjuncts, disjuncts and conjuncts that are three classes of
adverbials.
Adjuncts are integrated within the structure of the clause to at least some extent, for
instances:

They are waiting outside.

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I can now understand it.
He spoke to me about it briefly.

Disjuncts and conjuncts, on the other hand, are not integrated within the clause.
Semantically, disjuncts express an evaluation of what being said either with respect to
the form of the communication or to its content, for examples:

Frankly, I am tired.
Fortunately, no one complained.
They are probably at home.

Semantically, conjuncts have connective function. They indicate the connection
between what being said and what was said before, for instances:

We have before complained several times about the noise, and yet he does
nothing about it.
Two heart attacks in a year. It hasn‟t stopped him smoking, though.

1.3.2. Adverbs as modifier

1.3.2.1. Modifier of adjective

An adverb may modify an adjective:

That was a very funny film.

It is extremely good for you.
She has a really beautiful face.

In this function, the adverb generally pre-modifies, except that enough can only postmodify, as in: good enough, high enough, etc.

1.3.2.2. Modifier of adverb

An adverb may pre-modify another adverb, and function as intensifier:
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They are smoking very heavily.
He spoke extremely quickly.

As with adjectives, the only post-modifiers are enough and indeed, for example:

He spoke clearly enough. (= sufficiently clearly)

Indeed usually goes with very:

She spoke very clearly indeed.
She spoke clearly indeed.

1.3.2.3. Modifier of particle, prepositional adverb, and preposition

A few intensifying adverbs, particularly right and well, can pre-modify particles in
phrasal verbs, as well as prepositions, or prepositional phrases, for instances:

He knocked the man right out.
They left her well behind.

The nail went right through the wall.

1.3.2.4. Modifier of pronoun, pre-determiner, and numeral

Intensifying adverbs can pre-modify:

-

Indefinite pronouns:
Nearly everybody came to our party.

-

Pre-determiners:
He received about double the amount he expected.
Virtually, all the students participated in the discussion.

-

Cardinal numerals:
They will stay fully ten week. (for ten full weeks)
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Over / Under two hundred deaths were reported.
I paid more / less than ten pounds for it.

1.3.2.5. Modifier of noun phrase

A few intensifiers may pre-modify noun phrases and precede the determiner in doing

so. The most common of these among adverbs are quite and rather.

We had quite a party.
It was rather a mess.

1.4. Positions of adverbs

Adverbs don‟t like to stay one place. They‟re transient little critters that can move to
any where they like in a sentence. Most people who have read and spoken English for
a long time are familiar with words that end in -ly and often immediately follow a
verb, for example:

Kerry listened impatiently.
It‟s easy to find the adverb in this example. “impatiently” tells us the manner in which
Kerry “listened.” Adverbs can show up in other locations within sentence, too.

Some examples are:

-

Before the sentence itself:
Luckily, Diana passed the exam.

-

As a phrase at the end of a sentence:
Did you have a nice time in New York?

- Before the verb:
We politely asked permission.

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Although adverbs can be positioned almost anywhere within a sentence, keep in mind
that their position can and does change their meaning. For examples:

Only I love you. (No one else loves you)
I only love you. (Not get married)
I love only you. (Not love any one else)

In general, there are three places in the sentences where an adverb can go. They are
called front position (at the beginning of a sentence), mid position and end position (at
the end of a sentence).

FRONT

MID

Then

the ship

Outside it was

slowly

END

sailed

away.

obviously raining hard.

1.4.1. Mid position

Mid position means close to the verb. Here are some examples of adverbs in mid
position.
AUXILIARY

ADVERB

The visitors

are

just

Andrew

has

always

You

should

never

The pictures

have

definitely

AUXILIARY

MAIN VERB

leaving.

been

(1)

liked

Jessica.

take

unnecessary risks. (3)

stolen.

(2)

(4)

We

often

go

out in the evening. (5)

I

really

hate

housework.

You

probably

left

the bag on the bus. (7)

(6)

The adverb comes after the first auxiliary, e.g. are, has, don‟t in the 1, 2, 3, 4
examples above.

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If there is no auxiliary, then adverb comes before the main verb, e.g. go, hate, left
(example 5, 6, 7 above).

Note the word order in questions.

Has Andrew always liked Jessica?
Do you often go out in the evening?

When there is stress on the main verb be or on the auxiliary, then the adverb usually
comes before it.

You certainly are a lot better today.
I really have made a mess, haven‟t I?

1.4.2. Front position

Front position is at the beginning of a clause. Most types of adverbs can go here, for
examples:
I worked until five o‟clock. Then I went home.
Next, I want to say something about the future.
Suddenly the door opened.

We often put an adverb in front position when it relates to what has gone before, for
instance:

You are getting impatient. And then you decided to overtake.

1.4.3. End position
In end position, the adverb is placed after the verb – either immediately after it or later
in the clause. For examples:

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They played quietly all day.
He tried to leave quietly.
He sat in the corner quietly.

There can be more than one adverb or adverbial phrase in end position. Usually a
single-word adverb comes before a phase, for instances:

I always eat here at lunch-time.
They lived safely in a small town.

When there is a close link in meaning between a verb and an adverb, then that adverb
goes next to the verb. For example: with verbs of movement like go, come and move,
a phrase of place comes before time.

I usually go to bed early.
Tom came here yesterday.
My parents moved to London in 1993.

But often two adverbial phrases can go in either order.

The concert was held at the arts centre last night.
The concert was held last night at the arts centre.

1.5. Comparison of adverbs

Only gradable adverbs can have comparative and superlative forms. Comparison is
not possible with adverbs such as daily, extremely, only, really, then, there, etc.
because they are not gradable. Gradable adverbs form comparatives and superlatives
as follow:
adverb

comparative

superlative

-

same form as adjective

fast

faster

fastest

-

-ly adverbs of manner

easily

more easily

most easily

-

some adverbs of frequency

rarely

more rarely

most rarely

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-

exceptions

badly

worse

worst

far

farther

farthest

further

furthest

late

later

last

little

less

least

much

more

most

well

better

best

Notes on the comparison of adverbs:

Many adverbs like early, fast, etc. form their comparatives and superlatives in the
same way as short adjectives, for example: earlier, earliest.

As most adverbs of manner have two or more syllables, they form their comparatives
and superlatives with more and most, for instance:

more clearly/ briefly/ quickly
most clearly/ briefly/ quickly
2. Kinds of adverbs
2.1. Adverbs of manner

An adverb of manner tells us how something happens or is done, for examples:

The machine has to be operated manually.
The job was done professionally.
Do not rush. Do it slowly and steadily.
An adverb of manner modifies a verb. It can also modify an adjective.
She speaks Russian fluently.
The fishing industry is very important to the area.

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Most adverbs of manner are formed an adjective

+

ly. For instance: quick – quickly,

fluent – fluently, etc. There are also adverbs without -ly.

For examples:

Adjectives

Adverbs

Louise caught the fast train.

The train was going quite fast.

We didn‟t have a long wait.

We didn‟t have to wait long.

I had an early night.

I went to bed early.

We can often use a prepositional phrase to express manner. Some examples are:

Handle carefully/ with care.
They inspected the car officiously/ in an officious manner.
Adverbs of manner usually goes in end position but an adverb which ends in –ly can
sometimes go in mid position if the adverb is not the main focus of the message.

For instance:

We asked permission politely.

We politely asked permission.

2.2. Adverbs of time

Adverbs of time can be used to state when something happens and happens for how
long.

For examples:

When:

today, yesterday, later, now, last year…

For how long:

all day, not long, for a while, since last year…

"When” adverbs are usually placed at the end of the sentence:

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Mary went to our house yesterday.
I'm going to tidy my room tomorrow.
This is a “neutral” position, but some "when” adverbs can be put in other positions to
give a different emphasis.

In comparison with:

Later Ann ate some porridge. (the time is more important)
Ann later ate some porridge. (this is more formal, like a policeman's report)
Ann ate some porridge later. (this is neutral, no particular emphasis)
“For how long” adverbs are usually placed at the end of the sentence, for examples:

She stayed in the Bears' house all day.
My mother lived in France for a year.
Notice: “for” is always followed by an expression of duration:

for three days
for a week
for several years
for two centuries
“since” is always followed by an expression of a point in time:

since Monday
since 1997
since the last war
More than one adverb of time at the end of a sentence can be used with the following
order:
(1): how long
(2): when

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For examples:

I study (1) for thirteen hours (2) every day.
She worked in a hospital (1) for two days (2) last year.

2.3. Adverbs of place

The idea of place covers location and direction, so adverbs of place tell us where or in
what direction an action occurs or occurred.

-

Location:

Larry is in Jamaica.

-

Direction:

Larry flew to Jamaica.

A distinction can be drawn between location and direction:
- Location adverbials answer the question Where? and go with „position verbs‟ such
as be, live, stay, work. They can begin a sentence, for example:

In Jamaica, Larry stayed at the Grand Hotel.

- Direction adverbials answer the questions Where to? and Where from? They often
go with „movement verbs‟ like go and can not usually begin a sentence.

Larry went by plane to Jamaica.

Adverbs of direction (movement) come before adverbs of location:

The children are running around upstairs.

Adverbs of place can be:

-

words: abroad, ahead, anywhere/ everywhere, here/ there, upstairs/
downstairs, left/right, north/south.

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-

two words combining to emphasize place: down below, down/up there, far
ahead, far away.

Adverbs of place can also function as prepositions, for instance: above, behind, below.
Prepositional phrases often function as adverbials of place: at my school, from New
York, in hospital, on the left.

Adverbs and adverbial phrases of place often go in end position, for instances:

Did you have a nice time in New York?
The children are playing upstairs.
Come and sit here.
Don‟t throw orange peel out of the window.
She‟s sitting at the end of the garden.

Front position is also possible, especially in literary writing if the adverb is not the
main focus of the message.

At the end of the garden there was a very tall tree.
Indoors it was nice and warm. Outside it was snowing heavily.

Adverbs of place are sometimes placed in mid position to modify a noun.

The radiator in the hall is leaking.
People at the party were her classmates.

When there is more than one kind of adverb in a sentence, the usual position of
adverbs of place is after manner, but before time.

Manner
Barbara read

quietly

Place
in the library

2.4. Adverbs of frequency
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Time
all afternoon.


These adverbs are divided into two categories: definite frequency and indefinite

frequency. Both kinds of adverbs answer: How often?

Definite frequency includes words and phrases such as:

-

once, twice, three/ several times ( a day/ week/month/year, etc.)

-

hourly/ daily/ weekly/ monthly/ yearly/ annually.

-

every + day/week/month/year/morning/afternoon/evening/night, etc.

-

on + Mondays, Fridays, weekdays, etc.

For instances:

We meet for lunch once a week.
The instruction was given twice.
She takes the boat to the mainland every day.
I pay my subscription annually.

These adverbials usually come at the end of a sentence:

Paul has been married several times.

My family goes to the cinema three times a month.
We go to the church on Sundays.

Some of frequency adverbs can also begin a sentence, just like adverbs of time. This
may be necessary to avoid ambiguity. For examples:
Once a month we visit our daughter who‟s at Oxford University.
avoids the ambiguity of:
We visit our daughter who‟s at Oxford University once a month.
The -ly frequency adverbs (hourly, daily, etc.) are not normally used to begin a
sentence.

Adverbs of indefinite frequency give general answer to How often? For instances:
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-

always, almost

-

generally, normally, regularly, usually.

-

frequently, often

-

sometimes, occasionally.

-

never, ever, hardly, rarely, seldom.

For examples:
The bus doesn‟t usually stop here.
I can never open these packets.
I always do it this way.
We normally drink coffee.
In this country, the weather is seldom hot.

Other adverbials that suggest indefinite frequency are: again and again, at times,
every so often, (every) now and again, from time to time, now and then, and ordinary ly adverbs such as constantly, continually, continuously, repeatedly.

The normal position of most adverbs of indefinite frequency is in mid position:

-

after be when it is the only verb in a sentence.
I was never good at maths.

-

after the first auxiliary verb when there is more than one verb.
You can always contact me on 032 5676.

-

before the main verb when there is only one verb.

She often goes by herself.
I never get up before nine o'clock.

They can also go in end position or front position for emphasis, for instance:

My sister comes to see me sometimes.
Never try to adjust the machine while it is switched on.
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I get paid on Fridays usually.
Do you come here often? I don‟t come here often.
I‟ll love you always.
Sometimes we get a lot of rain in August.
Very often the phone rings when I‟m in the bath.
2.5. Adverbs of degree

Degree adverbs can be used before adjectives, verbs or other adverbs to give
information about the extent or level of something, for instances:

They are extremely happy.
I really hate coffee.
He almost always arrived late.

Some more common adverbs of degree:

Full degree:

completely, totally, absolutely, entirely, quite

Large degree:

very, extremely, really, awfully, terribly

Medium degree:

rather, fairly, quite, pretty, somewhat

Small degree:

a little, a bit, slightly

Negative:

hardly, scarcely, at all

Others:

so, as, too, more, most, less, least

Fractions and percentages can also be used as adverbs to show degree.

For examples:
Business is so bad that the department stores are half empty.
We have a 60% chance of winning the next election.

Adverbs of degree are usually placed:
- before the adjective or adverb they are modifying:
ADVERB + ADJECTIVE

ADVERB + ADVERB

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