Using Adverbs

1. Using Adverbs

2. Types of Adverbs • Limiting • Show Speed • Reflect how often • Show how well something is done • Show degree and effort • Show in what way something is done

3. Adverbs that limit • Almost or practically • a limited amount, a little bit • not completely but somewhat • just about or nearly • She saved almost no money • The actress won practically all the awards.

4. Adverbs that limit • Virtually or essentially • almost completely • almost entirely • for the most part • The accident victims escaped virtually unharmed. • John and Will are doing essentially the same experiment.

5. Adverbs that limit • Scarcely • emphasizes a narrow margin or below satisfactory performance • very little ability or possibility • barely or hardly • We had scarcely enough food. • John didn’t study and scarcely passed the test.

6. Adverbs that limit • Hardly • with great effort or with little likelihood • almost not at all • emphasizes the difficulty involved • It is hardly possible to save money when you are a student. • I could hardly stand I was so tired

7. Adverbs that limit • Barely • only meeting the minimum • emphasizes the narrow margin of achieving or having something • I have barely any money. • It is barely 11:00. We can’t eat lunch yet.

8. Adverbs that limit • Just • immediate past • only • the minimal amount possible • She just finished the test. • I have just one more question.

9. Adverbs that limit • Merely • used to limit an extreme condition • and nothing more • simply(only) • I did not break the glass, I merely dropped it. • She did not mean to break it; it was merely a mistake.

10. Adverbs that limit • Rather • somewhat (to a certain extent) • a little bit • I am rather broke. • It is rather a cloudy day.

11. Adverbs that limit • Roughly • approximately • fairly correct or accurate • I have roughly two hundred dollars. • Mary wears roughly a size 10 dress.

12. Adverbs that limit • almost/merely/rather/hardly • She is ________ pretty. • She was ______ late, not absent. • We have ______ enough gas to get home.

13. Adverbs that limit • practically/barely/almost • I can’t leave yet because work finishes at five and it’s ____ four. • We can go home now. Our job is ______ completed. • It is ______ eight, and I’m not done yet.

14. Adverbs of speed • Quickly • with speed or promptness • in a short time • He did his work carefully but quickly. • Try to get it done quickly, because we have to go soon.

15. Adverbs of speed • Slowly • with little speed • unhurriedly • taking a long time • She walked slowly to school. • She is working too slowly; we need to finish tonight

16. Adverbs of speed • Hastily • in a hurry • speedily • too quickly to be careful • She hastily cleaned her desk before the boss came. • Take your time and do not drive too hastily.

17. Adverbs of speed • Lethargically • drowsily • without energy • with apathy or dullness • The boys seemed sleepy as they lethargically put the toys away. • Jack was lethargic after his accident.

18. Adverbs of speed • Promptly • without delay • in a timely manner • at once • Please arrive promptly at 6:00. • Alice always arrives promptly for her lesson.

19. Adverbs of speed • Tardily • late • not prompt or on time • Alex always arrives tardily for class. • If you arrive tardily again, you will be fired.

20. Adverbs that reflect how often • Constantly • continually • without pause • It is hard to get any work done when the telephone rings constantly.

21. Adverbs that reflect how often • Steadily • Continuing forward in an even and regular manner • The rain continued steadily throughout the night.

22. Adverbs that reflect how often • Intermittently • Sporadically • Irregularly • The rain showers occurred intermittently during the afternoon.

23. Adverbs that reflect how often • Occasionally • Once in awhile • Not often • Infrequently • Since I live so far away, I only get to visit my family occasionally.

24. Adverbs that reflect how often • Periodically • Routinely • At fixed intervals or times • The fire alarms should be tested periodically.

25. Adverbs that show how well something is done • Effectively • Meeting a need • This medicine works effectively. Her fever should drop within an hour. • This medicine effectively works, and her fever should drop within an hour.

26. Adverbs that show how well something is done • Efficiently • Without waste • A gas furnace can heat the house more efficiently than a wood stove. • A gas furnace can more efficiently heat the house than a wood stove.

27. Adverbs that show how well something is done • Conscientiously • Thoughtful and with care • Before leaving for work Alice conscientiously checks to make certain all of the doors and windows are locked. • Before leaving for work Alice checks conscientiously to make certain all of the doors and windows are locked.

28. Adverbs that show how well something is done • Concisely • Briefly and clearly • She was able to concisely describe the problem in just a few minutes. • She was able to describe the problem concisely in just a few minutes.

29. Adverbs that show how well something is done • Deftly • Skillfully • The young gymnast was able to perform her routine deftly. • The young gymnast was able to deftly perform her routine.

30. Adverbs that show how well something is done • Erroneously • Incorrectly • By error • John erroneously turned on the hot water instead of the cold. • John turned on the hot water erroneously instead of the cold.

31. Adverbs that show degree and effort • Ultimately • Finally • In the end • It was his greed that ultimately ended the thief’s career. • Ultimately, it was his greed that ended the thief’s career.

32. Adverbs that show degree and effort • Urgently • With great need • Very seriously • After such a disaster, medical supplies are urgently needed. • After such a disaster, medical supplies are needed urgently.

33. Adverbs that show degree and effort • Marginally • Barely • His ideas are only marginally useful. • His ideas are useful only marginally.

34. Adverbs that show degree and effort • Enormously • Immensely • Tremendously • It is an enormously long report. • The report is enormously long.

35. Adverbs that show degree and effort • Assuredly • Certainly • Positively • These problems will assuredly be resolved. • Assuredly, these problems will be resolved. • These problems will be resolved, assuredly

36. Adverbs that show degree and effort • Mildly • Somewhat • Moderately • We were mildly surprised to see Jack at the wedding.

37. Adverbs that show in what way something is done • Frankly • Directly • In a straightforward manner • I wish Alice would learn to speak frankly. • Frankly, I wish my daughter was doing better in school.

38. Adverbs that show in what way something is done • Explicitly • In an exact and detailed way • I told him quite explicitly to be here by seven. • Jack has explained the new program quite explicitly.

39. Adverbs that show in what way something is done • Peculiarly • Oddly or strangely • Rita has been acting peculiarly since her accident. • The streets are peculiarly quite for this time of the day.

40. Adverbs that show in what way something is done • Impartially • Without favor • The decision to appoint Ralph as president was made impartially. • She is too personally involved to to act impartially.

41. Adverbs that show in what way something is done • Readily • Without hesitation • Quickly • Emergency supplies were readily available right after the earthquake happened.

42. Adverbs that show in what way something is done • Willingly • With pleasure • Without hesitation • Bill Gates willing gives much money to charity. • The crowd moved off willing when they realized the danger of staying.