Forms of Adverb

There are different forms in adverb. Some words are there which are used sometimes as adjectives and sometimes as adverbs. Let's learn them in this lesson.

A. Words used as adjectives and adverbs:

As adjectives	As adverbs
I heard a loud noise.	They argued very loud.
He escaped through the back door.	The soldiers fall back.
It is a hard wood to break.	The poor have to work hard.
Susan is a fast driver.	Susan drives very fast.
We should have high aim.	He always aims high.
I have enough savings for my future.	Joe draws beautiful enough to win.
There is much water in the lake.	His hand waiting is much better now.
Nivedhita is the best student in this class.	She shows the best in her performance.
The early bird catches its prey.	Do come early.
He has a quick temper for everything.	Be quick and get ready.

B. There are some adverbs having two form and two different meanings.

1. Late, lately:

• You came late. (opposite to early)
• Have you talked to him lately? (recently)

2. Pretty, prettily:

• It seems a pretty good plan now. (quite)
• It is pretty hard to manage. (quite)
• The little girl smiled prettily. (beautifully)

3. Near, nearly:

• He was sitting near the window. (opposite to distant)
• She has nearly completed the lyrics for the song. (almost)

4. Clear, clearly:

• Please stand clear of the train door. (away from)
• She explained everything clearly. (understandably)

5. Easy, easily:

• Take the challenge easy. (right)
• She solved the problem easily. (without much effort)

6.    Fairly/ fairly :

• The union leader must play fair. (justly)
• The patient is fairly old to endure it. (quite)

7. High, highly:

• The helicopter is flying high over the mountain. (distance)
• Shakespeare's plays are very highly appreciated. (standard)

C. Formation of adverbs:

I. Most of the adverbs of manner are formed from adjectives by adding '-ly'.

Adjectives	Adverbs
Clever	cleverly
Kind	Kindly
Grave	gravely
Blind	blindly
Slowly	slowly
Quick	quickly
Wide	widely
Foolish	foolishly
Polite	polite
Wise	wisely
Intelligent	intelligently
Intensive	intensively
Cunning	cunning

II. By changing 'y'-into '-i' and adding '-ly':

Adjectives	Adverbs
Heavy	heavily
Happy	happily
Ready	readily
Merry	merrily
Busy	busily

III. By removing 'e' and adding '-ly' or '-y':

Adjectives	Adverbs
True	truly
Single	singly
Whole	wholly
Double	double
Possible	possible
Sensible	sensibly
Considerable	considerably

IV. Compound adverbs:

• Meanwhile, meantime, midway.
• Afoot (=on foot), asleep, ahead, abroad.
• Besides, today, overboard.
• Along, aloud, anew, behind, below, beyond.
• Within, before, beneath, without.

Some sentences in example:

(I)

1. He was reading and meanwhile she was sleeping. (At the same time)
2. Ann is cooking and meanwhile the child is playing.

(II)

1. Allow her to choose her option, but in the meantime we should help her. (Short period of time)
2. We are changing our residence but meantime you can use my old address.

(III)

1. The city mall is midway between the big bazaar and the theatre. (middle)
2. Our college is midway between the railway station and the bus stand.

(IV)

1. We all know that changes are afoot. (happening)
2. The rescue service is afoot to save the victims.

(V)

1. The boy fell asleep at his work table. (deep sleep)
2. The maid servant fell asleep due to her old age.

(VI)

1. We must go ahead to reach the place. (straight infront)
2. The street ahead is very narrow and crowded. (infront)

(VII)

1. She loves to buy goods from abroad. (foreign countries)
2. He likes to go abroad after his studies.

(VIII)

1. He is a teacher besides being a writer. (in addition to)
2. Besides being a painter, she is a good dancer.

(IX)

1. He fell overboard during his sailing the boat. (by the side of the boat or ship)
2. The man jumped overboard to save his child.

(X)

1. We started the project anew. (start from the beginning)
2. The villages started their lives anew after the heavy floods.

(XI)

1. He searched for her beyond the street. (on the other side of)
2. It is beyond my imagination. (extreme)

(XII)

1. They decided to stay within the village. (particular boundary)
2. You should finish it within a month. (Particular time)

(XIII)

1. It is on the shelf beneath there. (under)
2. She is sitting on the beneath step.

Adverbs joined by conjunction and go together:

• I have explained everything again and again. (repeatedly)
• Delegates from far and wide arrived on time. (number of places)
• Her relatives from far and near attended her wedding. (denotes distance)
• The first and foremost thing is establishing peace in the country. (first of all)
• Please consult a doctor now and then. (from time to time)
• The statement of the witness is out and out false. (completely)
• He is out and out the best player. (beyond comparison)
• She says the same thing over and over. (many times/repeatedly)
• He investigated the case through and through. (Completely / fully)
• The commissioner of police walked to and fro in deep thinking. (backward and forward)
• Thus and thus we escaped from the floods. (In such a way)