Macmillan English Grammar

(FORM)

adverbs

Some adverbs of manner (how) add-Iyto the adjective. Adjectives end ing -e drop -e.Adjectives end ing

in-ychange -yto-i.

carefully

really

careful

real

uncomfortably

happily

uncomfortable

happy

An adverb describes an action (a verb), saying how, when ar where something happens.

The girl was sitting uncomfortab/y on the flaar.

1'/1see yau tomorrow. Wait outside.

irregular adverbs

Same adverbs have an irregular form, eggaad --7well.

adverbs with the same form as adjectives

\.,early fast

hard high late law right

wrong )

Hard and hardly are often confused. Hardly means 'almost not'. Hard is an adverb form meaning 'using

a lot of energy'.

I can hard/y hear you! Are you working hard?

adjectives that look like adverbs

Some adjectives ending -Iylook like adverbs but are not, egfriendly, /ovely, lanely, likely, /ively, sil/y.

frequency adverbs

These describe how often something happens.

People often think that bats are birds, but they are mammals.

0%

never

10%

rare/y

25%

sometimes

75%

of ten

90%

usual/y

100%

a/ways

Put the frequency adverb between the subject and verb, but after be.

A painting often tel/s a story. What sort of films do you usual/y go and see?

Cartoon films are usual/y entertaining.

intensifiers (see Unit 35 on gradable adjectives)

Adverbs like very, really, extremely are used to make adjectives ar adverbs stronger.

I think this film is real/y terrible. Everyane has worked extreme/y carefully.

too, very

Toomeans more than is necessary,verymeans a lot. Compare the meanings:

I'm too tired, I can't work any more.

This is a very interesting painting.

Toois often used with to-infinitive to explain why something is not possible.

I'm too tired towork.

e

well, iII, bad, bad/y

Welland badly are adverbs and describe hawan action is performed.

She writes wel/. He plays tennis bad/y.

We IIandiiiare adjectives deseribing health.

I don 't fee/ well. You /ook iII.

With verbs like look, seem, feelwe do not use an adverb.

This fish smel/s bad. That /ooks good.