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ADVERBS

IF LIFE IS FULL OF MOTION, THEN ADVERBS SHOW HOW THINGS CHANGE. They describe where, when, how or why something was done. They can even indicate that something hasn't happened yet.

Many adverbs end with a "~ly", making them easy to identify. These are the regular adverbs. However, irregular adverbs are harder to spot. For example, both the words "here" and "there" are adverbs, as they indicate where something happened. "Someday" is another adverb, as it indicates when something will happen.

There are five types of adverbs: manner, type, place, frequency and degree. Adverbs of manner are probably the most common type.

As an adverb of degree, "even" typically modifies adjectives, adverbs, or verbs, indicating a degree of equality, balance, or uniformity. It can suggest something unexpected, surprising, or going beyond what is usual or anticipated.

In these examples, "even" modifies the verb or the phrase it is associated with, indicating an unexpected or intensified degree. It highlights that the action or quality goes beyond what might be typical or expected.

Take care when positioning adverbs in a sentence, as there are rules to follow. In general, this is the pattern:

Adverb of time + Subject (S) + auxiliary verb + frequency adverb + verb + direct object (O) + indirect object + adverb of manner + adverb of place  adverb of time

He plays volleyball well (Manner).
I often go to the gym (Frequecy)
I went to the gym yesterday (Time)

Tell Me So

We use “so” to accompany adjectives, whereas “such” goes before noun phrases (like “a high-skilled person”.) Furthermore, the construction that were trying to make is “so/such + that + certain result”, so you shouldn’t use “who”. Actually, the correct way to say your sentence would be, “He wasn’t such a high-skilled person that he needed to be made Prime Minister”.

"So" can also express purpose, or the reason why something is done.

"Also" is a focusing adverb, like the aforementioned "even".

NEGATIVE ADVERBS

NEGATIVE ADVERBS can be added to the beginning of a sentence to add emphasis. In such sentences, the normal sentence structure is inverted.

In formal English, and in written language in particular, we use negative adverbials at the beginning of the sentence to make it more emphatic or dramatic.

Reith had never seen so wary and mean-spirited a people (Standard order)
Never had Reith seen so wary and mean-spirited a people (Inverted order)

If there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence, you need to use "DO/DOES/DID" before the Subject, depending on the tense of the main verb. Thus:

"I seldom leave my house so early." (Standard Order/Present Simple Tense) "SELDOM DO I leave my house so early." (Inverted Order/Present Simple Tense)

ADVERBIAL CLAUSES

ADVERBIAL CLAUSES modify the verb in a sentence, or an adjective or another adverb. They explain why, when and how things happen. Adverbial clause of reason: "Because of this... Since... etc."

They also show contrast, purpose and result.

Unlike adjective clauses, adverbial clauses enjoy some flexibility as to where they are placed in the sentence.

Quite often the trigger conjunction "where" will follow a verb or adverb, not a noun, as in these examples: "I'm not sure WHERE she lives." "My son told me another fight broke out WHERE he eats lunch at the school." That said, "where" does sometimes follow a noun directly, as in this example: "There is a spooky house WHERE the street ends." However, you could rewite the sentence to "WHERE the street ends, there is a spooky house" and it would still make sense. Some of my students confuse "before" and "until". "I watched the movie until the end, even though it was not very interesting."

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