Advervios De Frecuencia

Adverbs and Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs

An adverb can modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb. The ones we will study answer one of these questions about the verb in the sentence:

When?

When did they leave? They left last week.

How?

How did they travel from here to Tallahassee? They traveled by car.

How does he drive? He drives safely sometimes. Sometimes he drives fast.

Formation of Adverbs

1. Most adverbs are formed by adding -ly to the adjective.

• loud = loudly

• careless = carlessly

• safe = safely

2. Adjectives that end in consonant + y change the "y" to "i" and add -ly for the adverb form.

• lazy = lazily

• crazy = crazily

• angry = angrily

3. Adjectives that end in -ic add -ally for the adverb form.

• pessimistic = pessimistically

• optimistic = optimistically

• enthusiastic = enthusiastically

Irregular Adverbs

1. These irregular adverbs have the same form as adjectives and adverbs.

adjective adverb adjective adverb

fast fast early early

hard hard late late

2. The adjective form for "good" is "well", but sometimes "well" can be used as an adjective that means "healthy."

Example: John had the flu last week, but today he is well (healthy).

3. The word "not" and words that tell time and place are also adverbs.

• today

• soon

• there

• not

• here

• tomorrow

• early

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Exercise 1

Instructions: Write the correct ADVERB form of these adjectives.

1. enthusiastic

2. good

3. late

4. early

5. beautiful

6. hard

7. slow

8. specific

9. bad

10. dangerous

11. crazy

12. angry

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Placement of adverbs

Adverbs in Negative Sentences and Questions

Rule:

In a question, adverbs cannot go between the auxiliary verb and the subject. In a negative sentence adverbs cannot go between the auxiliary and "not".

Examples:

Correct:

Did you give it to him secretly?

No, I did not give it to him secretly. Incorrect:

• Did you give secretly it to him?

• No, I did secretly not give it to him.

Rule:

In a negative sentences and in questions, adverbs are usually NOT at the beginning of the sentence.

Examples:

Correct:

• Does she speak quickly?

• No, she doesn't speak quickly. Incorrect:

• Quickly does she speak?

• No, quickly she does not speak.

Exercise 2:

Instructions: Rewrite the sentences using the adverb in parentheses.

1. She sang the song. (quietly)

2. Does she speak German? (very well)

3. They finished that project. (quickly)

4. Will you answer this question? (carefully)

5. He sent her a box of chocolates. (secretly)

6. They drew the plans for their new home. (enthusiastically)

7. She doesn't speak English. (badly)

Exercise 3:

Instructions: Circle the adverbs.

1. Sometimes I like to study with music on, but today I cannot. I need to concentrate carefully because I have a midterm exam in English on Friday.

2. Leave quickly. The the tornado is coming this way and we need to find shelter immediately.

3. He teaches very well, but he speaks very loudly in the classroom. I usually come out of class with a headache. I think I will buy some earplugs today, and I will always take them to his class.

4. The neighbors are having another party. They always play their music too loudly and we cannot sleep. I think we should go over there and tell them to keep the music down. They are not thinking of their neighbors.

5. Tomorrow I will not arrive late to class. I will come early because my brother is taking me, and he always drives fast.

Exercise 4:

Instructions: Circle the error and correct the sentence.

1. He returned quickly her book to her.

2. She did quietly not leave the room.

2. The secretary did accurately not type the letter.

3. We closed carefully the doors and windows and early went to bed.

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Adverbs of Frequency

Meaning

Some of the more common adverbs of frequency include the following:

• 100% of the time = always

• 85% of the time = almost always,

• 45% of the time = usually, generally, frequently, often

• 30% of the time = sometimes, occasionally

• 10% of the time = seldom, rarely, hardly ever, almost never

• 0% of the time = never, not ever

EVER: to ask a question about frequency. It means "at any time."

Adverbs of frequency tell HOW OFTEN an action is repeated. They are commonly used with present or past tense. Use "ever" to ask a question.

Examples:

• I usually do my homework in the library.

• I never do my homework in the living room.

• She seldom went to parties alone.

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Using adverbs of frequency

When someone asks you a question such as "Do you EVER forget to make your bed?", you can answer using an adverb of frequency:

• Yes, I occasionally forget to make my bed" OR

• Yes, I sometimes do. OR

• No, I never do.

However, if someone asks "HOW OFTEN" an action occurs, you should include an expression of time in your answer -- not simply an adverb of frequency.

Example: How often do you go to the bank? I (usually) go to the bank once a month.

Exercise 1:

Circle the adverbs of frequency in the following sentence.

1. John usually gets good grades because he always studies before an exam.

2. Charlie rarely wakes up early in the morning. He is often late to work, and his boss is frequently upset with him.

3. Professor Mitchell's class is never boring. He always finds ways to keep the students interested in the day's lessons.

Placement of adverbs of frequency

Frequency adverbs are placed ...

BEFORE the main verb unless the verb is BE.

I always study in the library when I have an exam.

AFTER the verb "Be".

I am always tired after classes.

...