Questions tagged [adverbs]
An adverb is a word that modifies an adjective, adverb, phrase, or sentence, expressing some relation of manner, or quality.
89
questions
11
votes
3answers
5k views
“I only teach you” vs. “I teach only you” vs. “I teach you only”
I only teach you.
I teach only you.
I teach you only.
I think that all the sentences have same meaning, but my teacher says that they are different from each other.
I think that the ...
12
votes
7answers
1k views
“waterway … flowed sombre” - Should Joseph Conrad have used an adverb, not an adjective?
SPOILER ALERT: This question asks about the last line of Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. If you are reading the novel, you may want to skip this question.
Should an adverb (i.e. sombrely) have ...
asked Jan 11 '15 at 2:24
Greek - Area 51 Proposal
4,14916 gold badges52 silver badges115 bronze badges
4
votes
2answers
3k views
“I have sent it to X too” vs. “I have sent it to X also”
I have sent this e-mail to Aman also.
I have sent this e-mail to Aman too.
Which one is correct? What is the exact difference between the two? Please explain.
28
votes
7answers
10k views
“I’m too tired to drive”: Why does removing 'too' make this sentence ungrammatical?
This is grammatical:
I'm too tired to drive.
but this isn't:
I'm tired to drive.
Why? How can removing an adverb make a sentence ungrammatical?
In a sentence like “He slowly walked down the ...
7
votes
3answers
3k views
Usage of 'quick' as adverb
I heard the following dialog in a British English movie:
Words go round quick. All the little tongues go clack, clack, clack.
What does this mean, and why was the word "quick" used instead of "...
24
votes
4answers
19k views
what is the difference between “yet” and “still”?
what is the difference between "yet" and "still"?
When we can use "still"? and when we can use "yet"?
Are they synonyms or not?
"The plan could yet succeed." Can I use "still" in that sentence ...
4
votes
4answers
10k views
“Stay home” or “stay at home” – which is correct and why? [duplicate]
Stay home.
Stay at home.
When "home" functions as an adverb, it can modify the verb "stay". There are other examples, such as "go home",but there is no expression:
Go to home.
So I wonder ...
25
votes
2answers
820 views
Does “It snowed hard Monday” require an “on”?
I came across an English learner writing
It snowed hard Monday.
After saying that it didn't snow on Friday and Saturday.
It didn't quite feel right to me.
I'd be okay with
It snowed hard.
or
...
8
votes
3answers
598 views
Is “further” really used as synonym of “farther”?
The OALD, for the meaning of further says:
(comparative of far) (especially BrE) at or to a greater distance SYN farther
Is further really used as synonym of farther?
As far as I recall, there is ...
8
votes
4answers
9k views
Why is 'where' an adverb and not a pronoun?
A: Where are you going?
B: I am going to school.
Where took the place of school and something that takes the place of a noun is a pronoun. So, why isn't where a pronoun?
6
votes
3answers
12k views
Can an 'adverb' modify 'nouns/pronouns'?
While answering to this question here, very interesting discussion took place with CopperKettle.
It's absolutely right that adverbs modify many things, but nouns/pronouns.
But then, expressions ...
7
votes
5answers
9k views
“nearby” (close by) as an adjective, a preposition, or an adverb
Would you show me if there could be any potential difference semantically between the two?
Please, would you possibly take into account the bounds of possibility that the word "nearby" in the ...
6
votes
3answers
109k views
Where is the correct place to place adverbs in sentences?
I am always confused about where to put adverbs in sentences. For example, consider the questions below:
Why did they target us specifically?
Why did they target specifically us?
Why did ...
5
votes
3answers
3k views
Tag question of negative form
Positive statements that contain adverbs never, rarely, hardly are treated as negative statements
She can rarely come this week, can she?
He never visits you again, does he?
How about this ...
3
votes
2answers
38k views
by doing it VS. in doing so
Although I almost know what in doing so means, actually, I am wondering whether or not by doing this/that et cetera, could mean the same meaning as the former.
Thanks in advance
1
vote
3answers
2k views
3 sentences with “only” [duplicate]
I only play tennis in the summer.
I play tennis only in the summer.
I play tennis in the summer only.
It there any difference in these 3 sentences?
2
votes
4answers
1k views
Is this sentence grammatically correct? “You are so offended”
Is this sentence grammatically correct?
You are so offended.
(Since offended is adjective in past tense)
52
votes
5answers
208k views
“firstly … secondly …” or “first … second … ”?
Suppose I am enumerating reasons not to fly. Is it then correct to write/say:
Firstly, I prefer the train because I can see the landscape. Secondly, I have control over my luggage, and thirdly, it ...
17
votes
6answers
151k views
How do I use “also” in a sentence?
Which of the following sentences are grammatically correct in written text?
You also are allowed to see your son.
You are also allowed to see your son.
Also, you are allowed to see your son.
...
43
votes
6answers
34k views
'Ask away' - what does 'away' mean?
“Sir,” said Harry, reminding himself irresistibly of Voldemort, “I
wanted to ask you something.”
“Ask away, then, my dear boy, ask away. . . .”
In this sentence, I don't know what does 'away' ...
9
votes
5answers
17k views
How can I figure out whether a word is an adverb or an adjective?
How can we confirm the word modifying an adjective is an adverb which may well be adjective sometimes?
In this sentence, what are the parts of speech of 'bright' and 'red'?
She wore a bright red ...
4
votes
1answer
103 views
Why should one use “back” in these examples?
Back at home, it was so dim.
I used to play football back in my school days.
We used to eat by hands back in my country.
Is back optional in these sentences or does it change their ...
0
votes
2answers
3k views
“Not enough memory” vs. “no enough memory”
Which is correct? Why?
Not enough memory
No enough memory
The first variant seems to be significantly more popular on the Internet than the second one.
I want to use such construction as an error ...
16
votes
3answers
5k views
Are words ending in -ly adverbs?
Adverbs often end in -ly. But the word friendly is not an adverb, is it? A friendly advice is incorrect, but a friendly person is correct. Is the word friendly very unusual or are there many non-...
3
votes
1answer
19k views
“Wrote it wrong” or “wrote it wrongly”?
Which is grammatically correct?
He wrote it wrong.
He wrote it wrongly.
2
votes
2answers
222 views
Is ‘upside down’ a depictive adjunct for ‘a note’?
“...and from yet another pocket inside his overcoat he pulled an owl
-- a real, live, rather ruffled-looking owl - a long quill, and a roll of parchment. With his tongue between his teeth he ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
'Call up' - what does 'up' mean?
call up : to make a phone call to a person or a place
Call up and make a reservation for eight o'clock.
Can you call up for me and tell them I'm sick?
In these sentences, I don't know what does '...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
The Times is a highly (respected or respectable) journal?
What is the correct usage?
The Times is a highly (respected or respectable) journal.
And if we changed the sentence to this, would you change your choice?
The Times is a highly (respected or ...
2
votes
3answers
2k views
'Such [something/someone]' OR 'Such a [something/someone]' -Any diference?
Is there any difference between 'such a something/one' and 'such something/one'?
He is such fool
over
He is such a fool
Is the former one possible in any context or style?
If the article is ...
1
vote
1answer
8k views
DIfference between “at home” & “home” [duplicate]
Consider:
She's home.
She's at home.
Are there any differences in meaning?
1
vote
1answer
13k views
Word order: “10 minutes more” or “10 more minutes”?
I'm still packing my clothes. I'll need 10 minutes more.
I'm still packing my clothes. I'll need 10 more minutes.
Are both grammatically correct?
0
votes
1answer
770 views
When to use comma after time adverbs
I am trying to say sentences like:
Then by doing this thing, this happens
Now after selecting this option, this happens
By doing this, now we can do this
Should they get comma after "...
-1
votes
1answer
4k views
other explanations of as early as?
Would you please rephrase this so I can better understand it?
The money could be paid as early as next week.
What other meanings might "as early as" take on in different situations or ...
7
votes
2answers
5k views
The night before last night?
I could say "I am leaving the day after tomorrow," but what if I want to reference the night before last night? Do I say, "I left the night before last night"? What do native speakers say both ...
6
votes
3answers
9k views
Is “deep” an adjective or adverb?
She worked quickly but without hurry. She put an old apron to cover her clothes. In the basement she found a jelly jar with a top and carried it out to the carriage house where the tools were kept. In ...
5
votes
3answers
42k views
“By the time” = “Before”?
By the time he comes, we will have already left.
Have I correctly reworded the sentence above?
Before he comes, we will have already left.
4
votes
1answer
18k views
“What do you care?”
"I'm leaving anyway."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
I can't answer. I can't tell him that not only have I disgraced myself beyond belief or ...
8
votes
3answers
6k views
“Most everyone” versus “mostly everyone”?
Saying "most everyone" is much more popular in books than "mostly everyone".
To compute the distance between two coordinates most everyone/mostly everyone uses the Spherical Law of Cosines equation....
7
votes
2answers
3k views
When does “though” act as an adverb?
As I know, the word "though" doesn't need a comma before it (at the end of a sentence) if it's an adverb. How do I know if "though" is acting as an adverb? A few examples would be good! I've looked ...
6
votes
2answers
468 views
Are there places where we can't use 'much', but 'very much' is OK?
I think there are cases when you can use very much but not much:
I would very much like to meet him.
*I would much like to meet him.
I don't know what grammar rule addresses this ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
Can we say “Let's have a beer meanwhile they play tennis”?
I am a bit confused on how to use "meanwhile". I know you can use it as a connector. Meanwhile, I did not notice
I see dictionary.com says:
noun
meantime.
adverb
in the ...
2
votes
3answers
22k views
The usage of “regardless of”
Do my sentences sound natural? Do I use "regardless of" correctly?
Regardless of how developed it is, every country has certain amount of rate poverty.
Every country has certain amount of rate ...
2
votes
2answers
445 views
Fast and Quickly; adverbs
Which of the two following sentences is more appropriate to say:
You must write fast.
You must write quickly.
I know the answer, but I need to explain it to somebody. It would be of great help ...
1
vote
3answers
552 views
Which “nor” is right? inversion or not?
Most problem children neither like school nor do they feel comfortable there.
Most problem children neither like school nor feel comfortable there.
Would you please tell me which one is correct?
20
votes
2answers
17k views
“Pretty” versus “quite” [duplicate]
Is there any difference between using pretty, and quite, in the following sentences?
I am pretty good at playing soccer.
I am quite good at playing soccer.
How are you?
I am quite well.
...
6
votes
3answers
3k views
Meaning and the position of “all” in a sentence
All my friends answered my questions in the class yesterday. Every one of my friends answered my questions...
My friends all answered my questions in the class yesterday. Each one answered my ...
6
votes
2answers
400 views
Absent any verb, when can you use an adverb?
dualism = {mass noun}
1. The division of something conceptually into two opposed or contrasted aspects, or the state of being so divided
I know that definitions don't have to be written as complete ...
asked Mar 27 '15 at 19:48
Greek - Area 51 Proposal
4,14916 gold badges52 silver badges115 bronze badges
5
votes
1answer
596 views
'not everyone is prepared' : Is 'not' a determiner?
Despite the overnight detention of Thailand's ousted prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and a number of family members and politicians, there are indications today that not everyone is prepared to ...
3
votes
2answers
615 views
Why “think bright” is used with adjective instead of adverb (think brightly)? [duplicate]
I find "think bright" is much more common usage, but why? In my opinion, "Think" is a verb, so it is reasonable to use adverb to describe it.
Examples:
THINK BRIGHT!
The National University ...
3
votes
1answer
3k views
'I, too, am waiting …' and 'I, also, am waiting …'
Kitty: I'm waiting for a banana.
Jair: I, too, am waiting for a banana. (1)
Jair: I, also, am waiting for a banana. (2)
Which is correct, (1) or (2)? If both, what's the difference? Plus, ...
