SCG Language Tutorials English Grammar Adverbs and Prepositions explained

ENGLISH ADVERBS and PREPOSITIONS

ADVERBS are words or groups of words telling  frequency,  manner, place, or time and primarily used as modifiers of VERBS, ADJECTIVES or other ADVERBS.  

 

PREPOSITIONS are usually followed by objects in PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES that can also be used to show duration, frequency, manner, place, reason, time, or to demonstrate CONTRAST. 

 

Whilst many of the common English PREPOSITIONS have related ADVERBS, or PREPOSITIONAL ADVERBS, there are other types of ADVERB which are often derived from ADJECTIVES. 

EXAMPLES

ADVERB: Emily is quite sad.

PREPOSITION: Emily is at home, but her keys are in the hall.

PREPOSITIONAL ADVERB: Emily is standing outside. She is waiting alone. Still wet from the shower, Tracey threw her keys down to her. Emily could then get in.

NOTICE:  The use of "in" as PREPOSITION and PREPOSITIONAL ADVERB. 

NOTICE: Do not use an ADVERB as the subject of a PREPOSITION  

 

Correct                                                                     Incorrect

I went somewhere else.                           I went to somewhere else.

I was still busy late last night.                  I was still busy at late last night.

The ship is moored downstream.          The ship is moored in downstream.

John got home yesterday.                       John came to home on yesterday.

His office was moved downtown.         His office was moved to downtown.

NOTICE: When "Downtown" is used as a noun, the second example is correct. Take care with words such as "home", "downtown", "today", "last night", "next week" and so on, as they can be used as both ADVERBS and NOUNS.  

ADVERB                                                                    NOUN

She will return tomorrow.                            They say that tomorrow is  another day.

She went home alone last night.                 Where is her home?

You should go to see her next week.          Next week is my vacation.

 

ADVERBS

ADVERB POSITIONS

Where an ADVERB modifies either an ADJECTIVE ["quite careless"] or another ADVERB ["quite carelessly"], it appears immediately before the word it is modifying.  

Where an ADVERB modifies a VERB the positioning can be quite versatile, but its positions within the sentence can change its meaning:   

"Softly she whispered to the child." [Keeping her voice down so that she did not disturb other people]

"She whispered softly to the child." [Keeping her voice down to soothe the child or not to disturb it]

"She softly whispered to the child." [Describes the type of whisper she used]

ADVERB FUNCTIONS

 

Frequency: "frequently", "often", "rarely", "sometime".

Manner: "happily", "quickly", "slowly", "unwillingly".

Place: "anywhere", "everywhere", "here", "nowhere", "over there", "there".

Time: "today", "tomorrow", "yesterday", "the day after".

FREQUENCY ADVERBS

The most common frequency adverbs in English are:

Note: The percentages here are rough estimates and should be used for guidance only.

FREQUENCY ADVERBS can be placed at various points in the sentence, but are most commonly used before the main VERBS and after "be" VERBS. 

I always come to work on time.

They are seldom home when we call.

He's usually eating breakfast at this time.

She's never been to Dublin.

A: Do you come here often?

B: No. I'm here occasionally.

A: What do you usually do here?

B: Sometimes I just sit and ponder the meaning of life.

Note: The adverbs seldom, rarely, never and hardly ever are considered negative.

A: Do you always carry a briefcase?

B: (Yes,) I usually do.

    No, not usually.

    No, I rarely do.

    No, I hardly ever do.

Other FREQUENCY ADVERBS and EXPRESSIONS are as follows:

Every day/week/month

Every other day/week

Once a week/month/year

Twice a year/day, etc.

(Every) once in a while

Every so often

These expressions are used at the beginning and end of sentences, not before main VERBS.

Every once in a while I visit my grandmother in Minnesota.

I visit my grandmother in Minnesota every once in a while.

I every once in a while visit my grandmother in Minnesota. (Incorrect)

Regularly Normally Traditionally

(according to schedule) (commonly nowadays) (commonly in the past)

 

These words can come at various points in the sentence.  

I regularly floss my teeth.

I floss my teeth regularly.

Traditionally, that was considered child's play.

I normally get up around 6 o'clock.

Normally, I get up around 6 o'clock.

 

ADVERBS OF MANNER (HOW?)

absolutely [’ӕbsəlu:tlı] 

almost  [’ɔ:lməƱst] 

alone  [ə’ləƱn] 

barely [beə’lı] 

carefully [’keəflı] 

fast [fɑ:st] 

hard [hɑ:d] 

hardly  [’hɑ:dlı] 

mostly  [məƱstlı] 

pretty  [’prıtı] 

quickly  [kwıklı] 

quite  [kwɑıt] 

really [’rıəlı] 

slowly [sləƱlı] 

together [tə’ge∂ə] 

very  [’verı] 

well   [wel] 

ADVERBS OF PLACE (WHERE?)  

(Note: Do not use these with "to.")

anywhere [’enıweə] 

away  [ə’weı] 

back* [bӕk] 

downtown* [’dɑƱntɑƱn] 

everywhere [’evrıweə]  

here [hıə] 

home* [hƱəm] 

nowhere [nəƱweə] 

out  [ɑƱt] 

over there  [’əƱvə ∂eə] 

there [∂eə] 

*These are also used as nouns and sometimes adjectives.

ADVERBS OF TIME (WHEN?)

already [ɔ:l’redı] 

immediately [ımı:dıətlı] 

last night [lɑ:st nɑıt] 

lately  [’leıtlı] 

later [leıtə]  

next week [nekst wı:k] 

now [nɑƱ] 

recently  [rısntlı] 

right now  [rɑıt nɑƱ] 

soon  [su:n]

still [stıl] 

then  [∂en] 

this morning [∂ıs ’mɔ:nıŋ] 

today  [tə’deı] 

tomorrow  [tə’mɒrəƱ] 

tonight [tənɑıt] 

 yesterday [’jestədeı] 

 yet [jet]  

. . . ago [ə’gəƱ] 

ADVERB FORMS

Many ADVERBS, particularly MANNER ADVERBS, can be formed by adding "-ly" to an adjective ["dependably", "easily", "happily", "quickly", "slowly", "willingly"], however, not every word that ends "-ly" is an ADVERB [ to be "friendly", to be "neighbourly"] and there are many common ADVERBS which do not end "-ly" ["almost", "just", "still", "not"].

ADVERBS versus ADJECTIVES

Sometimes a word can be both and ADVERB and an ADJECTIVE. To tell the difference in use, it is important to considered the context and function of the word within the sentence.

"The fast train to Cardiff leaves Paddington at three o'clock."

Here, "fast" is an ATTRIBUTIVE ADJECTIVE, modifying the noun "train", which follows it in the sentence structure.

"The train took the curve too fast."

Here, "too fast" is an ADVERB which modifies the VERB "to take".

"The bed was hard and the Princess got no sleep at all."

Here, "hard" is a PREDICTIVE ADJECTIVE following the VERB "to be" but still modifying a NOUN, in this case "the bed".

"Tripping over his feet, Oscar fell, hitting the ground hard."

Here the ADVERB "hard" modifies the VERB "to hit".

The COMPARATIVE INFLECTION "-er" and SUPERLATIVE INFLECTION "-est" combine with both ADVERBS and ADJECTIVES, although to a lesser degree. To make the COMPARATIVE FORM of  "-ly" adverbs add "more" before the word and not "-er" to the end. Because it is comparatively unusual, the SUPERLATIVE FORM which adds "most" before the word and retains the "-ly" ending, becomes the focus or stress of the sentence and draws attention to the emphasis.

"I was most favourably impressed by your appearance."

Below is a list of ADVERBS and you can use them to create these forms.

ADVERB LIST

 A 

aboard  [ə’bɔ:d] 
abnormally  [ӕb’nɔ:mlı] 
about  [ə’bɑƱt] 
abroad  [ə’brɔ:d] 
absentmindedly  [’ӕbsənt mɑındıdlı] 
absolutely  [’ӕbsəlu:tlı] 
abundantly  [ə’bʌndəntlı] 

accidentally  [’ӕksı’dəntəlı] 

accordingly  [ə’kɔ:dıŋglı] 
actively  [’ӕktıvlı] 
actually  [’ӕkʧƱəlı] 
acutely  [ə’kju:tlı] 

admiringly  [əd’mɑıərıŋglı] 
affectionately  [ə’fekʃənətlı] 
affirmatively  [ə’fɜ:mətıvlı] 
after  [ɑ:ftə] 

afterwards  [ɑ:ftəwədz] 
agreeably  [ə’grı:əblı] 
almost  [’ɔ:lməƱst] 
already  [ɔ:lredı]  
always  [’ɔ:lweız] 
amazingly  [ə’meızıŋglı] 
angrily  [’ӕŋgrılı] 
annoyingly  [ə’nɔıŋglı] 

annually  [’ӕnjƱəlı] 
anxiously  [’ӕŋkʃəslı] 
anyhow  [’ənıhɑƱ] 
anyplace  [’ənıpleıs]
anyway  [’ənıweı] 
anywhere  [’ənıweə] 
appreciably  [ə’prı:ʃəblı] 
appropriately  [ə’prəƱprıeıtlı] 

around  [ə’rɑƱnd] 
arrogantly  [’ӕrəgəntlı] 
aside  [ə’sɑıd] 
assuredly  [ə’ʃƱərədlı] 
astonishingly  [ə’stɒnıʃıŋglı] 
astoundingly  [ə’stɑƱndıŋglı] 

away  [ə’weı] 
awfully  [’ɔ:flı] 
awkwardly  [’ɔ:kwədlı] 

 B 

badly  [bӕdlı] 
barely  [’beəlı] 
bashfully  [’bӕʃflı]  
beautifully  [’bju:tıflı] 
before  [bı’f ɔ:] 

begrudgingly  [bı’grʌʤıŋglı]  
believably  [bı’lıvəblı] 
bewilderedly  [bı’wıldədlı] 
bewilderingly  [bı’wıldərıŋglı] 
bitterly  [’bıtəlı] 

bleakly  [blı:klı] 
blindly  [blɑındlı] 
blissfully  [blıs’fəlı] 
boastfully  [bəƱst’fəlı] 

boldly  [bəƱldlı] 
boyishly  [bɔı’ıʃlı] 
bravely  [breıvlı] 
briefly  [brı:flı]

brightly  [brɑıtlı] 
brilliantly  [’brılıəntlı] 
briskly  [brısklı] 
brutally  [’bru:tlı]  
busily  [’bızılı] 

 C 

calmly  [kɑ:mlı] 
candidly  [’kӕndıdlı] 
carefully  [’keəflı] (or[’keəfəlı]) 
carelessly  [’keəlıslı] 
casually  [’kӕӡəƱlı] 
cautiously  [’kɔ:ʃəslı] 
certainly  [’sə:tnlı] 
charmingly  [ʧɑ:mıŋglı] 

cheerfully  [ʧıə’fəlı] 
chiefly  [ʧı:flı] 
childishly  [ʧɑıdıʃflı] 
cleanly  [klı:nlı]  
clearly  [klıəlı]
cleverly  [’klevəlı] 
closely  [kleƱslı] 
cloudily  [klɑƱdılı] 

clumsily  [’klʌmsəlı] 
coaxingly  [kəƱksıŋglı] 
coincidentally  [kəƱ’ınsıdentəlı] 
coldly  [kəƱldlı] 
colourfully  [’kʌləf] 
commonly  [’kɒmənlı] 
comfortably  [’kʌmfətəblı] 
compactly  [kəm’pӕktlı] 

compassionately  [kəm’pӕʃnətlı] 
completely  [kəm’plı:tlı] 
confusedly  [kən’fju:sədlı]  
consequently  [’kɒnsıkwəntlı] 
considerably  [kən’sıdərəblı] 
considerately  [kən’sıdərətlı] 
consistently  [kən’sıstəntlı] 
constantly  [’kɒnstəntlı]

continually  [kən’tınjƱəlı] 
continuously  [kən’tınjƱəslı] 
coolly  [’ku:llı] 
correctly  [kə’rek] 
courageously  [kə’reıʤəslı] 
covertly  [kəƱ’vɜ:tlı]
crazily  [’kreızılı]

crossly  [krɒslı] 

crudely [kru:dlı] 
cruelly  [krƱəlı] 
cunningly  [’kʌnıŋglı]
curiously  [’kjƱərıəslı] 
currently  [’kʌrəntlı] 

 D 

daily  [’deılı]
daintily  [’deıntılı] 
dangerously  [’deınʤərəslı] 
daringly  [’deərıŋglı] 
darkly  [’dɑ:klı] 
dastardly  [’dɑ:stədlı] 

dearly  [dıəlı] 
decently  [’dı:snt] 
deeply  [dı:plı] 
defiantly  [dı’fɑıəntlı] 
deftly  [deftlı] 
deliberately  [dı’lıbərətlı] 

delicately  [’delıkətlı] 
delightfully  [dı’lɑıtfəlı] 
densely  [denslı] 
diagonally  [dɑıӕgənlı] 
differently  [’dıfrəntlı] 

diligently  [’dılıʤəntlı] 
dimly  [dımlı] 
directly  [dı’rektlı] 
discordantly [’dıskɔ:dəntlı] 
divisively  [dı’vɑısıvlı] 
docilely  [dəƱsɑılı] 

dopily  [dəƱpılı] 
doubtfully  [dɑƱtfəlı] 
down  [dɑƱn] 
dramatically  [drə’mӕtık] 
dreamily  [drı:mılı] 

 E 

eagerly  [’ı:gəlı] 
early  [’ɜ:lı] 
earnestly  [’ɜ:nıstlı] 
easily  [’ı:zılı] 
efficiently  [ı’fıʃntlı]
effortlessly  [’efətləslı] 
elaborately  [ı’lӕbərətlı] 

elegantly  [’elıgəntlı]  

eloquently  [’eləkwəntlı] 
elsewhere  [elsweə] 
emotionally  [ı’məƱʃnlı] 
endlessly  [’endlıslı]

enduringly  [ın’djƱərıŋlı] 
energetically  [enə’etıklı] 
enjoyably  [ın’ʤɔıəblı] 
enormously  [ı’nɔ:məslı] 

enough  [ı’nʌf] 
enthusiastically  [ın’Өju:zıӕstıklı]
entirely  [ın’tɑıəlı] 
equally  [’ıkwəlı] 
especially  [ı’speʃlı] 
essentially  [ı’senʃlı] 
eternally  [ı’tɜ:nlı]

ethically  [’eӨıklı] 
even  [’ı:vn] 
evenly  [’ı:vnlı] 
eventually  [ı’venʧƱəlı]  po
ever  [’evə] 
everywhere  [’evrıweə]

evidently  [’evıdəntlı] 
evocatively  [ı’vɒkətıvlı] 
exactly  [ıg’zӕktlı] 
exceedingly  [ık’sı:dıŋlı] 
exceptionally  [ık’sepʃənlı] 
excitedly  [ık’sɑıtədlı] 
exclusively  [ıklu:sıvlı] 

explicitly  [ık’splısıtlı]
expressly  [ık’spreslı] 
extensively  [ık’stensıvlı] 
externally  [ık’stɜ:nlı] 
extra  [’ekstrə] 
extraordinarily  [’ekstrɔ:’dınӕrılı] 
extremely  [ık’strı:mlı] 

 F 

fairly  [feəlı]
faithfully  [’feıӨflı]
famously  [’feıməslı]
far  [fɑ:] 

fashionably  [’fӕʃnəblı] 
fast  [fɑ:st] 
fatally  [’feıtlı] 
favourably  [’feıvərəblı] 

ferociously  [ə’rəƱʃəslı] 
fervently  [’fɜ:vəntlı] 
fiercely  [fıəslı] 

finally  [’fɑınəlı] 
financially  [fɑınӕnʃlı]
finitely  [’fɑınɑıtlı] 
fluently  [’flu:əntlı] 
fondly  [fɒndlı] 

foolishly  [’fu:lıʃlı] 
forever  [fə’revə] 
formally  [’fɔ:mlı]  
formerly  [’fɔ:məlı] 
fortunately  [’fɔ:ʧənətlı]  

forwards  [’fɔ:wədz] 
frankly  [frӕŋklı]
frantically  [’ frӕntıklı]
freely  [frı:lı]

frequently  [’ frı:kwəntlı] 
frenetically  [frənətıklı] 
fully  [fƱlı]  
furiously  [’ fjƱərıəslı]
furthermore  [fɜ:∂ə’mɔ:]  

 G 

generally  [’ʤenrəlı]
generously  [’ʤenərəslı]  

genially  [’ʤı:nıəlı] 
gently  [’ʤentlı] 
genuinely  [’ʤenjƱınlı]
girlishly  [gɜ:lıʃlı] 
gladly  [glӕdlı] 

gleefully  [glı:fəlı] 
gracefully  [greısfəlı] 
graciously  [’ greıʃəslı] 

gradually  [’ grӕʤƱəlı] 
gratefully  [’ greıtfəlı] 
greatly  [greıtlı] 

greedily  [grı:dılı] 
grimly  [grımlı] 
grudgingly  [grʌʤıŋlı] 

 H 

habitually  [həbıtʃƱəlı] 
half-heartedly  [hɑ:f  ’hɑ:tədlı] 
handily  [’hӕndılı] 
handsomely  [’hӕnsəmlı] 
haphazardly  [’hӕp’hӕzəd] 
happily  [’hӕpılı] 

hardly [’hɑ:dlı] 
harmoniously  [’hɑ:məƱnıəslı] 
harshly  [hɑ:ʃlı] 
hastily  [’heıstılı] 
hatefully  [heıtfəlı] 
hauntingly  [hɔ:ntıŋlı] 

healthily  [helӨılı] 
heartily  [hɑ:tılı] 
heavily  [’hevılı] 
helpfully  [helpfəlı] 
hence  [hens] 
highly  [’hɑılı] 

hitherto  [hı∂ə’tu:] 
honestly  [’ɒnıstlı]  
hopelessly  [həƱpləslı] 
horizontally  [hɒrı’zɒntlı] 
hourly  [’ɑƱəlı] 
how  [hɑƱ] 

however  [hɑƱ’evə] 
hugely  [hju:ʤlı] 
humorously  [’hju:mərəslı] 
hungrily  [’hʌŋgrılı] 
hurriedly  [’hʌrıdlı] 
hysterically  [hı’sterıklı] 

 I 

icily  [ɑısılı]  f
identifiably  [ɑı’dentıfɑıəblı] 
idiotically  [’ıdıɒtıklı] 
imaginatively  [ı’mӕʤınətıvlı] 
immeasurably  [ı’meӡərəblı] 
immediately  [ı’mı:dıətlı] 

immensely  [ı’menslı] 
impatiently  [ım’peıʃəntlı] 
impressively  [ım’presıvlı] 
inappropriately  [ınə’prəƱprıətlı] 
incessantly  [ın’sesəntlı]  
incorrectly  [ınkə’rektlı] 

indeed  [ın’dı:d] 
independently  [ındı’pendəntlı]  
indoors  [ın’dɔ:z] 
indubitably  [ın’djƱbıtəblı] 
inevitably  [ın’evıtəblı] 
infinitely  [’ınfınətlı] 

informally  [ın’fɔ:məlı]
infrequently  [ın’frı:kwəntlı] 
innocently  [’ınəsəntlı] 
inquisitively  [ın’kwızətıvlı] 

instantly  [’ınstəntlı] 

intelligently  [ın’telıʤəntlı] 
intensely  [ın’tenslı] 
intently  [ın’tentlı] 
interestingly  [’ıntrəstıŋlı] 
intermittently  [ıntə’mıtntlı] 
internally  [ın’tɜ:nəlı]  

invariably  [ın’veərıəblı]  
invisibly  [ın’vızıblı] 
inwardly  [’ınwədlı] 
ironically  [ɑı’rɒnıklı] 
irrefutably  [ırıfju:təblı]
irritably  [’ırıtəblı] 

 J 

jaggedly  [’ʤӕgıdlı]
jauntily  [’ʤɔ:ntılı] 

jealously  [’ʤeləslı] 

jokingly [’ʤəƱk ıŋlı] 
jovially  [’ʤəƱvıəlı] 

joyfully  [ʤɔıfəlı] 
joylessly  [ʤɔılıslı]  

joyously  [ʤɔıəslı] 
jubilantly  [’ʤu:bılntlı] 

judgmentally  [ʤʌʤmentəlı]
just  [ʤʌst] 

justly  [ʤʌstlı] 

 K 

keenly  [kı:nlı] 
kiddingly  [kıdıŋlı] 

kind-heartedly  [kɑınd hɑ:tədlı] 
kindly  [kɑındlı] 

knavishly  [neıvıʃlı] 

knowingly  [nəƱwıŋlı] 
knowledgeably  [’nɒlıʤəblı] 

 L 

lastly  [lɑ:stlı] 
late  [leıt]  
lately  [’leıtlı] 
later  [leıtə] 

lazily  [leızılı] 
less  [les] 
lightly  [lɑıtlı] 
likely  [lɑıklı] 

limply  [lımplı] 
lithely  [lɑı∂lı] 
loftily  [lɒftılı] 

longingly  [lɒŋıŋlı] 
loosely  [lu:slı] 
loudly  [lɑƱdlı] 

lovingly  [’lʌvıŋlı] 
loyally  [’lɔıəlı] 
luckily  [’lʌkəlı] 
luxuriously  [lʌg’ӡƱərıəslı]