What's an Adverb?

arjaybe · 01-21-2018, 03:39 PM

I'm pretty good at using words, but I'm not very good at knowing what to call them, so I'm starting this thread. My first question is "What's an adverb, and how do I recognize one?" Here's a sample phrase where you can point out the adverb and explain what it does.

Sage didn't have time to feel bad about killing the big flier.

HarryT · 01-21-2018, 03:43 PM

An adverb is a word that qualifies a verb, just as an adjective qualifies a noun. Eg if you say “I ran quickly”, the word “quickly” describes how you are running, and hence is an adverb.

There are no adverbs in your sample sentence.

Deskisamess · 01-21-2018, 04:11 PM

The word "big" is an adjective, not an adverb. "Flier" is a noun, not a verb.

Cinisajoy · 01-21-2018, 04:13 PM

Does the word describe the action.
He coughed violently.
She ran quickly to the big building.
How did he cough?
How did she run?

crich70 · 01-21-2018, 04:15 PM

Verbs are action words. Throw, kick, jump, etc. so if you have a sentence like 'he threw the dart hard at the target.' the word 'threw' would be the verb and the adverb (which modifies the verb) would seem to be 'hard' as it shows how the dart was thrown.

sjfan · 01-21-2018, 04:20 PM

One thing to look for is that adverbs often (but not always) end with -ly, as in HarryT's “quickly.” Not all words that end with -ly are adverbs, either (“We hung the holly for Christmas”). But it's a hint.

Adverbs can modify verbs as HarryT says. They can also modify adjectives (“You are mostly right”), other adverbs (“He walked quite slowly”), phrases/sentences, and even nouns and noun phrases (“There is a shortage internationally of protein for animal feeds”).

If you're having trouble pinning them down, you can take solace in the fact that modern grammarians view “adverb” as more of a catch-all category than a strict part of speech, as they really serve a number of different purposes that are lumped together. To some extent they can be viewed simply as non-adjectival modifiers, and it can be easy to conflate the two:

Even camels need to drink. (“Even” is an adverb)
Even numbers are divisible by two. (“Even” is an adjective)

As Wiki says: Adverbs typically express manner, place, time, frequency, degree, level of certainty, etc., answering questions such as how?, in what way?, when?, where?, and to what extent?

HarryT · 01-21-2018, 04:26 PM

An excellent definition, sjfan!

HarryT · 01-21-2018, 04:35 PM

Just to confuse matters, many words can be used both as adjectives and adverbs:

I have a fast car. <— “fast” used as an adjective.

But:

I drove my car fast. <— “fast” used as an adverb.

So it’s the role that the word plays in the sentence that makes it an adverb, not necessary the word itself.

arjaybe · 01-21-2018, 07:01 PM

I thought adverbs modified verbs as adjectives do nouns, but there are so many qualifications that I tend to doubt myself, especially since Stephen King is supposed to have said, "The author's road to hell is paved with adverbs."

@sjfan If your example, “There is a shortage internationally of protein for animal feeds” is changed to "There is an international shortage ..." is "international" an adverb?

@all With my phrase, "Sage didn't have time to feel bad about killing the big flier," isn't "bad" an adverb?

sjfan · 01-21-2018, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arjaybe

I thought adverbs modified verbs as adjectives do nouns, but there are so many qualifications that I tend to doubt myself, especially since Stephen King is supposed to have said, "The author's road to hell is paved with adverbs."

@sjfan If your example, “There is a shortage internationally of protein for animal feeds” is changed to "There is an international shortage ..." is "international" an adverb?

Adjective. It's subtle, but the latter is “what kind of shortage is it” whereas the former is “how does that shortage affect things”.

Quote:

@all With my phrase, "Sage didn't have time to feel bad about killing the big flier," isn't "bad" an adverb?

No. If Sage was a clinical psychopath, or lacked affect, or was dispassionate, then he might “feel badly” (as in, not be good at feeling things). That would be adverbial. But when he feels happy, bad, sad, or glad, that's an adjective.

Cinisajoy · 01-21-2018, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arjaybe

I'm pretty good at using words, but I'm not very good at knowing what to call them, so I'm starting this thread. My first question is "What's an adverb, and how do I recognize one?" Here's a sample phrase where you can point out the adverb and explain what it does.

Sage didn't have time to feel bad about killing the big flier.

Just write.
Now if nearly every sentence is quickly littered with longingly, lovingly, randomly, and a seemingly endless stream of ly words, you might have an adversarially problematic thing about adverbs.

GrannyGrump · 01-22-2018, 12:06 AM

When I was a child in school (back when dinosaurs roamed), we were taught NOT to use a phrase such as "feel bad". Teacher would harrumph, and correct us to say "feel badly"

(PS --- of course, that does have the attraction of absolutely identifying "badly" as an adverb.)

arjaybe · 01-22-2018, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrannyGrump

When I was a child in school (back when dinosaurs roamed), we were taught NOT to use a phrase such as "feel bad". Teacher would harrumph, and correct us to say "feel badly"

(PS --- of course, that does have the attraction of absolutely identifying "badly" as an adverb.)

Yeah, one of those things that everybody said, but wasn't supposed to. And then they acted offended if anyone said "I feel goodly," to show they understood.-)

arjaybe · 01-22-2018, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Just write.
Now if nearly every sentence is quickly littered with longingly, lovingly, randomly, and a seemingly endless stream of ly words, you might have an adversarially problematic thing about adverbs.

You speak rightly, of course. I surely don't have to know what the words are called to use them correctly.

arjaybe · 01-22-2018, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjfan

Adjective. It's subtle, but the latter is “what kind of shortage is it” whereas the former is “how does that shortage affect things”.

No. If Sage was a clinical psychopath, or lacked affect, or was dispassionate, then he might “feel badly” (as in, not be good at feeling things). That would be adverbial. But when he feels happy, bad, sad, or glad, that's an adjective.

Of course! "Shortage" isn't a verb.

I can see how "badly" is an adverb for "feels." But if "feel" is a verb, I don't see how "bad," when modifying it, isn't an adverb.

01-21-2018, 03:39 PM	#1
arjaybe Wizard Posts: 1,057 Karma: 12349424 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Okanagan Device: Sony PRS-650, Kobo Clara	What's an Adverb? I'm pretty good at using words, but I'm not very good at knowing what to call them, so I'm starting this thread. My first question is "What's an adverb, and how do I recognize one?" Here's a sample phrase where you can point out the adverb and explain what it does. Sage didn't have time to feel bad about killing the big flier.

01-21-2018, 03:43 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	An adverb is a word that qualifies a verb, just as an adjective qualifies a noun. Eg if you say “I ran quickly”, the word “quickly” describes how you are running, and hence is an adverb. There are no adverbs in your sample sentence. Last edited by HarryT; 01-21-2018 at 03:50 PM.

01-21-2018, 04:20 PM	#6
sjfan Addict Posts: 281 Karma: 7724454 Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Bethesda, MD, USA Device: Kobo Aura H20, Kobo Clara HD	One thing to look for is that adverbs often (but not always) end with -ly, as in HarryT's “quickly.” Not all words that end with -ly are adverbs, either (“We hung the holly for Christmas”). But it's a hint. Adverbs can modify verbs as HarryT says. They can also modify adjectives (“You are mostly right”), other adverbs (“He walked quite slowly”), phrases/sentences, and even nouns and noun phrases (“There is a shortage internationally of protein for animal feeds”). If you're having trouble pinning them down, you can take solace in the fact that modern grammarians view “adverb” as more of a catch-all category than a strict part of speech, as they really serve a number of different purposes that are lumped together. To some extent they can be viewed simply as non-adjectival modifiers, and it can be easy to conflate the two: Even camels need to drink. (“Even” is an adverb) Even numbers are divisible by two. (“Even” is an adjective) As Wiki says: Adverbs typically express manner, place, time, frequency, degree, level of certainty, etc., answering questions such as how?, in what way?, when?, where?, and to what extent?

01-21-2018, 04:11 PM	#3
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,742 Karma: 45300001 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	The word "big" is an adjective, not an adverb. "Flier" is a noun, not a verb.

01-21-2018, 04:13 PM	#4
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	Does the word describe the action. He coughed violently. She ran quickly to the big building. How did he cough? How did she run?

01-21-2018, 04:15 PM	#5
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	Verbs are action words. Throw, kick, jump, etc. so if you have a sentence like 'he threw the dart hard at the target.' the word 'threw' would be the verb and the adverb (which modifies the verb) would seem to be 'hard' as it shows how the dart was thrown.

01-21-2018, 04:26 PM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	An excellent definition, sjfan!

01-21-2018, 04:35 PM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Just to confuse matters, many words can be used both as adjectives and adverbs: I have a fast car. <— “fast” used as an adjective. But: I drove my car fast. <— “fast” used as an adverb. So it’s the role that the word plays in the sentence that makes it an adverb, not necessary the word itself.

01-21-2018, 07:01 PM	#9
arjaybe Wizard Posts: 1,057 Karma: 12349424 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Okanagan Device: Sony PRS-650, Kobo Clara	I thought adverbs modified verbs as adjectives do nouns, but there are so many qualifications that I tend to doubt myself, especially since Stephen King is supposed to have said, "The author's road to hell is paved with adverbs." @sjfan If your example, “There is a shortage internationally of protein for animal feeds” is changed to "There is an international shortage ..." is "international" an adverb? @all With my phrase, "Sage didn't have time to feel bad about killing the big flier," isn't "bad" an adverb?

01-22-2018, 12:06 AM	#12
GrannyGrump Obsessively Dedicated... Posts: 3,205 Karma: 34984330 Join Date: May 2011 Location: JAPAN (US expatriate) Device: Sony PRS-T2, ADE on PC	When I was a child in school (back when dinosaurs roamed), we were taught NOT to use a phrase such as "feel bad". Teacher would harrumph, and correct us to say "feel badly" (PS --- of course, that does have the attraction of absolutely identifying "badly" as an adverb.)

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