Kinds of adverbs explained

What kind of adverbs are there?
There are different kind of adverbs in the English language, but you are going to learn 4 today.
Which are:
- The adverbs in relation to verbs
- The adverbs in relation to adjectives
- The adverbs in relation to other adverbs
- The adverbs in relation to frequency
(Swan, 2016)


Adverbs in relation to verbs.
The adverb (bijwoord) says something about the verb (werkwoord).

For example:
Katy drives safely.

Katy, the person who does something, is the noun (zelfstandignaamwoord) in this sentence.

Drives, the action that is done, is the verb (werkwoord) in this sentence.

Safely, the manner in which the action is done, is the adverb (bijwoord) in this sentence.


In this sentence ‘safely’ tells something about the action that Katy does, which is driving. Because it tells us how Katy drives, it is an adverb (bijwoord). (Swan, 2016)


Adverbs in relation to adjectives.
The adverb (bijwoord) says something about the adjective (bijvoegelijknaamwoord).

For example:
Katy is very tall.

Katy, the person who does something, is the noun (zelfstandignaamwoord) in this sentence.

Is, the action that is done, is the verb (werkwoord) in this sentence.

Very, gives the degree, is the adverb (bijwoord) in this sentence.

Tall, tells us what Katy is, is the adjective (bijvoegelijknaamwoord) in this sentence.


In this sentence ‘tall’ tells something about the way Katy is, which makes it an adjective (bijvoegelijknaamwoord). ‘Very’ tells something about the degree of how tall Katy is, which makes it an adverb (bijwoord). (Swan, 2016)


Adverbs in relation to other adverbs.
The adverb (bijwoord) says something about another adverb (bijwoord).

For example:
Katy runs really fast.

Katy, the person who does something, is the noun (zelfstandignaamwoord) in this sentence.

Runs, the action that is done, is the verb (werkwoord) in this sentence.

Really, gives the extent, is the adverb (bijwoord) in this sentence.

Fast, the manner in which the action is done, is the adverb (bijwoord) in this sentence.


In this sentence ‘fast’ tells something about the how Katy runs, which makes it an adverb (bijwoord). ‘Really’ tells something about the extent of how fast Katy runs. Because ‘really’ says something about the adverb (bijwoord) in this sentence, it becomes an adverb (bijwoord) itself.  (Swan, 2016)



Adverbs in relation to frequency.
The adverb (bijwoord) says something about how many times something is done.

For example:
Katy never drinks coffee.

Katy, the person who does something, is a noun (zelfstandignaamwoord) in this sentence.

Never, the frequency in which the action is done, is the adverb (bijwoord) in this sentence.

Drinks, the action that is done, is the verb (werkwoord) in this sentence.

Coffee, the object that is used, is a noun (zelfstandignaamwoord) in this sentence.


In this sentence ‘never’ tells something about the amount of times Katy drinks coffee, which makes in an adverb (bijwoord).

Grammar rule with regards to frequency.
If the sentence has the verb ‘to be’ (zijn) in it, the frequency words go after the verb.

For example: Katy is never late.
Is comes from the verb ‘to be’ (zijn), so the frequency word ‘never’ comes after the verb.
(Swan, 2016)

Commen frequency words.
Table 2:
Adverbials of indefintie frequency.

Frequency

Adverb of frequency

100%

Always

90%

Usually

80%

Normally/Generally

70%

Often/Frequently

50%

Sometimes

30%

Occasionally

10%

Seldom

5%

Hardly ever/rarely

0%

Never

Opmerking. Aangepast overgenomen uit Practical English Usage (p. 198) door M. Swan, 2016, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Copyright 2016, Micheal Swan.