PROBLEM WITH ADVERBS AND ADVERB-RELATED SRUCTURES
• Adverbs and adverb phrases add information to sentences. They add information about manner, that is, how something is done; frequency or often; time and date or often; time and date or when; and duration of time or how long.
Problem 126 “Adverbs of Manner”
• Remember that adverbs of manner describe the manner in which something is done. They answer the question, how? Adverbs of manner usually end in –ly.
S V adverb (manner)
• The class listened attentively to the lecture
• Avoid using an adjective instead of an adverb of manner. Avoid using an adverb of manner between the two words of an infinitive.
Examples
• Incorrect: After only six months in the United States, Jack understood everyone perfect.
• Correct : After only six months in the United States, Jack understood everyone perfectly.
• Incorrect : Please do exact as your doctor says.
• Correct : Please do exactly as your doctor says.
• Incorrect : From the top of the Empire State Building, tourists are able to clearly see New York.
• Correct : From the top of the Empire State Building, tourists are able to clearly see New York clearly.
• Incorrect : Broad speaking, curriculum includes all experiences which the student may have within the environment of the school.
• Correct : Broadly speaking, curriculum includes all experiences which the student may have within the environment of the school.
• Incorrect : Passengers travel comfortable and safely in the new jumbo jets.
• Correct : Passengers travel comfortably and safely in the new jumbo jets.
Problem 127 “ Adverbs of Manner – Fast, Late, and Hard “
• Remember that although most adverbs of manner end in –ly, fast, late, and hard
do not have -ly end –ings.
S V fast
This medication relieves headaches fast
S V late
This roommate returned home late last night
S V hard
The team played hard
• Avoid using the Incorrect forms fastly and lately and hardly .
• Note: Lately and hardly are not adverb forms of late and hard. Lately
means recently. Hardly means almost not at all.
Examples
• Incorrect: Helen types fastly and efficiently
• Correct : Helen types fast and efficiently
• Incorrect: The plane is scheduled to arrive lately because of bad weather.
• Correct : The plane is scheduled to arrive late because of bad weather.
• Incorrect: Although he tried as hardly as he could, he didn’t win the race.
• Correct : Although he tried as hard as he could, he didn’t win the race.
•
• Incorrect: When students register lately for classes, they must pay an additional fee.
• Correct : When students register late for classes, they must pay an additional fee.
• Incorrect: First class mail travels as fastly as airmail now.
• Correct : First class mail travels as fast as airmail now.
Problem 128 “ Sometime and Sometimes ”
• Remember that sometime means at some time in the indefinite future.
Sometime means occasionally.
• Sometime is usually used after a verb. Sometime is usually used at the
beginning or end of a sentence or a clause.
• Sometime answer the question, when? Sometimes answer the question, how often?
no specific date in the future
S V sometime
My family will call me long distance sometime.
• occasionally
sometimes S V
Sometimes my family calls me long distance.
• Avoid using sometimes instead of sometime to express an indefinite time in the future.
Examples
• Incorrect: Let’s have lunch sometimes.
• Correct : Let’s have lunch sometime.
(no specific date in the future)
• Incorrect: It is cool now, but sometime it gets very warm here.
• Correct : It is cool now, but sometimes it gets very warm here.
(occasionally)
• Incorrect: Janet would like to travel sometimes, but right now she has to finish her degree.
• Correct : Janet would like to travel sometime, but right now she has to finish her degree.
(no specific date in the future)
• Incorrect: Why don’t you call me sometimes?
• Correct : Why don’t you call me sometime?
(no specific date in the future)
• Incorrect: Sometime car manufactures must recall certain models because of detects in design.
• Correct : Sometimes car manufactures must recall certain models because of detects in design.
(occasionally)
Problem 129 “ Negative Emphasis “
• Remember that negatives include phrases like not one, not once, not until never, never again, only rarely, and very seldom. Negatives answer the question, wow often? They are used at the beginning of a statement to express emphasis. Auxiliaries must agree with verbs and subjects.
Negative auxiliary S V
Never have I seen so much snow.
• Avoid using a subject before the auxiliary in this pattern.
Examples
• Incorrect: Never again they will stay in that hotel.
• Correct : Never again will they stay in that hotel.
• Incorrect: Only rarely an accident has occurred.
• Correct : Only rarely has an accident occurred.
• Incorrect: Very seldom a movie can hold my attention like this one.
• Correct : Very seldom can a movie hold my attention like this one.
• Incorrect: Not one paper she has finished on time.
• Correct : Not one paper has she finished on time.
• Incorrect: Not once Steve and Jan have invited us to their house.
• Correct : Not once have Steve and Jan invited us to their house.
Problem 130 “ Introductory Adverbial Modifiers – Once “
• Remember that once means at one time in the past. Once answers the question, when? Once is often used as an introductory adverbial modifier. It modifies the main subject that follows the clause.
once noun , S V
Once a salesman , Pete has been promoted to district manager.
• Avoid using that before once.
Examples
• Incorrect: That once a student at State University, he is now an engineer for an American company.
• Correct : Once a student at State University, he is now an engineer for an American company.
• Incorrect: Once that a clerk in a grocery store, Helen is now a policewoman.
• Correct : Once a clerk in a grocery store, Helen is now a policewoman.
• Incorrect: That one a citizen of Ireland, he is now applying for permanent residency in Canada.
• Correct : Once a citizen of Ireland, he is now applying for permanent residency in Canada.
• Incorrect: It was one Republicans, we usually vote for Democratic candidates now.
• Correct : Once Republicans, we usually vote for Democratic candidates now.
• Incorrect: That once an avid soccer fan, he is now becoming more interested in American football.
• Correct : Once an avid soccer fan, he is now becoming more interested in American football.
Problem 131 “ Introductory Adverbial Modifiers – While “
• Remember that while means at the same time. While answers the question, when? It is often used as an introductory adverbial modifier. It modifies the main subject that follows the clause.
• When can also mean at the same time, but when must be used before a subject and a verb in the same clause.
while noun , S V
While a salesman , Pete traveled a lot.
while
when S V S V
While he was a salesman , Pete traveled a lot.
• When he was a salesman , Pete traveled a lot.
• Avoid using when instead of while without an subject and verb in the same clause.
Examples
• Incorrect: When in Washington, D.C., they saw the Capital Building where Congress meets.
• Correct : While (tourists) in Washington, D.C., they saw the Capital Building where Congress meets. or
While they were (tourists) in Washington, D.C., they saw the Capital Building
where Congress meets. or
When they were (tourists) in Washington, D.C., they saw the Capital Building
where Congress meets.
• Incorrect: I was very homesick when a student abroad.
• Correct : I was very homesick while a student abroad. or
I was very homesick while I was a student abroad. or
I was very homesick when I was a student abroad.
• Incorrect: When still a teaching assistant, he was doing important research.
• Correct : While still a teaching assistant, he was doing important research.
or
While he was still a teaching assistant, he was doing important research.
or
When he was still a teaching assistant, he was doing important research.
• Incorrect: According to the newspapers he accepted bribes when a high official of the government.
• Correct : According to the newspapers, he accepted bribes while a high official of the government. or
According to the newspapers, he accepted bribes while he was a high official of
the government. or
According to the newspapers, he accepted bribes when he was a high official
of the government.
• Incorrect: While she on vacation, she bought gifts for her family.
• Correct : While (a visitor) on vacation, she bought gifts for her family.
or
While she was (a visitor) on vacation, she bought gifts for her family.
or
When she was (a visitor) on vacation, she bought gifts for her family.
