Basically, we can say that adverb is the word that modifies the meaning of verb, adding a circumstance to it. It can also refer to an adjective or another adverb, or even an entire sentence. In this way, the adverb types can indicate place, time, mode, intensity, doubt, affirmation and negation. Also, we have the adverbial phrases, which are expressions made up of two or more words exercising adverbial function.
Adverbs are also susceptible to the gradation process and can present structure in the superlative or comparative, similarly to what happens with the adjectives.
Read too: Conjunction - class of words that relate clauses in the same utterance
Adverb functions
The adverb has the function of modifiesr the sense of the verb, adding a circumstance to it. It can also refer to one adjective or another adverb, or even an entire prayer. The function of characterizing the verb can be seen in the formation of the word adverb itself, in which the prefix -ad indicates proximity, contiguity. Thus, from a functional point of view, adverbs play morphological and syntactic function.
→ Adverb from a morphological point of view
The adverb does not inflect in gender or in number, that is, it is a part of speech invariable.
Example:
the mother has always beenmens patient than the daughter.
Notably, the sentence above has a grammatical problem, as the adverb of intensity any less suffered gender inflection, contrary to the norm that guides the invariability of this word. Therefore, the correct is:
the mother has always been any less patient than the daughter.
→ Adverb from the syntactic point of view
The adverb refers to a verb, an adjective, a adjective phrase, to an adverb or to an adverbial phrase, exercising only the adverbial adjunct syntactic function.
Examples:
always worked very.
(The adverb of intensity greatly modifies the verb to work.)
I stay quite willing.
(the adverb quite modifies the adjective provided.)
bought a car very out of fashion.
(The adverb greatly modifies the unfashionable adjective phrase.)
the children slept most evening
(the adverb most modify the adverb evening.)
the teacher appeared so suddenly in the classroom.
(The adverb so changes the adverbial phrase suddenly.)
Daily we study for the test.
(The adverb daily modifies the prayer we study for proof.)
Adverb classification
Adverbs are classified based on the circumstances they express. With this, the Brazilian Grammatical Nomenclature (NGB) recognizes seven rankings.
-
Adverbs of place: far, near, here, there, there, together, above, below, below, behind, ahead, etc.
Example:
We are close from our parents' house.
- Adverbs of time: today, yesterday, tomorrow, already, never, never, always, before, early etc.
Example:
You know that never I will live without your love.
Mode Adverbs: well, bad, better, worse, like that, and most adverbs ending in -mind: cautiously, gently, happily.
Example:
I need to act cautiously.
-
Adverbs of negation: no, either, never etc.
Example:
Not leave nothing for later.
-
Adverbs of doubt: perhaps, perhaps, chance, possibly, probably, etc.
Example:
Perhaps see you next week.
- Intensity adverbs: a lot, a little, a lot, well, more, less, too much, so much, so, etc.
Example:
say a verse well beautiful.
Affirmation adverbs: yes, indeed, indeed, etc.
Example:
Certainly Brazil will be a developed country.
Read too: What is an adverbial adjunct?
adverbial phrase
It is the set of two or more words that have adverb value. At adverbial phrases are formed from the association of a preposition with a noun, with an adjective or with an adverb, having the same semantic values as the adverb. See below some adverbial phrases and the circumstances they express.
Place: inside, outside, above, above, below, close by, to the right, to the left, to the side.
Example:
please turn on the right.
Time: the day after tomorrow, soon, in the afternoon, at night, in the morning, suddenly, from time to time, nowadays, at dawn.
Example:
Coming soon, our routines will return to normal.
Mode: at ease, in a hurry, in the clear, randomly, quietly, in color.
Example:
Stay make yourself comfortable to study grammar.
Doubt: Who knows.
Example:
Who knows that means love.
Affirmation: for sure, no doubt, for sure.
Example:
For sure I will be approved in the next contest.
Denial: not at all, not at all.
Example:
not at all I intended to hurt her.
Read too: Noun – class of words responsible for naming beings
adverb gradation
Some adverbs, especially so, can undergo gradation of two types: comparative and superlative, being the same process of gradation of adjectives.
→ superlative degree
splits into synthetic and analytical.
Synthetic: a suffix is added to the adverb, as in the word very much (veryis the radical and -very much it's the suffix).
Examples:
Ana is very polite
Ana is very much polite.
- Analytical: the adverb is modified by another adverb, as in too far, too close, too far, very well, so far, etc.
Example:
Jo Soares received me very well.
→ comparative degree
It is divided into the comparative degree of superiority, equality and inferiority.
a) of superiority: puts in front most and postpones what or than to the adverb.
Example:
I woke up later that you.
b) of equality: prefaces so and postpones like or how much to the adverb.
Example:
I woke up as late as you.
c) of inferiority: prefaces any less and postpones what or than to the adverb.
Example:
I woke up less late than you.
solved exercises
QUESTION 1 – (CPS - 2019) Read and analyze the advertisement to answer the following question(s).
Note the excerpts:
I. You are on quite of that environment.
II. Campaign of quite environment.
About the word "middle", highlighted in the excerpts, it can be correctly stated that:
a) in I, it plays the role of predicative of the subject “you”.
b) in I, it is a noun that forms an adverbial phrase indicating place.
c) in II, it presents the circumstance of the place where the campaign takes place.
d) in II, it is an adverb of intensity and can be replaced by “a little”.
e) in I and II, they are nouns that form adjective phrases qualifying “you” and “campaign”.
Response: letter B. The expression “in the middle of this environment” completes the verbal action, indicating the place. Thus, it should be classified as an adverbial phrase of place
QUESTION 2 - (IFSP 2017) In accordance with the standard norm of the Portuguese language and with normative and traditional grammar, mark the alternative in which the highlighted term has the value of an adverb.
a) There is not quite harder to work with.
b) I just need to quite burlap meter for coal bags.
c) He faced the coal workers, sketching quite smile.
d) The coals fell in the quite of the road.
e) I found the boy quite sad, rickety.
Response: letter e.
In alternative A, “middle” has noun value.
In alternative B, “middle” has an adjective value.
In alternative C, “middle” has the value of an adjective.
In alternative D, “middle” has a noun value.
by Marcelo Sartel
grammar teacher