Formation of Adverbs
Formation of Adverbs :
We often change an adjective into an adverb by adding IY. When this happens, the adjective does not usually change its spelling.
Adjective…..Adverb
1. Late…..Lately
2. Hopeful…..hopefully
3. Definite…..definitely
4. Right…..rightly
5. Real…..really
6. Complete…..completely
7. Glad…..gladly
8. Medical…..medically
One spelling may be carefully noted. The final E is not dropped (completely) and if the adjective ends in L, the adverb will have LL. (real - really).
(ii) Final Y changes to I before LY.
1. Happy….happily
2. Easy…..easily
3. Dry……drily
(iii) If an adjective ends in LE, the adverb has LY instead of LELY.
1. Noble…..nobly
2. Idle…..idly
(iv) If an adjective ends in IC, the adverb ends in CALLY.
1. Tragic…..tragically
2. Domestic…..domestically
3. Dramatic…..dramatically
4. Terrific…..terrifically
(v) Exceptions :
1. Truly
2. Duly
3. Wholly
4. Fully
5. Shyly
6. Slyly
7. Publically
Adverbs of manner are usually formed from adjectives by adding LY.
1. Clever…..cleverly
2. Wise…..wisely
3. Kind…..kindly
4. Foolish…..foolishly
5. Quick…..quickly
6. Beautiful…..beautifully
When the adjective ends in Y preceded by a consonant, Y gets change to I and then LY is added.
1. Happy…..happily
2. Ready…..readily
3. Heavy…..heavily
(iii) When the adjective ends in LE, simply changed E into Y.
1. Single…..singly
2. Double…..doubly
Study the following.
Adjective + Noun = Adverb
1. Some + times = sometimes
2. Mean + times = meantimes
3. Mean + while = meanwhile
4. Yester + day = yesterday
5. Mid + way = midway
6. Other + wise = otherwise
Note that some adverbs are made up of a noun and qualifying adjective.
Note the following adverbs.
AFOOT : (adjective - adverb)
1. Old use – moving – especially on foot
2. Especially something bad
3. Being prepared or in operation
1. There is a plan afoot to pull down my old house.
2. There is some strange manoeuvre afoot.
AFLOAT : (adjective - adverb)
1. Floating on water
2. At sea
1. Please, help me get the boat afloat.
2. How long did you spend afloat? (On ship)
AFLOAT : out of debt
The company somehow managed to keep afloat.
ABED - (adjective) - old use - in bed
Not in use as adverb
ASLEEP : adjective – sleeping - can be used as an adverb also
He fell asleep.
FELL ASLEEP - to go into a state of sleep
Formation of Adverbs
The Grammar Index
