Adverbs and Prepositions

Unit 7

Grammar 1: Adverbs

Adjectives describe a noun or pronoun. A word that describes a verb is an adverb. Adverbs tell How, When, and Where.HOW Example: The plane landed smoothly at the airport.WHEN Example: Soon Jeff would see his grandparents at the gate.WHERE Example: They were waiting for him there.

Many adverbs end with –ly. Some are included in the chart on the next slide.

Adverbs

How When WhereFast Tomorrow HereHard Later InsideTogether Again FarHappily Often UpstairsQuietly First DowntownSecretly Next SomewhereSlowly Then Forward

Usage 2: Comparing with Adverbs

You can use adjectives to compare people, places, or things. You can use adverbs to compare actions. Like adjectives, adverbs have special forms for comparisons. To compare two actions, add –er to most short adverbs. To compare three or more actions, add –est to most short adverbs.

One action: Amy will finish the book soon.Two actions: Amy will finish sooner then Jessie.Three or more: Amy will finish soonest of all.

Rules for Comparing with Adverbs

1. Most short adverbs: Add –er or –est to the adverb

LateLaterLatest

EarlyEarlierEarliest

2. Most adverbs of two or more syllables:

Use more or most with the adverb

OftenMore oftenMost often

QuicklyMore quicklyMost quickly

TIP:Use less/least in the same way you use more/most.

Usage 3: Adjective or Adverb

Many adverbs are formed by adding –ly to an adjective. These words look similar and are easily confused. Be careful to use them correctly in a sentence.

Incorrect Example: Robert writes clear. AdjectiveCorrect Example: Robert writes clearly. Adverb

Adjective or Adverb

Remember to use an adjective to describe a noun or a pronoun. Use an adverb to describe a verb.

Adjective Example: Lee made quick moves. Adverb Example: She moves quickly.

Adjective or Adverb

The words good and well are often confused. Good is always an adjective. Use good before a noun or after a linking verb. Do NOT use good when you mean “healthy.”

Adjective: Sam has a good vocabulary.Adjective: His stories are good.

Adjective or Adverb

Use well as an adverb to describe a verb. Use it as an adjective to mean “healthy.”

Adverb: Sam describes building well.Adjective: Because Todd ate too fast, he is not well now.

Usage 4: NegativesWords that mean “no” or “not” are negatives.She has no tickets. There are none left.

You have learned to form a contraction from a verb and not. These contractions are also negatives. The letters n’t stand for not. The word not is an adverb.

We won’t be able to go. She couldn’t get the tickets.

Negatives

Not Nowhere Nobody Aren’t Haven’tNever Nothing No one Doesn’t Wouldn’t

Common Negatives

NegativesA sentence should have only one negative. Using double negatives in a sentence is usually incorrect.

Incorrect Example: Ralph hasn’t no homework.Correct Example: Ralph hasn’t any homework.Correct Example: Ralph has no homework.Incorrect Example: Isn’t nobody at home?Correct Example: Isn’t anybody at home?Correct Example: Is nobody at home?

Grammar 5: PrepositionsSmall words make a big difference in meaning.Sue found it on the shelf. Sue found it under the shelf.

The words on and under show very different relationships between found and shelf. The words that show these relationships are prepositions.

A preposition relates another word in the sentence to the noun or the pronoun that follows the preposition. The noun or pronoun that follows a preposition is the object of the preposition.

I liked the book with the blue cover. She gave it to me.

Prepositions

About Around Beside For Near Outside UnderAbove At By From Of Over UntilAcross Before Down In Off Past UpAfter Behind During Inside On Through WithAlong Below Except Into Out To Without

Grammar 6: Prepositional Phrases

A preposition is always followed by an object. A prepositional phrase is made-up of a preposition, the object of the preposition, and all words between them. A prepositional phrase describes another word in the sentence.We packed the fruit in our knapsacks.The object of the preposition can be a compound object.We took enough oranges for Manuel and Anita.

Prepositional PhrasesA prepositional phrase can be at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a sentence.At dawn, we began our walk.The map of the area was helpful.The path went by a forest and a large lake.

Usage 7: Pronouns in Prepositional Phrases

The object of a preposition is the noun or pronoun that follows the preposition. When the object of preposition is a pronoun, use an object pronoun. Object pronoun are me, you, him, her, it, us, and them.People sometimes get confused when the pronoun is part of a compound object. To see whether the pronoun is correct, remove the other object and check the pronoun alone.I gave the picture to Tom and her. I gave the picture to her.

TIP:

Never use a subject pronoun (like I or he) after a preposition.

Usage 8: Adverb or Preposition

Some words can be used as either an adverb or a preposition.

Adverb: Susan ran inside.Preposition: Her hat was inside the store.Adverb: The shopkeeper looked up.Preposition: Susan raced up the stairs.

Adverb or Preposition

You can tell the difference between an adverb and a preposition if you look carefully at how the word is used in a sentence. If the word begins a prepositional phrase, it is a preposition. Otherwise, it is an adverb.

Adverbs or Prepositions

Above Below In Off OutsideAlong By Inside Over UnderAround Down Near Out Up

The words in the following chart may be either an adverb or a preposition depending up how they are used in a sentence.

The End