1. The chestnuts lay all over the ground. (The adverb all modifies the entire phrase, or unit, 'over the ground'. This is more logical than to say that all modifies the preposition over, as is stated in some grammars.)

2. She found her purse exactly where she had dropped it. (Exactly modifies where she had dropped it'.)

255. Adverb modifying noun. An adverb sometimes modifies a noun (especially a noun implying action), and thus has the force of an adjective ($ 383):

1. The down grade; the up train; her arrival here.

2. The trees there (elliptical for which are there, § 347) are green.

256. Formation. In formation a good many adverbs are old forms of nouns, pronouns, or adjectives, with or without a preposition; some adverbs are formed from different parts of speech by the addition of -wards, -ward, -ways, -way, and -wise:

1. Home, aboard, anew, forever, indeed, sometime.

2. Always (= all the way), backward(s), downward(s), endwise, homeward(s), upward(s).

257. Adverb from adjective. Many adverbs are formed from adjectives, by the addition of -ly (but there are also a few adjectives ending in ly, such as early, friendly, kindly):

Bright, brightly; playful, playfully; wise, wisely.

258. Adverb and adjective alike. Some adverbs have the same form as adjectives; in poetry they are often alike (§ 504):

Best, better, cheap, clean, close, deep, direct (§ 417), early, fair, far, fast, full, hard, high, ill, just, late, long, loud, low, near, pretty, quick, right, sharp, short, slow, soft, straight, well, wide, wrong.

NOTE. The adverbs quickly, slowly, and softly are now more frequently used than the adverbs quick, slow, and soft.

259. Adverb and adjective distinguished. When adjectives and adverbs are alike in form, they are to be distinguished by their use. If they modify nouns or pronouns, they are adjectives; if they modify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs, they are adverbs (§ 383; but see §§ 238, 239, 504):

1. The sun is bright (adjective); it shines bright (adverb). 2. He is late (adjective); he works late (adverb).

3. Her voice became low (adjective); she spoke low (adverb). 4. I heard him breathe quick and deep. (Adverbs.)

260. Adjective misused for adverb. Care should be taken not to use adjectives for adverbs (see §§ 238, 239):

1. He sings badly. (Not 'bad'.)

2. She paints finely. (Not 'fine '.)

3. She reads well; that sounds well. (Not 'good'; § 238.) 4. You row excellently. (Not 'excellent '.)

5. Surely I will meet you. (Not ' Sure '.)

261. Adverb after be. An adverb is frequently used in the predicate after the verb be:

1. School is over. (Not 'out'; see out, over, § 417.)

2. The great secret was at last out.

262. Classification. Adverbs may be divided into different classes, according to their meaning:

1. Time, denoting when: afterwards, again, daily, never, now, often, sometime, sometimes, soon, etc.

2. Place, denoting where: above, anywhere, forward, here, in, out, somewhere, there, thither, up, yonder, etc.

3. Manner, denoting how: fast, likewise, quick, quickly, slowly, thus, truly, well, wisely, etc.

4. Degree, denoting how much: abundantly, all, almost, also, besides, but (= only), enough, half, hardly, merely, more, most, much, quite, rather, scarcely, so, too, very, etc.

5. Number, denoting, how many times or where in a series: once, twice, three times, tenfold; first, secondly, fifthly, etc.

6. Cause, denoting why: consequently, hence, so, therefore, etc. 7. Opposition, denoting contrast: however, still, yet, etc.

8. Assertion, denoting affirmation or denial (some of which, such as yes and no, do not modify other words, and may stand alone as complete sentences): apparently, aye, certainly, indeed, really, surely, yea, yes, etc.; by no means, no, not at all, etc.; likely, perhaps, possibly, probably, etc.

263. Interrogative adverb. An interrogative adverb is used in asking a question:

1. When did you see him?

Where does he live? 2. How did you find him? Why don't you speak?

264. Comparison. The comparison of adverbs is similar to that of adjectives (§ 132):

265. Irregular comparison. A few adverbs have irregular comparison; some forms are like irregular adjectives (§ 134):

266. Comparative and superlative. The use of the comparative and the superlative of adverbs is similar to that of the comparative and the superlative of adjectives (compare §§ 135, 136):

1. Jack ran faster than my brother.

2. Your brother ran fastest of all.

3. Mary played most skillfully. (='most skillfully of all who played'; or, 'in a most skillful manner', without comparison.)

267. Numeral adverbs. The numeral adverbs are of two classes, ordinal and multiplicative; the word times used in adverb phrases is adverbial (for the use of first, secondly, etc., see § 275):

ORDINAL

first (not 'firstly ')
secondly (not 'second')
thirdly (not 'third')
tenthly (not 'tenth')

MULTIPLICATIVE

once, singly

twice, doubly, twofold threefold, triply, three times tenfold, ten times

268. Adverb clause. An adverb clause is introduced by a subordinating conjunction, such as after, although, as, because, before, if, since, than, that, though, till, unless, until, when, where, while, why (§ 304); $303.

269. Classification. Adverb clauses are of the following kinds :

1. Time, denoting when: He reads when others sleep. 2. Place, denoting where: You may sit where you wish. 3. Cause, denoting why: The girl ran because the boy ran. 4. Purpose, denoting intention: He works that we may eat. 5. Result, denoting consequence: I was so tired that I soon fell asleep.

6. Condition, denoting on what terms: We will go skating if it freezes tonight.

7. Concession, denoting an admission: He would try hard though (= even if) he should fail.

8. Comparison, denoting similarity or dissimilarity:

Manner: We do as they do.

Degree: You are taller than I am.
You are as tall as I am.

Go as soon as you can.

NOTE. In the last two sentences the first as is an adverb meaning to that extent (modifying the adjective tall and the adverb soon); the second as is a subordinating conjunction meaning to which extent.

270. Essential and nonessential clause. The adverb clause, like the adjective clause, is essential or nonessential, and is punctuated accordingly (§§ 50, 92, 472):

1. I want you when you are free. (Essential.)

2. I want you next week, when you will be free. (Nonessential.) 3. Go yonder, where you see the tent. (Nonessential.)

271. Position. An adverb is made emphatic by being placed at the beginning or the end of the sentence (§ 370); otherwise it may stand between the subject and the verb, or separate a verb phrase (but not to and the infinitive; § 221): 1. Yesterday I was reprimanded severely.

2. The dog now saw his opportunity.

3. He is always being praised.

4. They had hardly begun their long voyage.

Whether the adverb or the verb shall stand at the end of the sentence is a matter of meaning or of emphasis:

1. This must be gradually rewritten. (That is, this must be rewritten, and it may be done gradually.)

This must be rewritten gradually. (That is, the rewriting of this must be done gradually.)

2. These obstacles must immediately be overcome.

These obstacles must be overcome immediately.

3. In that part of the western division of this kingdom which is commonly called Somersetshire, there lately lived, and perhaps lives still, a gentleman.

- FIELDING.