Adverbs

Welcome to today's lesson, as we continue in our chapter about adjectives and adverbs:  We begin the section on adverbs.  As with all examples and exercises in all of our ESL Help! Desk units, the sentences you see below are contributed by other ESL students in college-level ESL classes.

Before you begin the activities, you may want to study the podcast and grammar lesson, He's Always Talking about Grammar, also in our Library. (This lesson is is open to members only but membership is free!)

What Is an Adverbial Connector?

As noted earlier, an adverb can modify a whole sentence.

An adverb can modify:  
a whole sentence I wanted to say goodbye to them.  Unfortunately, I didn't have time to do that.
  Paradoxically, many people who are eligible to vote don't vote.

Such adverbs, that establish a logical relationship between one sentence and the preceding ones, are called adverbial connectors.

1st independent clause 2nd independent clause
After my older brother graduated from high school, he came to New York. He didn't like it and he returned to Honduras.
 
After my older brother graduated from high school, he came to New York. He didn't like it, however, and he returned to Honduras.

Common Adverbial Connectors

Each adverbial connector expresses a particular logical relationship between two sentences or clauses.

Indicating:
ADDING NEW INFORMATION in addition, moreover, furthermore, besides, also
  that is, in other words, for instance
  likewise, similarly
CONTRARY TO EXPECTATIONS however, nevertheless, despite this, in contraxt
  in fact, actually, however, on the other hand,
at the same time
  instead, rather, on the contrary
  anyhow, at any rate
CAUSAL AND LOGICAL INFERENCES therefore, consequently, for this reason, thus, then
  in that case, otherwise
SEQUENTIAL then, next, first, second, last, finally, up to now,
to sum up
This chart is based on Halliday and Hasan (1976:242-3), with modifications.

Position of the Adverbial Connector

All adverbial connectors may be placed at the beginning of a sentence.  Many may also be placed in three different positions within a sentence. A more thorough and detailed discussion of adverbial connectors and their placement within a sentence would be appropriate in another lesson.

The adverbial connector "however" is an example of an adverbial connector that can be positioned in three different places within a sentence:

The beginning:

  • After my older brother graduated from high school, he came to New York.  However, he didn't like it, and he returned to Honduras.

The middle:

  • After my older brother graduated from high school, he came to New York.  He, however, he didn't like it, and he returned to Honduras.

The end:

  • After my older brother graduated from high school, he came to New York.  He didn't like it, however, and he returned to Honduras.

  • My father, who was living in America at the time, would come to visit us every year, and I would always ask him if it was true that if a person wanted to stay in America he had to speak English.  However, I never believed his answer or agreed with the advice he would give me.

  • These laws are so strict that they sometimes frighten us, the citizens.  However, due to the tough laws, we have little crime, and the citizens are mindful of the penalties that are attached to crimes.

  • Many of these sculptures are abstract and expressive. Others are realistic. For example, one sculpture is of a girl who is sitting in an easy chair and reading a book.

  • All of them want to learn English. However, in the beginning, they only speak their native language.

  • The ability to speak freely is one right that I believe we should have.  However, I have seen where this has been blown out of proportion.

  • The next day, to make me feel better, they bought me a new outfit.   I, however, told them that I wouldn't accept their gift because I only accepted gifts from my parents when I did well in something.

  • Sometimes there are times when a person cannot win; however, at these times, the person may still be a winner for having tried his best.

Test your Grammar Knowledge

 How well do you recognize an adverb? Try the exercise below.

Circle the adverb for each group.

1.  We enjoy living our lives differently.  He enjoys making money and I enjoy exploring new things and places.

2.  They were unable to raise their children properly.

3.  Men can raise children just as well as women can.

4.  This work is painted masterfully.

5.  Juan's right hand was painted so briskly that we can sense its touch.

Click here to check your answers.

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