Unit 7 Humour
GRAMMAR
Adverbs
Adverbs
should come as near as possible to the verbs they qualify. This is because the
meaning of a sentence can change with the change in the position of the adverb.
Rule
1
When
the verb is intransitive (verbs that do not have objects), place the
adverb immediately after it.
He
walked slowly.
She
smiled beautifully.
Rule
2
When
the verb is transitive with an object following, place the adverb
immediately after the object.
She
endured the pain bravely.
He
offered his help willingly.
Rule
3
Adverbs
of Time and Frequency normally come before the verb. Examples are: always,
before, often, never, seldom etc.
They
seldom visit us.
She
never admitted her fault.
Rule
4
Note
that when the verb consists of an auxiliary, the adverb goes after it.
They
have never invited us to their parties.
He
was greatly praised for his novel idea.
Rule
5
An
adverb which modifies an adjective or another adverb comes before it.
She
is very beautiful. (Here the adverb very modifies the adjective
beautiful.)
The
girl sang so sweetly. (Here the adverb so modifies the adverb sweetly.)
Rule
6
The
words only, merely, even, not and never are usually placed before the
words they modify.
I
merely wanted to know his name.
She
was not clever enough to see through his scheme.
He
never keeps his word.
Adverbs of time :
never, just, always, recently, yet, soon, sometimes, usually, so far
Adverbs of manner :
neatly, slowly, quickly, sadly, calmly, politely, loudly, kindly, lazily
Adverbs of degree :
almost, quite, nearly, too, enough, just, hardly, simply, so
Adverbs of place :
here, there, nowhere, everywhere, out, in, above, below, inside, outside,
Adverbs of frequency :
never, always, rarely, sometimes, normally, seldom, usually, again
A. Study the following sentences from the text. The words in bold
are called 'frequency adverbs'.
a.
Belly laughs never come through the nose.
b.
There is always a meaning to it.
c.
She found that the less authentic tones are often more nasal.
d.
Scott occasionally takes up the microphone herself at comedy
nights in London.
e.
She tells me about an acquaintance who had frequently irritated
her with a persistent, fluting, laugh.
B. Put the frequency adverbs in appropriate place and rewrite the
following sentences.
a.
I forget to do my homework. (sometimes)
I
sometimes forget to do my homework.
b.
My father has touched an alcoholic drink in his life. (never)
My
father has never touched an alcoholic drink in his life.
c.
My father goes for a walk on Saturdays. (often)
My
father often goes for a walk on Saturdays.
d.
We go to the movie theatre. (occasionally)
We
occasionally go to the movie theatre.
e.
My brother is in America. He telephones us. (from time to time)
My
brother is in America. He telephones us from time to time.
f.
My mother gets up at five o’clock. (always)
My
mother always gets up at five o’clock.
g.
He does not like alcoholic drinks but takes some wine. (now and then)
He
does not like alcoholic drinks but takes some wine now and then.
h.
I drink my tea with milk. (generally)
I
generally drink my tea with milk.
i.
Have you been to Agra? (ever)
Have
you ever been to Agra?
j.
The restaurant hours vary as it is booked for special events.
(frequently)
The
restaurant hours frequently vary as it is booked for special events.
Extra Questions
Rewrite the following sentences placing the words in the right
position (change into adverb where necessary).
1)
Could you switch the light? (off)
2)
Did they find the missing information?
(ever)
3)
Do you visit Boston? (often)
4)
Do you wonder what will happen next?
(sometimes)
5)
Fees are charged in this school………….
(annual)
6)
He attends his classes. (regularly)
7)
He did not arrive on time. (ever)
8)
He drank the coffee …………….. from the
cup. (noise)
9)
He finished. (late, often)
10)
He got dressed. (in a hurry)
11)
He got dressed. (quickly)
12)
He has not finished. (yet)
13)
He is …………….. dressed. (nice)
14)
He is a painter. (good )
15)
He is a writer. (bad )
16)
He is wrong. (however, seldom)
17)
He laughed. (merrily)
18)
He ran ……………… to catch the bus. (fast)
19)
He will come. (later)
20)
He works ……………. Well. (remarkable)
21)
I am at home in the mornings.
(generally)
22)
I am coming. (tomorrow)
23)
I am entirely satisfied with my
situation. (seldom)
24)
I am waiting for my daughter.
(here)
25)
I am late for my class. (often)
26)
I am sleepy and tired. (quite)
27)
I am sure that he is telling a lie.
(absolutely)
28)
I had wanted to see the ocean. (always)
29)
I have finished painting the house.
(almost)
30)
I have seen a more beautiful ballet than
that one. (never)
31)
I have understood her. (never)
32)
I have worked as hard as I could. (never
before)
33)
I have finished all the work.
(nearly)
34)
I know Beena. (quite)
35)
I shall go. (now)
36)
I want to analyze the book. (carefully,
sometime)
37)
I went to the market. (in
the morning)
38)
I visit my grandparents. (often)
39)
It is cold today. (too)
40)
It is hot today. (extremely )
41)
It will rain this evening. (probably)
42)
Jane is a guitar player.
(nice )
43)
Maple wood is used to make violins.
(sometimes)
44)
My girlfriend forgot my birthday.
(completely)
45)
My mother slipped out of the room
………………… (quiet)
46)
My neighbor is a speaker.
(loud )
47)
My neighbour shouted ……………… at his
servant. (angry)
48)
One can find a more striking example of
erosion than the Grand Canyon. (nowhere)
49)
One comprehends a complex situation
immediately. (rarely)
50)
Please wait. (patiently)
51)
She answers. (correctly, rarely)
52)
She did well in the test. (fairly)
53)
She drives the car very ………….. (careful)
54)
She goes to work a day. (twice)
55)
She has done everything – she has been a
soldier. (even)
56)
She has hurt any animal. (never)
57)
She is a girl. (quiet )
58)
She is standing. (outside)
59)
She is very friendly. (usually)
60)
She realized her mistake. (at once)
61)
She shouted at him. (furiously)
62)
She will come. (soon)
63)
She wins first prize. (always, furthermore)
64)
The birds twittered. (this morning,
outside the window, loudly)
65)
The boys and girls waited. (for the
parade to pass by, impatiently)
66)
The children do not follow our
instructions. (always)
67)
The children whispered. (on Christmas
Eve, excitedly, in front of the tree)
68)
The choir sang. (last week, beautifully,
at the competition)
69)
The dog sat in the shade of the
tree. (lazily)
70)
The facts are not known. (generally)
71)
The man grumbled while cleaning the
table. (loudly)
72)
The moon shone. (over the water, long after
the sun had set, brilliantly)
73)
The nightingale sang ………………….. (sweet)
74)
The scientist ……………….found a solution.
(clever)
75)
The sleepy children walked …………… into
the classroom. (slow)
76)
The soldiers fought the enemy ……………
(brave)
77)
The technician fixed the problem.
(easily)
78)
The vendor spoke very ……………. (angry)
79)
The weather was pleasant last week.
(fairly)
80)
These movies are great to watch.
(absolutely)
81)
They ……………. Have breakfast at seven.
(usual)
82)
They do. (frequently)
83)
They follow the news. (rarely)
84)
They guessed what was about to happen.
(little)
85)
They have the opportunity to travel.
(seldom)
86)
They left. (quietly, this morning)
87)
They serve hot pan cakes. (there)
88)
They visited me. (last week )
89)
They will be. (next month, on business,
in France)
90)
They won the game ……………. After halftime.
(easy)
91)
They worked. (quickly, today)
92)
We are invited to parties at the
weekends. (often)
93)
We arrive. (early, sometimes)
94)
We ate. (at the restaurant, well,
yesterday evening)
95)
We completed the task. (easily)
96)
We do not stay out after dark. (usually)
97)
We found the hotel. (easily,
nevertheless)
98)
We go to our native place in summer.
(usually)
99)
We had entered the room when the
telephone rang. (scarcely)
100)
We hung the picture. (on the wall,
carefully)
.jpg)
