Larisa Lubimova – English Grammar with Kudjo. Part 4 Понятная и забавная грамматика для детей и взрослых (страница 14)

These are adverbs like definitely, certainly, clearly, obviously, probably, maybe, and perhaps.

Maybe and perhaps usually go in the front-position: Perhaps, Kudjo is still in the laboratory.

Other adverbs of certainty usually go in the mid-position – before the verb, except in the case of the verb «to be,» when they are placed afterwards. The dogs should definitely get there to check it.

EXERCISE 4

Put each adverb in the right position in the sentence. Occasionally, more than one correct answer is possible:

1 Luna didn’t want to follow the lynx, but she couldn’t imagine Kit being without her. (frankly, anywhere, in the tunnel)

2 the dogs must have made a mistake when they got so (obviously, into the tunnel, carelessly)

3 Everybody had been silent while crawling until they heard Kit mew. (totally, aloud, way ahead)

4 They were certain that Kit had met somebody. (absolutely, definitely, on his way)

5 Chilly barked to warn this somebody against doing any harm to the kitten. (immediately, rather, aggressively)

6 Luna and Cuba roared to support Chilly. (at the same moment, really, threateningly)

7 the lynx didn’t make any sound and turned to silence Chilly. (surprisingly, moreover, short)

8 the dogs got to the final point of their tiresome tunnel journey. (at last, nearly, rather)

9 had the dogs taken the last turn when they found themselves in a big room. (hardly, finally, quite)

10 There was Kit trying to open a metal door, which looked as if it had been used. (hard, hardly, for ages)

COMPARISONS

The Comparative and Superlative forms of adverbs are formed in the same way as those of adjectives:

adverbs having the same forms as their adjectives add -er/-est: fast – faster – fastest

early drops -y and adds -ier/-iest: earlier – earliest

two syllable or compound adverbs (adjectives + -ly) take more/most adjectives + -ly: patiently – more patiently – most patiently

Irregular forms are:

well – better – best

badly – worse – worst

many, much, a lot – more – most

little – less – least

far – further – furthest

With superlative adverbs, we can use the or zero article if we compare one person or thing with other people or things.

Kit ran (the) fastest.

However, sometimes we compare a person or thing in one situation with the same person or thing in a different situation. In this case, when the superlative adjective or adverb is later in the sentence, we usually don’t use the: Chilly runs fastest in emergencies.

Note that it is impossible to have comparatives or superlatives of certain adverbs, especially those of time (e.g. daily, yesterday, then), place (e.g. there, up, down), and degree (e.g. very, just, too).

EXERCISE 5

Put the adverb in the correct form and guess who it is: Kudjo, Chilly, Cuba, Luna, Kit or the lynx

1 This animal has read by far /many/ books.

2 This animal moves /gracefully/ of all the friends.

3 This animal gets into trouble /often/.

4 This animal acts /bravely/ when Kudjo is nowhere nearby.

5 This animal takes care of Kit /affectionately/ of all the dogs.

6 This animal speaks /little/ of all the friends.

7 This animal behaves /oddly/.

8 This animal takes decisions by far /resourcefully/ of all the dogs.

9 This animal thinks /quickly/ when there is no Kudjo nearby.

10 This animal behaves by far /courageously/.

EXERCISE 6

Put the adverb in brackets in comparative or superlative degree and explain what the proverbs mean:

1 Action speaks (loud) than words.

2 If you buy (cheaply), you pay (dearly).

3 If you want to go (quickly), go alone. If you want to go (far), go together.

4 (little) said, (soon) mended.

5 The (hard) you work, the luckier you get.

6 He laughs (well) who laughs (late).

7 Honey catches (many) flies than vinegar.

8 The (much) things change, the (much) they stay the same.

9 Absence makes the heart grow (fond).

10 If you cannot live (long), live (deep).

TOO AND ENOUGH

The word too implies excess – more of a certain quality than necessary. Too comes before an adjective or an adverb in a sentence: too + adjective/adverb + to infinitive

The dogs thought they’d arrived too late to help Kudjo.

The word enough means sufficient. Enough comes after an adjective or adverb but before a noun.

adjective/adverb + enough} + to-infinitive

enough + noun

This place was big enough to let the dogs get together.

There was enough room for everyone.

EXERCISE 7

Choose the correct adjective/adverb for each sentence and add too or enough either before or after the word to complete the sentence: strong, brave, exhausted, long, spacious, hard, shocked, agitated, sophisticated, strong and sharp

1 The place where the friends found themselves was ***** to get together and discuss further steps.