__ Adverbs~-~~-----28

slow, slowly
I'm a slow reader.

I read slowly.

Kirsty's a good singer.

Kirsty sings well.

Sam's a fast runner.

Sam runs fast.

We use adjectives to describe people or things: I'm a slow reader.

We use adverbs to describe how someone or something does something:

I read slowly.

To make an adverb, we usually add -ly at the end of an adjective. Be careful

of spelling changes: slow -7 slowly
angry -7 angrily

This adverb is irregular: good -7 well

These words can be both adjectives and adverbs. They do not change:
fast -7 fast
hard -7 hard

~~

See Appendix J: Spelling rules for adverbs, page 169.

Lh.

Adverbs of manner usually come:

after the verb: Kirsty sings well.
after the verb and object: He learns everything quickly.

PRACTICE
28a Complete the sentences. Use adverbs.
o They're all smiling ..... ~~P.P.!!Y....... (happy)
1

Hurry up! Don't walk so ....................... (slow)

He always explains things ....................... (clear)

3 The children are playing ...................... in the pool. (noisy)

4 Ben makes friends ....................... (easy)

5 Don't eat so ....................... (quick)

6 You speak German ....................... (perfect)

7

Helen always talks ....................... (loud)

8 Please listen ....................... (careful)

9 Rob sometimes laughs ...................... . (nervous)
10 Harry's looking at Clare ....................... (angry)

~- 42

Grammar: adverbs ~

28b Re-write the sentences. Use adverbs.

28c

He's a beautiful singer.

.t!.~.~!l!/l.~.~~l!.Lf.~~(~~~Y:............................ .

She's a bad player.

.. ............................................................

He's a dangerous driver.

They're hard workers.

I'm a fast learner.

You're a good writer.

She's a wonderful dancer.

Circle the correct answer.

A: Hi, Sophie. Where are you?
B: I'm in the car with Aisha . We're going to town, but the traffic's very bad.
We're moving very (o) slow~- Where are you?
A: I'm in town with Rachel. It's very (1) busy /busily. We're in a (2) brilliant I

brilliantly shop, and I'm looking at some (3) beautiful I beautifully

earrings.
B: Why are you (4) sudden I suddenly talking (s) quiet I quietly?
A: Because I want to buy them for Rachel. It's her birthday on Tuesday.
B: Your presents are always (6) nice /nicely. You choose them very

(7) careful I carefully.

A: Thanks! What time will you be here, do you think?
B: Um ... at about three, I think.
A: OK. See you soon. Drive (8) safe /safely.

29

more slowly, the most slowly

Emma eats more slowly than me. Of all the people in our family, Emma eats the most
slowly.
Tom works harder than Rob. Of all the students in my class, Tom works the hardest.

To form the comparative and superlative of adverbs:

- We add more or the most before adverbs ending in -ly:
slowly -7 more slowly -7 the most slowly
- We add -er (than) or the -est to one-syllable adverbs:
hard -7 harder -7 the hardest

The comparative and superlative forms of these adverbs are different:

well-? better -7 the best
badly -7 worse -7 the worst

43 --

 Grammar: adverbs

r- - - 44

PRACTICE
29a Complete the sentences. Use the comparative or superlative.
o You can remember people ...............~.~.~~~~.~~~!!............... I can. (well)
Kim, Kate and Jo all sing well, but Kate sings ....... ........ ................................ .

(beautifully)
2

Stuart explains things .... ..... .................................... .. Nick. (clearly)

Of all drivers, young people drive ................................................ (dangerously)

4 My friends and I don't eat well, but Vicky eats ........................... .................... of
all of us. (badly)

5 Emma works ...... ........................ ................. Nikki. (hard)

6 James can run ...... ....... .. ................................ his brother. (fast)

29b Nicole and her friends are going on a camping trip. They need a leader for their
group. Look at the table and complete the sentences. Use the comparative or
superlative. Who would be the best leader?
Nicole

Jamie

Anna

Robert

Philip

reads maps easily

cooks well

decides things calmly

listens to people carefully

thinks fast

o Nicole reads maps ............'!!.~.~~.~.~~!?Y..~~~':'. ........... Jamie and Anna .

1

Philip reads maps ................................................. .

Robert reads maps ............ ..................................... Jamie and Anna.

3 Jamie cooks ...... ........................................... Philip and Nicole.

4 Anna cooks ... .... ..... ....... ... ..... ...................... .

5 Robert thinks ............................. ......... .. ......... Nicole, Jamie and Anna.

6 Philip thinks ......... ..... .... ... ..... .... ................... .

7 Robert listens to people .................... ............................. Jamie, Anna and Philip.
8

Nicole listens to people ... .... ..... ...... ...... ......................... .

9 Nicole decides things ................................................. Jamie, Anna and Philip.

10 Robert decides things .. .................................. ............. .

........................... would be the best leader.