Adverbs
Lesson Objectives.
Define an adverb.
Identify adverbs in sentences correctly.
Use adverbs of manner, time and frequency in sentences correctly.
Adverbs
Adverbs are words used to describe verbs (actions), adjectives or other adverbs. These words explain
how, when and how often an action in a sentence occurs. The following sentences illustrate this idea.
1. Esther sang the song nicely.
2. Kubo is washing his shirt now.
3. The choir practices everyday.
The adverbs nicely, now and everyday give us more information about the verbs or actions mentioned in the sentences above.
The underlined words in the sentences are adverbs. These are words that explain how, when and how
often the actions in the sentences occur.
For example:
How often does Atieno go to school? Everyday
When is Kamau going to dig his farm? Now
How is Katana pushing the cart? Slowly
There are different kinds of adverbs, in this lesson however, we shall deal with adverbs of frequency (how often), time (when), and manner (how).
Information on nouns and pronouns would be useful in this lesson. Look at the following photograph and name all the nouns.
Some of the nouns in the photograph are:
tree
nests
house
car
sky
If you want to describe the nouns in the photograph, you may talk of a permanent house, a blue sky or a tall tree. The words permanent, blue and tall are referred to as adjectives. These are words used to
describe or tell us more about a noun or pronoun.
The highlighted words are more examples of adjectives:
1. Rosemary owns a beautiful house at Gachie
2.Mature coconut
3.Coastal trees
4. Palm trees
Gradable and non-gradable adjectives
A gradable adjective is an adjective which can have -er and -est added to it or be used with “more” and
“most” when making comparisons.
Examples
The tea is hotter than the porridge.
Pine trees are more beautiful than wattle trees.
Hot and beautiful are gradable adjectives
On the other hand, non-gradable adjectives are absolute and therefore not comparable.
Examples
An atomic bomb was used to destroy the city of Hiroshima.
Njeri is an American citizen.
Atomic and a American are non-gradable adjectives
Identify adjectives in a sentence correctly.
Give examples of gradable and non gradable adjectives.
Differentiate between gradable and non gradable adjectives.
Use adjectives in sentences correctly