Many people think English adverbs are either too easy since you “only add -ly at the end of the word.” Some others think it’s too difficult since they often can’t find the right words. But one thing is for sure, adverb is a crucial part of a sentence, as it works to define the situation.
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Why English Adverbs Matters
Adverbs have numerous functions, from superlative to mentioning time and habit. As a primary way to describe something, adverbs can help you to have better and more efficient communication.
In a sentence, adverbs modify the adjective, verb, or noun.
For example, when you say”
“Laura sings beautifully.”
The adverb “beautifully” modifies the verb by explaining that Laura sings well.
Another example is
“I will join you shortly.”
In this example, the adverb “shortly” explains to the other person that the speaker will join them not long after.
Just like how adding the suffix -ly to the word “beautiful” changes its meaning into “doing something very well.” The suffix –ly after “short” changes the adjective “short” to explain a specific timeframe.
The rules for creating adverbs are also easier than working with verbs and tenses. Most of the time, you only have to add the suffix -ly at the end of the word, like beautiful to beautifully in the previous example. With only several words can’t use the suffix, it can be a bit complicated.
5 Easy Methods to Learn English Adverbs
Being part of the grammar set, learning adverbs may seem like an arduous task. However, there are ways to learn English adverbs that are so fun you don’t even realize you’re studying.
Feel free to incorporate one or two of the methods below to learn adverbs. Remember that when you’re having a lot of fun, you will retain the knowledge longer. Anyhow, here are five methods to help you learn adverbs quickly.
1.Sentence-Making games
One of the best ways to learn adverbs is by creating several sentence-making games. You can start by gathering a group of three to five people in a group, have a prompt to start the sentence, and have everyone in the group work in turns.
They need to write a full sentence with at least one adverb, from the prompt. This game can have various stages of difficulties. But since there’s an endless possibilities for the prompt, it’s easy to improve the sentences created.
As you learn more adverbs and their usage, you can implement new rules, adding and removing one as you go to challenge yourself.
2.Practicing in Pairs
This learning method is similar to the previous game, set a prompt and have them create a complete sentence. The difference is, you’re limiting the participant numbers to only two, alternating among each other.
You can have them speak out the words or write them down, depending on the difficulty and situation. This game also has various difficulty levels that you can choose from. Anyhow, start with the difficulty you’re more comfortable with. Don’t forget that it’s just a game that you can start over.
Another way to practice in pairs is by playing the adverb vs adjective game. You and your partner will have a list of words and must determine which ones are adverbs and which are adjectives. You also can turn it into a small competition between you two to add fun. Just like the previous game, you can choose to write or speak it out.
3.Random Acts
Is there any better way to learn than experiencing a direct example? This learning method is highly effective for beginners. They can start learning in a group to understand the different types of adverbs.
Another way to learn is by having pictionary-like games. Have one person play out the adverb and have the others correctly guess the word. This can be a class game or in small groups.
However, acting as an adjective means you may only have a limited amount of words to work with. The only way to solve this issue is by mixing the games up as you progress in vocabulary.
4.Writing Exercises
Writing is one of the most effective methods to learn adverbs. You can find exercise sheets where you have to create the adverbs, place the adverbs, or do any other activities that suit your skill level.
As a beginner, you can start by creating adverbs using simple and popular adjectives. For example, beautiful – beautifully, short – shortly, and so on. As you progress, you can take up more difficult words and explore other adverb uses.
Another way to have these exercises is by using a paragraph with several words removed. Your task is to fill in the blanks with the right words. You can use passages from famous works as your initial worksheet.
5.Scavenger Hunt
Yes, you also can learn adverbs from playing a scavenger hunt. There are two ways to play this game, individually or in a group. What you need is a prompt for you to find as many adverbs as possible.
Using a media like a movie clip or a picture can improve how fun it can be. You also can use short prompts and write complete sentences. With an active imagination, you even can write longer sentences or paragraphs with such short prompts.
Of course, you can always modify parts of the game rules to challenge yourself. For example, limit yourself to only use adverbs that don’t have the suffix –ly, or write down the adverb description instead of the actual word.
The only way to improve English is by learning as much as you can. There is no age or time limit for you to continue learning. Even professors are still learning and taking in new information to expand their knowledge.
Anyhow, you should take learning English adverbs as something more than an exercise for your vocabulary. Remember, the purpose of a language is to get your point across. Efficient communication means using the right words to describe the situation. And you may share the love of learning language with your friends by showing them how fun it can be.
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