Adverbs and Prepositions
Adverb
• An adverb is a word that modifies a verb,
an adjective, or another verb.
• Just as an adjective makes the meaning of a
noun or a pronoun more definite, an adverb
makes the meaning of a verb, an adjective or
another adverb more definite.
• Examples
– Reporters quickly gather the news.
– The route is too long.
– Our newspaper carrier delivers the paper very early.
Adverbs answer the following
questions
Where?
Please put the package there.
When?
I will call you later.
How?
Softly, I shut my door.
How often or how long?
Alanna always reads science fiction novels.
To what extent or how much?
The lemonade was too sour.
Common Adverbs
•
•
•
•
Where? here, there, away, up, outside
When?
now, then, later, soon, ago
How?
clearly, easily, quietly, slowly
How often or how long?
never, always, often, seldom, usually, forever
• To what extent or how much?
very, hardly, almost, really, most, nearly, less
• Adverbs may come before, after, or
between the words they modify.
Quietly, she will tiptoe from the stage.
She will quietly tiptoe from the stage.
She will tiptoe quietly from the stage.
Practice
• Williamsburg is a very interesting place.
• Visitors to Williamsburg can truly imagine
what life must have been like in the 1700s.
• Williamsburg was carefully built to
resemble a small town of the past.
• On one street a wigmaker slowly makes
old-fashioned powder wigs.
• Nearby, a silversmith designs beautiful
candlesticks, platters, and jewelry.
• Down the block, the bookbinder skillfully
crafts book covers out of leather.
• Nowadays, many curious tourists visit the
bootmaker’s shop.
• Another very popular craftsmen makes
lovely musical instruments.
• Williamsburg definitely gives tourists the
feeling that they have visited the past.
• His neighbor, the blacksmith, is certainly
important because he makes shoes for
horses.
• In colonial times people could seldom
afford new shoes for themselves.
• I ______________ watch TV after school.
• You will _________ bait a hook yourself.
• My little sister crept down the stairs
_____________.
• Do you think that you can ___________
find the answer to the math problem?
• She is ____________ eager for lunch.
• In the evening, the African drums beat
_____________.
• People in the highest balcony could
___________ hear the speakers onstage.
• Does thunder _____________ follow
lightning?
• Would you dim the light ____________
for me?
• The sky over Honolulu was ____________
clear that I could see for miles.
Tues., Feb. 7
• HW: Workbook Page 8, Exercises A & B
Preposition
• A preposition is a word that shows the
relationship between a noun or a pronoun
and another word in the sentence.
-Your math book is underneath your coat,
Allen.
-The one behind us honked his horn.
• Notice how changing the preposition in the
following sentences changes the relationship
between hit and net.
•
•
•
•
•
I hit the ball over the net.
I hit the ball into the net.
I hit the ball under the net.
I hit the ball against the net.
I hit the ball across the net.
• Some prepositions are made up of more
than one word. These are called
compound prepositions.
•
•
•
•
according to
next to
in place of
because of
in addition to
aside from
on account of
in spite of out of
• A preposition always has at least on noun or
pronoun as an object. This noun or pronoun is
called the object of the preposition. The
preposition, its object, and any modifiers of the
object make up a prepositional phrase.
Generally, the object of the preposition follows
the preposition.
•
•
The pile of dry leaves had grown much
larger.
He poured sauce over the pizza.
• A preposition may have more than one
object.
•
•
The flea collar is for cats and dogs.
My big sister had to decide between
the University of Wisconsin and Carroll
College.
Practice
• Yesterday afternoon, we planted a sapling
behind the garage.
• I bought a pattern for a skirt.
• They live near the airport.
• For his birthday, my brother wants a guitar.
• The pictures won’t be developed until
Friday or Monday.
• I received a letter from my aunt and uncle.
• The largest of all falcons is the arctic
falcon.
• What are the answers to the third and
fourth questions?
• There are many uses for peanuts.
• I think that you might need a graphing
calculator for that problem.
• Our rowboat rests ___________ Mournful
Beach.
• Follow the path ___________ the treasure.
• Notice that Skull Rock lies ___________ the cliff
• A sandy path leads ___________ the stone
ruins.
• Did you jump ___________ the fallen tree along
the cliff?
Wed., Feb. 8
• HW: Page 9, Exercise A; Page 10,
Exercise A
Preposition or Adverb
• Some words may be used as both
prepositions and adverbs. Remember that
a preposition always has at least one noun
or pronoun as an object. An adverb never
does. If you can’t tell whether a word is
used as an adverb or a preposition, look
for an object.
• Preposition
– Clouds gathered above us.
• Adverb
– Clouds gather above.
• Preposition
– Meet me outside the gym tomorrow morning.
• Adverb
– Meet me outside tomorrow morning.
• Before it rains, bring your bike in.
• Had you ever seen an authentic Chinese New
Year Parade before?
• Bright red and green lights sparkled down the
street.
• Smoke from the campfire quickly disappeared in
the heavy fog.
• Andy turned the log over and found, fat,
squirming worms.
• A submarine surfaced next to an aircraft
carrier.
• Will we read a poem by Nikki Giovanni
next?
• Turn that stereo down right now!
• Millicent, did you remember to send a
thank-you note to Mr. Bernstein?
• What kind of dog is that?
Thurs., Feb. 9
• HW: Page 9, Exercise B; Page 10,
Exercise B