A Brief Description Of Adverbs In English

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A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ADVERBS IN ENGLISH

A PAPER

BY:

MAHADI MAULANA NASUTION

REG. NO. : 072202004

DIPLOMA III ENGLISH STUDY PROGRAM

FACULTY OF LETTERS

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH SUMATERA

MEDAN

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Approved by

Supervisor,

Drs. Muhizar Muchtar M.S.

NIP.

Submited to

Faculty of Letters University of North Sumatera

In partial fulfilment of the requirement for

DIPLOMA (D III)

in English

Approved by

Head of English Study Program,

Dra. Syahyar Hanum, D.P.F.E

NIP. 195109071979022001

Approved by the

Diploma III of English Study Program

Faculty of Letters, University of North Sumatera

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Accepted by the Board of Examiners in partial fulfilment of the requirements for

the D-III Examination of the Diploma III of English Study Program,

Faculty of

Letters, University of North Sumatera.

The Examination is held on the:

Faculty of Letters, University of North Sumatera

Dean,

Prof. Drs. Syafuddin, M.A, Ph.D

NIP: 19650909 199403 1004

Board of Examiners and Readers:

Examiner

:

Drs. Muhizar Muchtar M.S

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AUTHOR’S DECLARATION

I am MAHADI MAULANA NASUTION; declare that I am the soul author of

this paper. Except where references is made in the text of this paper contains no

material published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part from a paper by

which I have qualified for or awarded another degree.

No other person’s work has been used without due acknowledgement in the main

text of the paper. This paper has not been submitted for the award of another

degree in any tertiary education.

Signed :

Date :

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COPYRIGHT DECLARATION

Name

: MAHADI MAULANA NASUTION

Title of Paper

: A Brief Description of Adverbs in English

Qualification

: D-III/Ahli Madya

Study Program

: English

I am willing that my paper should be available for reproduction at the

discretion of the Librarian of the Diploma III English Study Program Faculty of

Letters USU on the understanding that users are made aware of their obligation

under law of the Republic of Indonesia.

Signed :

Date :

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ABSTRAK

Kertas karya yang berjudul

“ A Brief Descripton of Adverb in English”

ini

mendeskripsikan tentang pembentukan

adverb

, letak (posisi)

adverb

, pembagian

adverb

, serta cara pemakaiannya di dalam bahasa Inggris. Pembahasan dalam

kertas karya ini berpedoman pada beberapa buku tentang tata bahasa Inggris

khususnya

adverb

sebagai referensi atau rujukan yang dapat mendukung gagasan

atau pendapat penulis tentang topik ini. Di dalam kertas karya ini dapat ditemukan

bahwa ada tiga klasifikasi

adverb

yaitu:

Simple Adverbs, Interrogative Adverbs

,

dan

Relative Adverbs.

Dan ada empat letak atau posisi

adverb

di dalam tata

bahasa Inggris.

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ACKNOWLEDMENTS

Bismillahirrahmaanirrahim

First of all, I would like to thank Allah SWT, the Most Gracious and Most

merciful who has blessed me with health and capabality to finish this paper as my

last assignment at English Diploma Program, University of North Sumatera.

Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to those who

have given contribution to accomplish this paper.

Prof. Syaifuddin, M.A, Ph.D

,

as the Dean Faculty of Letters,

Dra

.

Syahyar Hanum, DPFE

as the Head of

English Diploma III Departement,

Drs. Muhizar Muchtar, M.S.

as my

supervisor who has given me much support, advice, and correction in

accomplishing this paper,

Drs.Umar Mono M.Hum.

as my reader who has given

me suggestions and comments on the improvement of this papaer, and all of my

lecturers for warm support and valuable knowledge during the years of my study.

My special thanks are due to my beloved parents,

Ramlan Nasution

and

Aida

, my brothers

Hambali Ramadhan Nasution, Muhammad Fauzi

Nasution

, my sister

Rabithah Nasution

who have patiently give me moral,

financial, support, love, and also prayer in completing this paper.

Finnaly, I would like to thank to all my friends in English Diploma such as

Fahmi alfadli, Muhammad Rois, Muhamad Fadli Hasibuan, Amirul Mukminin,

Ikhwanuddin Ritonga, Masythah Batubara, and Masdalifah Hanum. And also to

all the students in class A and B 2007 thanks for support, attention and loyalty.

And a great thanks to my wonderful girl Nurul Izmah, for always being there for

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me to encourage, and support me everytime, especially in writing this paper. You

are the best that I ever had. I never forgotten your kindness cause I believe that

friendship is more valuable than everything in the world.

However, it is not easy to finish this paper though I have done my best. I

hope this paper is useful for those who study grammar especially adverb.

Medan, 2010

The writer

,

Mahadi Maulana Nasution

Reg. No. : 072202004

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

AUTHOR’S DECLARATION ... COPYRIGHT DECLARATION ...

ABSTRACT ... i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ... iv

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Background of the Study ...

1

1.2 The Scope of the Study ...

2

1.3 The Objective of the Study ...

2

1.4 The Significance of Study ………

3

1.5 The Method of the Study ...

3

2. DEFINITION AND TYPE PART OF SPEECH

2.1 Definition of Part of Speech ...

4

2.2 Type of Part of Speech ...

6

3. CALSSIFICATION OF ADVERBS IN ENGLISH

3.1 Definition of Adverbs ...

9

3.2 Simple Adverbs ...

9

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3.4 Relative Adverbs ...

14

3.5 Degrees of Comparison in adverbs ...

15

3.6 Forming Adverbs ...

17

3.7 Position of Adverbs ...

19

4. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

4.1 Conclusions ...

24

4.2 Suggestions ...

25

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ABSTRAK

Kertas karya yang berjudul

“ A Brief Descripton of Adverb in English”

ini

mendeskripsikan tentang pembentukan

adverb

, letak (posisi)

adverb

, pembagian

adverb

, serta cara pemakaiannya di dalam bahasa Inggris. Pembahasan dalam

kertas karya ini berpedoman pada beberapa buku tentang tata bahasa Inggris

khususnya

adverb

sebagai referensi atau rujukan yang dapat mendukung gagasan

atau pendapat penulis tentang topik ini. Di dalam kertas karya ini dapat ditemukan

bahwa ada tiga klasifikasi

adverb

yaitu:

Simple Adverbs, Interrogative Adverbs

,

dan

Relative Adverbs.

Dan ada empat letak atau posisi

adverb

di dalam tata

bahasa Inggris.

(12)

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Background of Study

Language is very important for human being. It is used as tool of communication and interaction by members of society one to another, such as getting and giving information, expressing their ideas and doing other activities. Learning a language means how to communicate in that language to convey information to some one, message to somebody else from either speaker or writer to listeners or readers. So, if some one wants to study a language, he may not be passive he ought be active because the most important in learning language is able to communicate with another people.

English an international language because many countries use English as their second language and English is very important to be known. Nowadays, USA has become the center of civilization. They have succeeded to dominate politic, economy, culture, and entertainment in the world. ( Crystal, 1997:71 )

Nowadays English has to be the most necessary language to be mastered. It is reasonsble because the world communication and business are trough media of English, and in education, book, and article are available in English and sometimes we get the difficulties to understand the meaning of the article that we read. In English, we know Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives, Verbs, Adverbs, Prepositions, Conjunctions, Interjections, Articles. Many of people or students feels very hard to makes it in sentences. For example: the use of an adverb in English: He wants to explain about a place, but the word which is used to show the place does not agree with the rules of a structure in English. So, based on this situation the writer is interested to choose this topic because he wants to explain about parts of speech especially adverbs.

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1.2 The Scope of Study

In this paper the writer try to limit the dicussion of the problem as specific as possible on the title, the scope of writing in this paper is about adverbs. As we know commonly, parts of speech consists of: Nouns, Pronouns, Adverbs, Verbs, Prepositions, Conjunctions, Interjections, Articles.But this paper will only discuss about adverbs. 1.3 The Objective of Study

In writing this paper there are some objectives that should be achieved as follow they are:

1. To describe what the part of speech especially adverbs is about 2. To describe the kinds of adverb

1.4 The Significance of Study

To make the writing of this paper useful for the others, some significance could be drawn as follow:

1. To make the readers know more details about parts of speech, especially adverbs. 2. To enlarge the readers konowledge in adverb.

3. To be used as a liturature for further study.

1.5 The Method of Study

In completing this paper, the writer had conducted library research by reading the books which have related to the main topic discussed. The writer also get other books and data or information from internet that were concerned with the topic to support the description.

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2. DEFINITION AND TYPE OF PART OF SPEECH

2.1 Definiton of Part of Speech

Part of speech, in traditional English major classes of words, based on the parts of speech of ancient Greek and Latin. The parts of speech are numerals. These word classes have traditional definitions in grammar books, i.e., "a noun is the name of a person, place, or thing" without reference t o grammatical function. By this strict definition the word toy would be a noun in the sentence "The toy is under the tree" and in the sentence "It is a toy dog." However, an alternate method of defining parts of speech is in terms of the structural features and distribution patterns within a sentence. Thus toy would constitute a different part of speech in each of the above sentences since the word functions in different environments in each sentence, i.e., as a subject and as a modifier. Some English parts of speech (nouns, verbs, etc.) are productive classes allowing new members; others, with functional rather than lexical meaning (prepositions, articles, conjunctions) are nonproductive, having a limited number of members.

Any of the classes of words of a given language to which a word can be assigned: different kinds of grammar have different criteria for classifying words, as form, function or meaning, or combinations of these: in traditional English grammar, patterned after Latin grammar, the parts of speech are noun, verb, adjective, adverb, pronoun, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. (Biber, 2002:156).

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2.2 Type of Part of Speech

1.Verbs

A verb is a word which implies action or the doing of something, or it may be defined as a word which affirms, commands or asks a question. The simple form of the verb without inflection is called the root of the verb.

For examples:” love is the root of the verb “To Love”.

2.Nouns

Nouns are things we can touch,see, feel, hear or taste. For examples: football, birds, ice-cream, baby, brooch, etc.

3.Adjectives

Adjectives are descriptive words. An adjective is a word which qualifies a noun, that is, shows or points out some distinguishing mark or feature of the noun.

For examples:

A black dog An angry man A round theatre

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4.Adverbs

An adverb is a word that adds information to a verb, an adjective or an adverb. The commonest way to form an adverb is to add the letters 'ly' to the adjective.

For examples: brightly, very, quickly, beautifully, quietly, very soon, etc.

5.Conjunctions

A conjunction joins words, clauses and sentences; as "John and James." "My father and mother have come, but I have not seen them.". A conjunction is used to link words, phrases, and clauses. Conjunctions are so called because they are generally placed before the words whose connection or relation with other words they point out. Examples of common English Conjunctions: and, also; either, or; neither, nor; but, however.

6.Interjections

An interjection is a word used to express some sudden emotion of the mind. Examples: "Ah! there he comes" and "Alas! what shall I do?". The word 'ah' expresses surprise, and the word 'alas' expresses distress. Nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs become interjections when they are uttered as exclamations. Examples of interjections: nonsense! strange! hail! away! etc.

7.Pronoun

A pronoun is a word that takes the place of anoun. She, Herself, It, And, this are examples of pronouns there are three kinds of pronouns- Personal, Relative and Adjective pronouns.

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8.Preposition

A preposition connects words, clauses, and sentences together and shows the relation between them. "My hand is on the table" shows relation between hand and table.Prepositions are so called because they are generally placed before the words whose connection or relation with other words they point out.Examples of common English Prepositions: above, after, behind, during, from, toward and until.

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3. CLASSIFICATIONS OF ADVERBS IN ENGLISH

3.1 Definition of Adverbs

Adverbs are descriptive words that add to the meaning of a verb, an adjective, another adverb or a preposition.

For examples:

move silently silently describes the verb move

remarkably cool remarkably describes the adjective cool very slowly very describes the adverb slowly

half-way cross half-way describes the preposition across

Here I will explain classifications of adverbs in English one by one. 3.2 Simple Adverbs

Thomson and Martinet (1986:24) states that simple adverbs, adverbs can be devided in six parts namely Adverbs of time, Adverbs of place, adverbs of number, Adverbs of manner, quality, or state, Adverbs of quantity, extent, or degree, Adverbs of affirming or denying.

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3.2.1 Adverbs of Time

Adverbs of time is an adverb is used to show the time. Adverbs of time consists of: now, then, since, before, ago, already, soon, immediately, instantly, presently, late, lately, early, afterwards, to-day, yesterday, tomorrow, etc.

For examples:

• I did this before

• I went to Bali yesterday

• You must work it as soon as possible • You must go to the mosque now • I have never been seen him before

3.2.2 Adverbs of Number

Adverbs of number is an adverb is used to state the number. Adverbs of number consists of: once, twice, thrice, again, firstly, secondly, thirdly, always, never, often, seldom, sometimes, etc.

For examples:

• She never comes to campus • I did it twice

• I have ever been in Bali thrice • Sometimes, She likes look a bat man • I always miss you

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3.2.3 Adverbs of Place

Adverbs of place is an adverb is used to show the place. Adverbs of place consists of: here, there, thence, above, below, in, out, inside, outside, hither, within, without, far, near, etc.

For examples:

• You may sit here

• The shop is far from here • My mother is out

• I put money in my pocket

3.2.4 Adverbs of Manner, Quality, or State

Adverbs of manner, quality, or state is an adverb is used to state the manner, quality, or state. Adverbs of manner, quality, or state consists of: well, ill, badly, amiss, fluently, probably, thus, so, etc.

For examples:

• She did her work quickly • He did his work slowly • She speaks arabic fluently • I finished my assignment well

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3.2.5 Adverbs of Quantity, Extent, or Degree

Adverbs of quantity, extent, or degree is an adverb is used to state the quantity, extent, or degree. Adverbs of quantity, extent, or degree consists of: very, too, quite, much, almost, little, rather, so, half, partly, wholly, completely, entirely, totally, etc.

For examples:

• He is almost a heavy eater • You are quite right

3.2.6 Adverbs of Affirming or Denying

Adverbs of affiming or denying is an adverb is used to state the affirming or denying. Adverbs of affirming or denying consists of: yea, nay, yes, no, not, by all means, not at all, etc.

For examples:

• Yes, you are quite right • He did not go after all

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3.3 Interrogative Adverbs

Interrogative adverbs is adverbs is used to asking a question. 3.3.1 Time

For example:

• When did you come?

• How long will you stay here? 3.3.2 Place

For example:

• Where do you live? • Where are you going? • Whence have they come? • Whither are you going?

3.3.3 Number

For example:

• How often do you eat?

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3.3.4 Manner, Quality, or State

For example:

• How did you do that? • How are you to-day?

3.3.5 Quantity or Degree

For example:

• How far was that news true?

• How long time you need to finished it?

3.3.6 Cause or Reason

For example:

• Why did he leave? • Wherefore did she cry?

3.4 Relative Adverbs

These adverb has the same form with interrogative adverb but it as replacement for asking a question. So that, relative adverbs is a double part of speech. Relative adverbs can be devided in two parts namely, Antecedent based on word and Antecedent based on meaning.

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3.4.1 Antecedent Based on Word

For example:

• This is the house where we live

• Let me know the time when you will leave

3.4.2 Antecedent Based on Meaning.

For example:

• The more (wealth) we have, the more we desire • The sooner you come, the better for me

3.5 Degrees of Comparison in Adverb

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Table 1. Comparative – “er” and superlative – “est”

Positive Comparative Superlative

Late Later Latest

Long Longer Longest

Loud Louder Loudest

Near Nearer Nearest

Soon Sooner Soonest

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Table 2. An irreguler adverbs

Positive Comparative Superlative

Well Better Best

Ill Worse Worst

Badly Worse Worst

Forth Further Furthest

Far Farther Farthest

Much More Most

3.6 Forming Adverbs

a) Many of adverb has the same form with adjective. For examples:

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Table 3. Forming adverbs

Adjective Adverb

Early Early

Long Long

Loud Loud

Hard Hard

Late Late

Only Only

Fast Fast

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b) Many adverb are modified by addition “ly” at the end of adjective. For examples:

Table 4. Forming Adverbs

Adjective Adverb

Happy Happily

Wise Wisely

Tender Tenderly

Clever Cleverly

Free Freely

Legal Legally

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3.7 Position of Adverbs

3.7.1 Adverb Positions

Adverbs should come, if possible, next to the word or words they describe. 1. Adverbs which answer the question how are usually placed before or after the

verb or after the object. The adverb is never placed between a verb and its object.

He worked carefully correct He carefully injected the patient correct He examined the patient carefully correct He examined carefully the patient incorrect

2. Adverbs which tell how often are placed between the subject and the verb for the simple present tense:

“We always lock the gate”

If the verb has two or more words, the adverb is put after the first word of the verb:

“We have never been robbed”

If the verb is am/is/are/was/were, the adverb is put after the verb: “The shops are seldom open”

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3. Adverbs which tell when or where usually come after the verb or after the object if there is one:

“They arrived early” “Put the flower there”

4. Adverbs describing adjectives or other adverbs are placed before them: “This is a very interesting book”

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Common mistakes

Incorrect

We never have been to Paris. It is so hot, I cannot drink it. It is very hot that I feel faint. It is so hot to play outdoors.

Always you come late.

Correct

We have never been to Paris. It is very hot , I cannot drink it.

It is so hot that I feel faint. It is too hot to play outdoors.

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3.7.2 Exceptions of the rule

Sometimes the positions of adverbs do not follow the general rule. The adverb enough always occurs after the adverb or adjective it modifies:

“This house is big enough for five people” “She sang well enough to win”

Adverbs which tell us how can be placed before the subject for the dramatic effect:

Silently, the elephant approached their impending death. Patiently, they waited for an answer.

In formal English, for special emphasis, we can place “how often” adverbs never, seldom, or rarely, at the beginning of a sentence. If we do this, we must use a question form verb, just as we do after not only.

Never have I left more sick!

Never would he give up his freedom! Seldom is there an opportunity to get rich.

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The word only is placed immediately before the word or phrase it stresses: I only wanted a drink.

I wanted only a drink. Only I wanted a drink.

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4. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

4.1 Conclusions

From the explanation above, the writer makes the conclusion as follow:

1. There are eight parts of speech, They are: 1) Nouns, 2) Pronouns, 3) Verbs, 4) Adverbs, 5) Interjections, 6) Adjectives, 7) Conjunctions, and 8) Prepositions. 2. There are three classifications of adverb, They are: 1) Simple Adverbs, 2)

Interrogatives Adverbs, and 3) Relative Adverbs.

3. There are four positons of adverb, They are: 1) Adverbs which answer the question how are usually placed before or after the verb or after the object. The adverb is never placed between a verb and its object, 2) Adverbs which tell how often are placed between the subject and the verb for the simple present tense, 3) Adverbs which tell when or where usually come after the verb or after the object if there is one, and 4) Adverbs describing adjectivesor other adverbs are placed before them.

4.2 Suggestions

Language is used as the means of communication. Communication needs relationship. To accomplish this relationship we needs a communication that is understood in all of the country, the famous one is using English as an international language. Though English, especially adverbs have been taught since in primary school until in a university, there are certain mistakes even advanced students make again and again. Based on this conclusion some suggestions are given to increase students achievment in solving adverbs:

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1. The students should do more exercise about advebs.

2. The lecturer and the teacher, especially who teaches English Grammar, should be able to explain about the form and positions of adverb.

3. The students or the readers do more further research to get more explanation and information about part of speech especially adverbs.

4. The witer hopes the other students will write other aspects of grammar on their paper.

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REFERENCES

Azar, Scharampher Bety. 1992.

Fundamental of English Grammar.

New

Jersey:Prentice Hall.

Gauadart, Hyacint.1996.

Towards better English Grammar.

Selangor: Fajar Bakti

Greenbaun, Sidney.1997.

A Students Grammar

.Surabaya:Indah.

Hartanto, S. Jhon,

Accurate, Brief, and Clear English Grammar

. Jakarta: PT.

Pustaka Rakyat.

http://www.Englishtheeasyway.com On April 23, 2010.

http://www.Englishclub.com On April 23, 2010

http://www.aboutgrammar.com On May 6, 2010

Schaums, Arnold and Geofreyy K. Zwick 2004.

English Grammar

.

Jakarta:Erlangga

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Common mistakes

Incorrect

We never have been to Paris.

It is so hot, I cannot drink it.

It is very hot that I feel faint.

It is so hot to play outdoors.

Always you come late.

Correct

We have never been to Paris.

It is very hot , I cannot drink it.

It is so hot that I feel faint.

It is too hot to play outdoors.

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3.7.2 Exceptions of the rule

Sometimes the positions of adverbs do not follow the general rule. The adverb enough always occurs after the adverb or adjective it modifies:

“This house is big enough for five people”

“She sang well enough to win”

Adverbs which tell us how can be placed before the subject for the dramatic effect:

Silently, the elephant approached their impending death.

Patiently, they waited for an answer.

Never have I left more sick!

Never would he give up his freedom!

Seldom is there an opportunity to get rich.

Rarely do we find people who are willing to die to help others.

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The word only is placed immediately before the word or phrase it stresses:

I only wanted a drink.

I wanted only a drink.

Only I wanted a drink.

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4. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

4.1 Conclusions

From the explanation above, the writer makes the conclusion as follow:

Interrogatives Adverbs, and 3) Relative Adverbs.

4.2 Suggestions

22

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1. The students should do more exercise about advebs.

2. The lecturer and the teacher, especially who teaches English Grammar, should be able to explain about the form and positions of adverb.

3. The students or the readers do more further research to get more explanation and information about part of speech especially adverbs.

4. The witer hopes the other students will write other aspects of grammar on their paper.