4. The Adverb, and How Adverbs Are Used. English Grammar Lesson

[dave93d]

I'm the 200th person who liked this video..!!

[danyMarkos]

this sentences doesn't make sense

[jumskie82]

you are good! but i have question. is "beautiful" in the sentence, "she really looks beautiful." an adverb? i need your response urgently.. tnx

[mrthoth]

@jumskie82 "Beautiful" is an adjective there, and its role in the sentence is subjective complement. (Unfortunately, the "how" question that usually reveals that a word is an adverb could mislead you into thinking that a subjective complement is an adverb. But a subjective complement can NEVER be an adverb.) See my video on subjective complements for a more thorough explanation.

[sahilmalhotra01]

May be the video is bad....viewing the video after the 4-5 on adverbs it repeats the same....

[samskhanuk]

"she drives really fast". is the word "fast" not an adjective. i am confused. can we say that the word "really" modifies the adjective and/or adverb "fast"

[mrthoth]

@samskhanuk "Fast" in "She drives really fast" is an adverb. It answers a "how" question: How does she drive? Fast, that's how. When "fast" is an adjective, it doesn't answer "how" questions. In "I drive a fast car," "fast" answers the question "What kind of car?" "Really" answers the question "How fast?" "Really fast, that's how fast." Adverbs answer "how", "when", "where", and "why" questions.

[thisisacunt]

very stright forward i like it

[Hamiltoncameron]

Great lessons, however, you are confusing me. In the sentence "it is barely running," I thought the verb would be "is."

[supermactrainer]

Thanks the practice books we get are terrible  they give one or two examples that make no sense to me

[mrthoth]

Phrases like "last month", "next year", "two Tuesdays ago", etc. are indeed adverbial. So your book does omit these highly idiomatic, but very common, phrases

[scubes10]

I can't find anything on the Internet that backs up my common sense understanding that "last month" can function as an adverb if used in place of "yesterday" in your example sentence. Yes, it seems that "last" modifies "month," but "last month" seems to clearly modify the verb, and "month" certainly doesn't do that on its own. The adverb phrase section of my grammar textbook shows only prepositional phrases functioning as adverbs. Am I overlooking something or is this an omission of the book?

[makinawdandy6699]

You say adverbs answer the question "Where?" Can you give an example?

Thanks.

[mrthoth]

@makinawdandy6699 "Home" is an adverb in "I'm going home."

[mmss1957]

when you pronounce adjective you sound like additive.does it should sound like that.

[shayanhawk]

He is well. ( Yossarian can you make it clear whether the word WELL is an adverb or an adjective )..... pls waiting.

[mrthoth]

@shayanhawk

[mrthoth]

@shayanhawk In this case "well" means "healthy", and is an adjective. It's a subjective complement (I have a video on that). In "He runs well," "well" is an adverb. It modifies the verb "runs," and tells us how he does his running. (Well, that's how.) But "well" in "he is well" doesn't tell us how he does his being--indeed, the question doesn't even make much sense!

[shayanhawk]

@mrthoth thanx : this is actually the question which I 'v happened to teach in my Chartered Accountant (Functional English) class. Been asked every term. You are good teacher, ready in such case. Now the subjective complement is also called COMPLETION OF THE PREDICATE, PREDICATIVE ADJECTIVE. I would love to be in touch with you. pls do reply.

[kamigua]

Thanks a lot by your help :), I understood all.

[yuriamancio]

Hi mrthoth,

would you mind to write me an example of adverbs answering the questions why and where?

Thanks

[mrthoth]

@yuriamancio "Home" (when it isn't a noun) is an adverb answering the question "where". "I went home." Mostly, however, "where" and "why" and "when" questions are answered by phrases that function adverbially. "I work to make money." The infinitive phrase "to make money" functions adverbially and answers the question "Why do you work?" My videos on infinitive phrases, subordinate clauses, and prepositional phrases have more examples.

[castillo183]

How can i improve my grammar when it's come to writing? I having trouble passing the writing ACT

[ajbaldoria]

thank  you

[yuriamancio]

thanks very much....you are the guy

[yuriamancio]

HI mrthoth,

in this video you said that thirsty is an adjective... I would like to know which question did you ask to find out why thirsty is an adjective?? I thought it was an adverb asking the following question: How is he?? He is thirsty. Thanks

[mrthoth]

@yuriamancio Your good question shows that one can get misleading answers if one asks the quesiton in an inappropriate way. Here is how "how" questions work. Consider the sentence "She runs fast." The question is "How does she RUN?" "Fast." Note that the question is about the verb, run. In your question, you ask how HE is.

[mrthoth]

@yuriamancio The answer will tell you something about the noun (or pronoun), and not about a verb. Words that tell us about verbs, or that modify verbs, are adverbs. Words that modify nouns, however, are adjectives.

[dcentral]

Can adverbs be used before the verb, or that could become misplaced modifiers? example, "She really drives fast" or " Lisa really wasn't expecting the prize"?

[mrthoth]

@dcentral Adverbs can come before verbs, but sometimes that alters the meaning. For example, "She really drives fast" asserts that she drives fast, but does not assert that she drives very fast. "She drives really fast" asserts that she drives very fast, not merely fast.

[cfex]

mrthot it makes really sense thnks now because of this im improved so much,

[ja13800]

goods

[SarahSnusk]

Makes much more sense now!  Why haven't my teachers ever explained it like that...

[TheLarssan]

Thanks. :)

[nnjeri]

Thank you, your lessons a simply put.

[daganadan]

thnk very much

[coolman090909]

this is kinda good

[MrRejikuruvilla]

he is very thirsty- how is thirsty an adjective as an adjective modifies a noun and there is no other word-noun

[mrthoth]

"Thirsty" is an adjective. It is also what is called a subjective complement; it complements "he" in your sentence. You can take a look at my video on subjective complements for more information.

[DowningClan4TV]

good job thanks!!!

[watchzeitgeist]

thanks for this mr thoth!

[ORAKAR]

Thank you. There now exist better understanding in the mind of myself about adverbs and the adjectives

[Chick6517]

Wow, are you serious? That's really cooll haha I'm pretty sure this is one of my favorites now! haha Thanks for making the video

[LadyAsh5869]

Haha, I was listening to the "A Bit Of Fry and Laurie" Playlist, and all of a sudden, I hear "...is the adverb."

I was like "WHAT?!"

[laraweasil]

anyone using the phrase "I was like" anything, would do well to pay attention to a grammar lesson... he he!

[PuSsY3SoSsY]

thanks you sir... I learn a little english grammar in a easiest way.. thanks a lot.

[jhey05wjhey]

nice teaching now I really understand what or how to use adverb

[mah927]

Thank you and God bless you for taking the time to do this.

[etoandmessi]

These videos are great, short and simple.

[kaleno87]

I LIKE THIS TEACHER, GOD BLESS YOU

[zx1200rgreen]

This guy is so good.

[filmsimon]

hey guys,

Could you tell me why thirsty is an adjective? I would have though it was a verb

thanks

[tomski3]

Because you could describe yourself as thirsty or something or someone else as thirsty. "I am thirsty", "James is thirsty", "It is thirsty", etc.

[emerset]

a verb says what the subject does. "I eat" "James drives" "We explode"

An adjective describes a noun "blue car" "funny rabbit" "thirsty horse" "messy forest" "tall tower"

You cannot say "I thirsty" nor "he thirstys" it is not a verb.

I recommend the first video in this series for you.

[joshlefty25]

do it to it lars?

go peyser

[Tideofcrimson]

Mrthoth, you have no idea how much your videos help me in language class. KEEP THEM COMING!

[dragonsososo]

awesome , i liked it a lot.

[stillfaithinu]

merci pour ces petits cours utiles!!!!

[DoubleEandD]

Hi!

I am from Brazil and I love English Language.

I want to watch all your classes!

Thanks for posting!!!

One way: Jesus

[addy7318]

I am currently teaching adverbs for the first time to deaf students. I used this video in class to help explain the concept. Thank you for posting!!

[egullnation]

You dont know how thankful I am for your posts. I was planning to go back to junior college to take a composition course, then I found you. I have my bachlors but never really grasped the grammer stuff. It was hard work and lots of proof reading to get through college. You have no Idea how helpful this is to the masses, or maybe you do.

[revengeofbutthead]

thx god job, it really helpful

[bulll333]

thanks a lot^^

you are great teacher mr thoth,and now i understood

good job

[CookieJuran]

I agrea with mscharme,,,

[HolyBeastSelket]

Awesome video! Very clearly explained!

[grmpf]

Is it correct that adverbs are a type of adverbials? (Is "really fast" in the last sentence an adverbial?)

What kind of "simple" rule can be used to find adverbials in sentences?

[mscharme]

Great use of YouTube! Educators should all be posting their specialties!!!

MsCharme

The Preschool Teacher

[kereru]

these videos are strangely hypnotic.

[expatted]

Yes. Off to watch another one.  (It's like a who-dunnit.)

[johnnysamoa]

holy sh.. back to school again lol.well done

[zoobiewa]

It's important to realize that the question that is left out is WHAT, and for good reason. Otherwise the question could and would be directed at the subject - so WHAT happened yesterday? It rained. I guess it's important to realize that it's not just any question word that helps you localize the adverb, but the four that were discussed.

[deseosa658]

Estuvo interesante y nos ayuda a comprender mejor el ingles

[teampisces]

knowledgeeeeeeeeeee

[UmbaFlicks]

Yay! Learning! Whooo!

[fenderbender321]

its 4th grade all over again...

[srooklyn]

lol

[MutationIvori]

I'm guilty of not knowing that things like yesterday, today, and monday could be adverbs. Also, have a compliment for explaining really clearly!

[tyme89]

there are ppl that dont kno this stuff?

[lexserr]

yeah..... is that a true question?

[FactChecca]

I love you! Thank you so much for this public service.

[pirateducky]

and therfor, yesterday it rained. and so "he" isnt thirsty anymore. and she drives very fast instead of running because she can barely run.

[5id3wind3r]

shut up. i have too much of this in school.

[suz7777LV]

YAWN

[JavaVoodoo]

Wow, I never knew "yesterday" was an adverb, I would have thought it was a noun, like Monday and Tuesday. Learned something today. Thanks!

[mrthoth]

Thanks for your comment. Sometimes "yesterday" is a noun, as it is in this sentence: "Yesterday was the first day of April." Note that in that sentence "yesterday" is the subject of "was," and is therefore a noun. But in the sentence "Yesterday I went shopping," "yesterday" is an adverb and "I" is the subject.

[swimmerfella]

Yossarian lives!

[Sev352]

I love you.

[2163036]

stupid

[kongfanfu]

i think yesterday modifies the whole sentence

[xoxVANoxo]

yay, learning!

[gnihsivar]

It's always great to have definitions / explanations.

[volkgal]

I feel REALLY smart.

(There, I have added an adverb to modify my verb)

[adamvonwillis]

thank you!

[DrapedInBlack999]

I'm not ur buddy, friend!

[ProlefeedTV]

This will all be on the test.

[amazemagic]

Adverbs can also modify sentences.

[mphahlani]

I've been teaching Accounting for the past seven years and last year I've been requested to offer English. Your videos help me gather information in few minutes rather than surveying text materials which are a bit time consuming. Thank you very much for posting these videos, may you please keep up the good work. You are very great teacher..

[Blueskybry]

I think this is great. I came away from school full of mental blockages placed there by twisted sadists that had no place being near children. Your lesson sunk in straight away. Thanks for taking the time to put out these lessons, you are a very good teacher. I apologise for any grammatical errors in my post please blame the twisted sadists!(-:

[Taurus702B]

He teaches better than any of the teachers I have had at school.

[evolution699]

good to see ppl teaching english in youtube

:)

[Simbullet]

its fucking school all over again

[bloodyscream10]

lol

[bloodyscream10]

what are u a youtube teacher?

[legendy2j]

well your dumb american teachers are not helping your avg sat scores are like 1400s

[BGSoccerMagic]

Thank you!!!

[kevininidaho]

COOL, MAN

I LOVE THIS STUFF!

When I was a kid probably my most favorite book to read was the dictionary. A big one. One that had word etymologies in it. I've got etymology

Ya know, I hate to say it, but like, our English language our, like, primary means for interreacting ideologically is with, like, words, yaknow? And so many of us are, like, not using those words, like, correctly, right?

So we should just, like, TOTALLY watch these videos you guys. Don't diss dis man!

[SHRINA17]

--it's on youtube for people who like to learn...thank God there are still people who like to learn important things such as language...80pirt, you may just benefit from sticking around on this post.

[Steevo199]

These videos are really useful. At school we barely learnt anything about how the English language actually works. Instead we jumped straight into post-modernist BS about deconstructing opposing discourses. Most foreign students seem to have a better understanding of the language even if they can't speak it as well.

[80pirt]

y the hell is this on youtube?

[lauweroos]

why not?

at least it's useful :-)

[deany49]

YOU SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BeechSundowner]

Good video!

[stitso1]

You're such a great teacher wish i were one of your students. I learned ALOT just by watching this video. Amazing.

[chompygoat]

nice

[nacilep18]

Good review. Thanks

[Bluedragon9151]

As someone who speaks fluent english, I actually found this as a great review for something I left behind several years ago. This is great for me, since I am studying jappanese and must remember what theese terms mean and what theese terms are.

thank you

[humanimalite]

This is VERY good :)

[MansoorY]

Thank you so much Teacher Mrthoth. I downloaded all your videos sir. I deeply appreciate your help and lessons

[MansoorY]

You're such a great teacher wish i were one of your students. Appreciate all your works. Are there any lessons about (relative clause)?

[mrthoth]

Thank you very much for your comment. My video on "subordinate clauses" (number 14) deals in part with relative clauses, although I do not use that term in the video. A relative clause is a subordinate clause that functions as if it were an adjective. In other words, a relative clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun.

[13969866563]

Very good resources. Thanks so much.