An adverb is a word that modifies an adjective, adverb, preposition, phrase, or sentence, expressing some relation of place, time, circumstance, causality, manner, or degree.
4
votes
4answers
383 views
“Overseas” vs. “abroad”
I'm a native speaker of Inland Northern American English. My intuition tells me that the word "abroad" is unremarkable, especially in collocations like "study abroad".
However, I've been ...
1
vote
1answer
592 views
“You should have also named” vs. “you should also have named”
Out of the two sentences, which one is correct?
You should have also named it the Daily prophet.
You should also have named it the Daily prophet.
My guess is it's the first one.
4
votes
5answers
602 views
“Hardly” vs. “barely”
I'm from Germany and in German both translate to the same word (kaum). I'd like to know the difference between these two words, hardly and barely.
2
votes
2answers
114 views
Single word for “working without details” [closed]
I'm looking for one word that expresses lack of information, lack of knowledge and lack of guidance. The word is an adverb.
It could be used in a sentence like so:
He was working on a project ...
5
votes
3answers
274 views
is “purposely” an actual word? [closed]
I grew up in Malaysia and Singapore, and it's taken me a long time to dissect my vocabulary into "local slang, incomprehensible/incorrect elsewhere" and "proper English".
'Purposely' is one of those ...
-2
votes
3answers
382 views
More grammatically correct: “anything but” or “anything except”?
Could you tell me which of these phrases is grammatically correct — "anything but" or "anything except"?
If the use depends on context, what are the instances when each must be preferred?
0
votes
1answer
130 views
“Partially correct” vs. “partial correct” [closed]
It's partially correct.
It's partial correct.
Which of the following is grammatical?
0
votes
0answers
35 views
Meaning of “ still” in context [closed]
I have been trying to translate the following:
Some saw just the face, others just the body, still others heard the
speech run through a filter that made the words unintelligible but
left the ...
-1
votes
5answers
216 views
“Not once he would” vs. “not once would he”
Not being a native speaker and suffering semantic satiation from overthinking this, I'd like to ask this probably overly simple question.
Not once would he...
uses reversal for negation and ...
2
votes
2answers
144 views
Plastic or rubber stretched too much is (hardly/strongly) stretched?
If you want to describe a stretched plastic cable, would you say that it was hardly stretched or strongly stretched?
8
votes
5answers
559 views
Is it poor style to use adverbs ending in “ly” in formal writing?
I came across this infographic which contains the following claim:
Some grammarians consider "ly" ending adverbs as bad style in formal writing.
Are there any serious style advice sources that ...
1
vote
2answers
190 views
Using “yet” and “still”
When someone says,
The changes have to be updated.
someone may reply,
Those changes need to be made but the plan to make those changes does not yet exist. (as sometimes found)
Is it ...
0
votes
2answers
210 views
Word order with “just” and “only” meaning “merely”
Marking a German student's test I have encountered the following problem:
The relationship between the two adolescents is one-sided. Just the boy really feels something, the girl hates him.
Can ...
0
votes
2answers
343 views
Adverb word order: “nicely shows” vs “shows nicely”
I have the following sentence in my dissertation:
The even-tempered STO basis for Mg shows nicely why the virial theorem cannot be trusted as an error indicator.
However, previously I had there:
...
1
vote
1answer
99 views
meaning and usage of “in order the more” [closed]
I have just come across a phrase I have never seen before:
I do not so in order to undermine the status of xy but, on the contrary, in order the more securely to identify certain aspects.
A ...
3
votes
3answers
227 views
Is “five-yearly” an acceptable usage of an adverb of manner in British English?
Today's BBC News web page has this headline:
New era of five-yearly doctor checks starts
There's a word that means "five-yearly": quinquennial. It's probably too long for headline writers and ...
6
votes
1answer
273 views
Adverb vs. direct object [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What exactly is an “adverb”?
Consider the following sentences:
She went home.
He swam yesterday.
Are the words "home" and "yesterday" adverbs or direct ...
-3
votes
2answers
196 views
Exact definition of “vehemently” [closed]
My work mates and I are arguing about this term since none of us can comprehend its exact definition. Can I use the expression "I have been struggling vehemently to get this email sent since last ...
-2
votes
2answers
710 views
Starting a sentence with “apparently” [closed]
Can one start a sentence with the word apparently?
For example:
Apparently he did not pay him back.
I know that one should not start a sentence with because, but
what are some words that one ...
3
votes
2answers
185 views
Position of “now”
What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences?
This feature is now disabled.
This feature is disabled now.
2
votes
4answers
444 views
The use of “about” on “discuss” and “think”
Why is it grammatically incorrect to say
We would like to discuss about the matters at hands first.
But it is alright to say
I will think about what you have said this morning.
What ...
2
votes
2answers
174 views
Etymology of 'just' as an adverb and its French connection
Just (adj.):
late 14c., "righteous in the eyes of God; upright, equitable, impartial; justifiable, reasonable," from O.Fr. juste "just, righteous; sincere" (12c.), from L. iustus "upright, ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
“Glaringly obvious” vs. “blaringly obvious”
I've heard both phrases in everyday speech, so there's little doubt in my mind that the answer is both. I suspect, though, that one of these phrases is more the original than the other, and the other ...
-1
votes
2answers
177 views
Using “henceforth” to refer to future events, but from a “past perspective”
The title isn't great, sorry, I couldn't really come up with anything better :D Here's a bit of context:
I'm working on my thesis and am currently writing down the historical evolution of a certain ...
4
votes
3answers
262 views
Placement of the word “later” in a sentence
Why is it correct to say "it later came to pass" instead of "it came to pass later"?
What is the rule for this placement?
0
votes
1answer
67 views
“Every” being used instead of “ever”?
Occasionally I'll see a comment on the internet along the lines of
I don't think I have every heard of such a thing.
Maybe not exactly that, but something equivalent where I would think that ...
4
votes
2answers
376 views
Compound adjectives functioning as adverbs modifying other adjectives; is it possible and grammatical?
Soul-crushingly bad; heartbreakingly sad; bone-crunchingly violent; etc. I swear I have seen it done, but I am not sure whether it's proper grammar or not. Thanks!
4
votes
3answers
81 views
“Really” modification problems
I can read a French newspaper with the aid of a dictionary, but I cannot speak the language or understand it when spoken. So I do not really know French.
Some people say that really modifies know; ...
1
vote
4answers
185 views
Does adverb placement affect meaning?
He swam slowly to the island.
He slowly swam to the island.
Some experts say that there is a “slight difference” in meaning.
Would you please tell me that difference?
3
votes
8answers
546 views
What is the opposite of using something judiciously?
I want to tell a colleague to use a particular file wherever possible. Basically the opposite of using it judiciously. I ended up saying "use the file at will" — but it got me wondering if there ...
1
vote
2answers
72 views
“Far enough removed” vs. “far removed enough” vs. “removed far enough”
Which of the following word orders is grammatical?
Games based on real life are sometimes not far enough removed.
Games based on real life are sometimes not far removed enough.
Games based ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
Adverbs position in English: “place–manner–time” or “manner–place–time”?
Wikipedia tells us that the order should be place–manner–time. However, this webpage tells that it should be manner–Place–Time. Which one is correct?
I have one sentence in two different orders:
...
3
votes
3answers
335 views
Alternative phrase to “highly paid job”
James: I make 10000 USD a month.
Alice: Wow, you have a highly paid job.
Is the phrase “highly paid job” correct?
I think yes, but also wish to ask the native speakers here.
I assume that ...
2
votes
3answers
264 views
Is this usage of “inside” correct?
This text is taken from a children's reader. It's about some children who find a doll house that is an exact reproduction of their home.
Biff opened the little house. Everyone looked inside. "It ...
0
votes
2answers
398 views
-er rather than -lier as an adverbial comparative form
In modern German, one can make tief into the comparative tiefer, regardless of whether the word is used as adjective or adverb. In English, I now have a sentence in which I want to do the same thing ...
5
votes
3answers
204 views
What's the adjective for “by distance”?
If I had to describe a state that occurred only for a certain amount of time, I'd simply use the adjective "temporary" to describe the state (or the adverb "temporarily" to describe the verb). What ...
-1
votes
4answers
994 views
Put the words in the correct order to make question [closed]
I am not a native speaker.
I am doing the exercise "Put the words in the correct order to make question" from my workbook.
I have this set of words:
your / best / see / did / friend / when / ...
-3
votes
2answers
361 views
Subject-auxiliary inversions not associated with questions [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Inversion in “only [adverb] have they”
Is there some rule governing the following, or similar, subject-auxiliary inversions (*"Rarely they do see the light of day", ...
8
votes
3answers
347 views
Does the word “apparently” imply that I personally do or don't believe the statement following it?
When I say "Apparently, xyz", does that imply one of the following, and if so, which one?
From observation, I believe xyz to be true, but I leave open the possibility that I might be wrong.
I ...
2
votes
1answer
463 views
Adverb position in perfect tenses [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are there any rules on the positioning adverbs should take in a sentence?
My question concerns the adverb position in perfect tenses. For example look at these ...
0
votes
1answer
76 views
Reword “increasingly too late”
How should I fix a sentence which says "As X disappears, it is increasingly too late to do Y with X"? The sentence seems awkward to me, but "too late" is an adjective, so is the sentence ...
2
votes
2answers
109 views
Avoiding “time-controlledly” as an adverb
I'm currently translating a web site for scheduling software from German to English. So there are many things that this program can do "time-controlledly" (if I translate literally). But this sounds ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
“Hence” and “hence why”
My question is, is the use of the word "hence", used in it's most common sense as an alternative to "therefore", strictly acceptable in English usage in the following example:
I like bananas, ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
The Royal Order of Adverbs
I know that the pattern manner-place-time shouldn't be taken too seriously if one wants to speak natural English.
In real life, people rarely use a string of adverbs. Speakers will easily break the ...
-5
votes
1answer
162 views
what is the difference between “ forever and always” and “ always and forever”? [closed]
Is there actually a difference?
like, I will love you forever and I'll always be there?
and I'll always be there and love you for eternity?
0
votes
2answers
2k views
“Not the same as” vs. “not the same like” [closed]
"Not the same as" and "not the same like" sound both strange to me (non-native speaker). Google finds both versions. Are both okay?
Is this phrasing used anyway or would people go for "different ...
-1
votes
3answers
97 views
Use of comma after “accidentally” [closed]
Is a comma required after accidentally?
I accidentally sent you the wrong number.
10
votes
1answer
2k views
Yes, no, adverbs, and interjections
There appears to be some disagreement over what function yes and no perform in the following sentences:
Yes, you are right.
No, you are mistaken.
According to ODO (yes, no), they are being used as ...
1
vote
2answers
429 views
Do 'already' and 'just' require the present perfect?
Compare:
'We already gave him a response'.
'We have already given him a response'.
Do 'already' and 'just' strictly require the present perfect?
2
votes
4answers
225 views
How to pronounce “linearly”?
As the title states, how do I pronounce the word "Linearly"? I did some Google searching on this but I was not able to find any guidance.
