GRADE 8 English CHOOSING A CAREER – GRAMMAR IN USE:ADVERBS Notes
GRAMMAR IN USE: ADVERBS
Topic: Choosing a Career (Age: 13, Kenya)
An adverb is a word that describes or gives more information about a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. In the context of choosing a career, adverbs tell us how, when, where, how often or to what degree actions happen.
- Manner (how): carefully, well, quickly
- Place (where): here, there, nearby
- Time (when): today, soon, tomorrow
- Frequency (how often): always, often, rarely
- Degree (how much): very, quite, almost
- Certainly / Probability: probably, possibly, certainly
Examples connected to careers (Kenyan context)
- She studies hard to become a doctor. 👩⚕️
- Mr. Wanjiru teaches well at the school in Nairobi. 👨🏫
- The students will soon visit the industrial park for careers day. 🏭
- He often helps his mother on the farm and may become an agricultural scientist. 👨🌾
- We are almost ready to apply for engineering courses. ⚙️
- She definitely wants to be a pilot one day. ✈️
How adverbs are formed
- Many adverbs are made by adding -ly to an adjective: quick → quickly, careful → carefully.
- Some adverbs are the same as adjectives: fast (He runs fast.), hard (She works hard.).
- Irregular: good → well (He cooks well).
Where to put adverbs
- Adverb of manner (how): usually after the verb — She teaches well.
- Adverb of frequency (how often): usually before the main verb — He often practices.
- Adverb of time (when): usually at the end or beginning — Tomorrow we will visit the university. or We will visit the university tomorrow.
- Adverbs of degree (very, quite) go before an adjective or adverb — She is very talented. He speaks quite clearly.
Comparatives and superlatives for adverbs
- Many adverbs form comparatives with more and superlatives with most: carefully → more carefully → most carefully.
- Short adverbs can use -er and -est: fast → faster → fastest.
- Irregular: well → better → best.
Common adverbs useful when choosing a career
always, often, sometimes, rarely, never, soon, already, later, really, very, probably, definitely, correctly, carefully, quickly, slowly, nearby
Short exercises (try them first!)
- Fill in the blank with a suitable adverb:
a) The nurse arrived __________. (on time / never / loudly)
b) He studies __________ to pass the entrance exam. (hard / here / yesterday)
c) They will __________ visit the technical college. (often / already / quickly) - Choose the correct adverb to complete the sentence:
a) A good engineer works __________. (carefully / tomorrow / ten)
b) We learn about careers __________. (in school / seldom / quickly) - Move the adverb to a different place in the sentence (one example):
Original: She will probably become a lawyer. → New place for "probably": __________
Answers and short explanation
-
a) on time — it tells when she arrived.
b) hard — "studies hard" = how he studies.
c) already — it tells that the visit has been arranged before now. -
a) carefully — describes how an engineer works.
b) in school — indicates where; "seldom" (how often) could also fit but context prefers place. - Example: She probably will become a lawyer. OR Probably she will become a lawyer. (Both are correct; position changes emphasis.)
Practice making your own sentences about careers using different adverbs. Example: "My brother often helps in the lab" or "She is already applying for a scholarship."