Grade 7 English DRUGS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE – GRAMMAR IN USE:ADVERBS Notes
English: Grammar in Use — Adverbs
Topic: Drugs and Substance Abuse (age 12, Kenya)
Adverbs tell us more about verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They answer questions like: How? When? Where? How often? or To what degree? Below are easy rules and examples using sentences about saying no to drugs.
🚫
Use adverbs to make your message clear:
She always refuses drugs firmly.
1. Types of adverbs (with simple examples)
- Adverbs of manner (how?): quickly, slowly, clearly.
Example: The counsellor explained the danger clearly.
- Adverbs of time (when?): now, yesterday, soon.
Example: He stopped taking the pills yesterday.
- Adverbs of place (where?): here, there, outside.
Example: The meeting is here at school.
- Adverbs of frequency (how often?): always, never, sometimes, often.
Example: Students never accept illegal drugs.
- Adverbs of degree (how much?): very, quite, almost.
Example: He was very worried about his friend.
2. How adverbs are formed
Many adverbs form by adding -ly to adjectives: quick → quickly, careful → carefully. But some words do not change: fast, hard, early are adverbs and adjectives the same.
3. Where to put adverbs
- Adverbs of manner: usually after the verb or after the object.
He refused the drug politely. / She spoke to him politely.
- Adverbs of frequency: before the main verb, but after the verb to be.
They always say no. / She is often on time.
- Adverbs of time and place: often at the end or beginning.
They met outside. / Yesterday, the school held a talk.
4. Comparison of adverbs
- Short adverbs can use -er / -est: fast → faster → fastest.
- Adverbs ending in -ly or long adverbs use more / most: quickly → more quickly → most quickly.
5. Common mistakes
- Avoid writing adjective instead of adverb after a verb: wrong: "She refused drugs polite." → right: "She refused drugs politely."
- Remember "never" and "always" go before the main verb: "I never tried that."
Practice (Try these)
- Underline the adverb: "She bravely said no to the drugs." (Hint: how?)
- Choose the correct adverb: "He (rare / rarely) came to the meeting."
- Move the adverb to a good position: "They said no often." → rewrite naturally.
- Write a sentence about school using an adverb of frequency and the idea "say no to drugs".
- Change to comparative: "fast" → put into a sentence showing comparison about stopping harmful habits.
Answers — click to view
- Adverb: bravely.
- Correct: rarely. (Adverbs often end in -ly.)
- Natural rewrite: They often said no. or They said no often at school.
- Example answer: Students always say no to drugs at school.
- Example comparative sentence: She stopped harmful habits faster than her friend.
Quick tip: Using adverbs makes your message stronger and clearer. Talk clearly and kindly: you can help a friend say no to drugs.
— End of notes —