Adverb

 
 
 
ADVERB-it is a part of speech which modifies (Ẹyan-Ọrọ) verb, adjective, preposition, a phrase, clause, or a sentence. It expresses some relation of manner or quantity of time, place, degree, number, cause, opposition, affirmation, denial says Webster.[/dropcap]

Adverb is an integral part of a sentence, it complements verb which is an indispensable part of syntax. Adverb answers question on where, how, how much, and when; it is classified into three – adverb of a place, time, and manner. Adverb is identified by its placement in a sentence, in most cases; it is placed immediately after the verb it is modifying.

 

Adverb of Manner/Quality- this adverb explains, describes, limits and makes verb or adjective, perhaps another verb in a sentence more meaningful with precision. It states with certainty  what a person or an object is doing. You can easily identify this adverb by its placement, always after a verb. For example:

He walks slowly (slowly describes or limits how “he” walked)

O n rin jẹjẹ (jẹjẹ describes how “he” walked)

O n rin kiakia (kiakia describes/limits how “he” walked)

He walks very fast

He dances very well (very well explain the degree of how “he” dances)

O n jo daadaa (daadaa explains the extent of how “he” dances)

Other examples of adverb by manner are: justly, really, rapidly, excessively, very, quickly, and slowly. In English, some words (adverb) end in “ly” letters, this adverb is known as short adverb:

These words (adverb) are used in brief with forceful sentences.

 

Adverb of Time- it answers question on when with a focus on time.Such as today, now, tomorrow, this day, morning, afternoon, evening.

I will arrive today (today answers when question)

Maa de loni (loni addresses time of arrival)

The flight departs this afternoon (afternoon answers when the plane will depart)

Ọkọ   Baalu yio gbera ni ọsan (ọsan addresses when the plane departs)

I  will come tomorrow

Maa de ni  Ọla (Ọla answers when “he” will come or arrive)

 

Adverb of Place- this adverb answers question on location. It addresses where an event or something happens. Examples:

I am coming from there (hospital, it answers location)

Mo  n ti ibẹ n bọ (Ibẹ stands for location/place)

We will hold the conference here (here answers where question, or location)

A o ṣe ajọdun wa ni-hin-yi (ni-hin-yi answer where question).

Other adverbs of a place are: whither, elsewhere, anywhere, somewhere, upward, downward, forward, backward. The Yoruba equivalents are nihinyi, lẹhin, niwaju, nibikibi.

Another type of Adverb, which does not modify, but helps with transition in speech and writing (otherwise known as Conjunctive Adverbs  in English) is known as (Ẹyan-Ọrọ-Oniyipada/Ayipopada) in Yoruba; they include: