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Ace the TOEFL Essay (TWE)
For the first class, and we are generalizing, place the adverb in the ini-
tial position, at the beginning of the sentence, offset by a comma, or at the
final position, at the end of the sentence.
Weekly, I go to the grocery store.
I go to the barber monthly.
For class II, place the adverb in the initial position, before the main
verb phrase, or, if there is an additional nominal time tag suggesting dura-
tion, after the main verb phrase and before the time tag.
Usually, I eat at 5:00.
Generally, I swim in the morning.
I normally eat at 5:00.
I eat constantly at night.
I eat frequently in the summer.
It is possible to put the adverb of frequency in the final
position, as well, especially if the tag (adverbial) is one of
location.
I eat at Taco Bell mostly.
I run at the track generally.
These adverbs, which come after the verb phrase and appear in the
final position, are better limited to those ending in
-ly. Keep in mind that
we are speaking in generalities, and there are many exceptions. But
because the scope of grammar here is limited to formal writing, we are
unable to delve too deeply into all of the exceptions.
THE
:
RE
G
RAMMAR

when describing health. Hard is used two ways as an adverb. First, when
used after the verb phrase, it means
much in amount, or it is used to com-
ment on the degree, connoting a worthwhile attempt at doing something
well.
He ran hard. This means that he tried his best. Secondly, when the
word
hard is used as an adverb and placed before the verb phrase, it must
be used with an
-ly. Here, it takes on an opposite meaning than the one
previously mentioned.
He hardly ran. This indicates that he ran a little
and walked a lot, putting forth very little effort. Incidentally,
hard is also
an adjective.
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Ace the TOEFL Essay (TWE)
After the verbs below, use adjectives, with the exceptions noted. These
verbs are copula verbs, which means they fall into the same category as
linking verbs, taking a subject complement that describes and/or renames
the subject. We know a noun or an adjective, which may apply here, too,
realizes the SC.
Copulas: Seem, Appear, Taste, Smell, Feel, and Look
Exceptions: Appear, taste, feel, and look.
It seemed pleasant until the rains came.
She appeared nice. (She was nice [i.e., polite] to us.)
The steak tasted good.
The perfume smelled sweet.
He felt well. (His condition was good.)

food in a certain manner, so the verb in this context is a lexical one.
In addition to scrutinizing the subject, we can also see if there is a DO.
Copulas do not take DOs, because they are not dynamic, action verbs. He
felt the material carefully.
The material is the DO. What if we say, He felt
around carefully
? Evidently, he is searching for something. Therefore,
around is an adverbial describing where he felt.
Comparative and Superlative Adverbs
These take only action verbs.
Comparative deals with two things, and superlative with three or more.
There are two approaches to this: (1) to use the comparative and superla-
tive suffixes on the end of the adjectival form and (2) to use the words
more
and most + adverb.
Comparative & Superlative Suffixes
Ex(s):
He runs faster than Bob.
He runs the fastest of the boys.
Note the pattern in the first sentence: S–V–Adv–than–N
The pattern is usually: N–Action Verb–Adv +
-er–than–N (comparative)
S–Action Verb–(
the) _____ + est (superlative)
Several cues indicate a superlative: (1) the word
the before the superla-
tive phrase; (2) the use of present perfect after the superlative phrase; (3)
the use of a prepositional phrase after the superlative phrase, generally
employing the prepositions
of and in.

OTE
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