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Adverb

According to Li & Cheng (1994), an adverb (°Clü) is:

``a word generally used in front of a verb or an adjective to
express time, degree, scope, repetition, negation, possibility or
tone of speech, etc.''

However, it cannot be used to modify any noun.

The followings are some examples of adverbs:
* for expressing time or frequency:
×Só (finally), ¤w¸g (already), °¨¤W (immediately), SzlM
(suddenly),
LzSb (at the moment), c (just) a`a` (usually), LAt (forever)

§Ú     LzSb      SY   ss  AC
I  at the moment eat rice
I am having a meal now.

LL  LAt    SY  ¤L   sA  AC
he forever eat not full
He can never be full.

* for expressing degree:
TÜ (very), ¤Ó (too), ZS§O (especially), §ó (even)

LL  TÜ     Slzú    AC
he very have-money
He is very rich.

* for expressing scope:
Lu (only), ¤ at °_ (together), ¤ at S at  (total)

§Ú  Lu   Sl  ¤Q    ¤¸   AC
I  only have ten dollar
I only have ten dollars.

* for expressing repetition:
SA (again), ÁU (still)

§Ú  ÁU    Sl  ¤Q    ¤¸   AC
I  still have ten dollar
I till have ten dollars.

* for exressing negation:
¤L (not), ¤LLÎ (no need), ¨SSl (not have)

§Ú  ¤LLÎ   SY   AC
I  no need eat  
I do not need to eat.

When an adverb is used in different positions of a sentence, the
resulting sentences can have different meanings.

§ASs   N¨L   AM §Ú    §sLt    ¤L  SP N  AC
your opinion    I  completely not agree
I completely disagree with your opinion.

§ASs   N¨L   AM §Ú ¤L     §sLt    SP N  AC
your opinion    I  not completely agree 
I do not agree with your opinion completely.

* for expressing estimation:
¤jZu (about), ¤j § (maybe), LiZr (perhaps)

LL ¤jZu  SY       ¤F        ¤T       É      AC
he about eat ASPECT MARKER three QUANTIFIER
He has eaten about three.

Earlier, we have seen that an adjective (i.e. a kind of noun modifier)
is often marked by the particle Ss. In addition to the above adverbs,
there are many adverbs which end with the character Sa. These adverbs
are often used for indicating how an action is being carried out.

Some examples of adverbs which end with Sa are:
* `aASa (affectionately),
* sSlLLRSsSa (aimlessly),
* n§ÖSa (readily),
* §b§bSa (blankly),
* JsASa (carelessly),
* ¤L°aSa (continuously),
* lsÄnSa (continuously),
* ¤ LSa (fairly),
* t´t´Sa (gently),
* sLsLSa (gradually),
* Ó§OSa (individually),
* §[sTSa (meanly),
* TCC[Sa (objectively),
* LssCSa (proudly),
* w wSa (slowly),
* S¨L\Sa (successfully).

From these examples, we can see that the character Sa resembles the
English morpheme -ly.
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next up previous contents 
Next: Prepositons Up: Introduction to Elementary Chinese Previous:
Tenses & Aspects   Contents

Shun Ha Sylvia Konecna Wong 2001-02-19