- Identify adverbs of frequency to describe work routines and schedules.
- Use adverbs of manner to explain how work-related actions are done.
- Recognize adverbs of degree to add emphasis when describing projects, people, and situations.
- Demonstrate the correct placement of different types of adverbs in business sentences.
Adverbs are words that give more information about verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They help you be more specific in business communication.
1. Adverbs of Frequency
Use: To say how often something happens.
Form/Position: Usually placed before the main verb, but after the verb 'to be' (am, is, are, was, were).
Time Words: always (100%), usually (80%), often (60%), sometimes (40%), rarely (10%), never (0%).
Example: He usually arrives early. She is always prepared for meetings.
2. Adverbs of Manner
Use: To say how an action is done. Many end in -ly.
Form/Position: Usually placed after the main verb or after the object.
Common Words: carefully, quickly, professionally, efficiently, well (irregular for 'good'), hard (irregular).
Example: She completed the report quickly. He manages his team well.
3. Adverbs of Degree
Use: To make adjectives and other adverbs stronger or weaker. They answer how much? or to what extent?
Form/Position: Placed before the adjective or adverb they describe.
Common Words: very, really, extremely, quite, fairly.
Example: The feedback was very positive. He works extremely hard.
• How often? → Use an adverb of frequency. (I sometimes work from home.)
• How? → Use an adverb of manner. (She speaks clearly.)
• How much? → Use an adverb of degree. (The task is quite difficult.)
📝 Audio Transcript
"Hi team, Anna here with your weekly update for Monday, October 26th. I hope you all had a great weekend.
First, some fantastic news. The marketing campaign for the new app launch went extremely well last week. The marketing team worked very professionally to get everything ready on time. They finished all the creative assets quickly, and the initial feedback from the test audience has been really positive. We rarely see results like this so early in a project, so great job, everyone.
Now, for this week's focus. We have the final data from the finance department. We need to check these numbers carefully before the big presentation on Friday. I usually do the first review myself, but this time I need some help. Tom, can you please check the sales figures? And Maria, can you look at the expenses? Let's work together on this.
The client is quite interested in our progress, so the Friday presentation is important. We must be prepared to answer their questions clearly and confidently. I always say that preparation is the key to success.
So, to summarize: a very good start, but now we need to focus completely on the financial data. Please manage your time wisely this week. Let's talk again on Wednesday. Thanks, everyone."
Exercise A: True/False Grammar Check
Instructions: Read the sentences below. Are they grammatically correct? Choose True or False.
Exercise B: Complete the Dialogue
Instructions: Complete the dialogue between two colleagues, Alex and Ben, using the adverbs from the box. Use each adverb only once.
Alex: Hi Ben. Can you check this presentation for me? I need to send it .
Ben: Sure, no problem. I check my work, but it's good to have a second person look.
Alex: Thanks! You do presentations so . Your slides are great.
Ben: Thanks, Alex. I just try to check everything before I finish.
Alex: I know. It's a busy week. I'm tired.
Exercise C: Fill the Table/Chart
Instructions: Choose the correct adverb of frequency to complete the sentence based on the information in the chart.
| Task Schedule | Frequency | Complete the Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Check work emails | 100% | I check my work emails every morning. |
| 2. Have a 1-to-1 meeting with manager | 80% | I have a 1-to-1 meeting on Fridays. |
| 3. Travel for business | 40% | She travels for business. |
| 4. Forget a client's name | 0% | A good salesperson forgets a client's name. |
Task 1: Describe Your Daily Work Routine (Controlled Practice)
Instructions: Spend 1 minute preparing to describe your typical workday using adverbs of frequency. Use the sentence starters below.
Preparation Tips: Think about what you do 100% of the time (always), most of the time (usually), and some of the time (sometimes).
• "In the morning, I always..."
• "I usually have lunch at..."
• "In the afternoon, I sometimes..."
• "I rarely..."
• "I never..."
Prepare this topic for your next class with your teacher.
Task 2: Giving Feedback on a Task (Guided Practice)
Instructions: Imagine your teacher is your colleague. They just finished a report for you. Give them feedback on their work. Prepare for 1-2 minutes.
Preparation Tips: Use adverbs of manner and degree. Think about these questions: Did they do it well? Did they do it quickly? Was it clear?
Example Response: "Thanks for the report. I read it carefully. It's very well written. The data is explained clearly, and you finished it so quickly! Thank you."
Prepare this topic for your next class with your teacher.
Task 3: Discussing Team Performance (Free Practice)
Instructions: You are in a meeting with your manager (your teacher). Discuss your team's performance over the last month. Prepare for 2 minutes.
• How often does your team have meetings? (frequency)
• How does your team work together? (manner)
• How busy is the team right now? (degree)
• What is going well? What can be improved?
Preparation Tips: Think of 1-2 examples for each point. Try to use adverbs from all three categories.
Prepare this topic for your next class with your teacher.
📚 Lesson Summary for Teachers
Focus: Students learn to use adverbs of frequency, manner, and degree in business contexts. Key emphasis on correct placement and natural usage in workplace communication.
🎯 Key Teaching Points
- Frequency Adverbs: Position before main verb, after 'be'. Common mistakes: placing after main verb
- Manner Adverbs: Usually after verb/object. Watch for 'good' vs 'well' confusion
- Degree Adverbs: Before adjectives/adverbs they modify
⚠️ Common Student Challenges
- Position of frequency adverbs (e.g., "I check always" instead of "I always check")
- Using adjectives instead of adverbs (e.g., "She works professional" instead of "professionally")
- Confusion between 'good' (adjective) and 'well' (adverb)
🗣️ Speaking Practice Guidance
- Task 1: Focus on accuracy of frequency adverb placement. Encourage personal examples.
- Task 2: Practice manner and degree adverbs. Prompt with "How was it organized?" to elicit adverbs.
- Task 3: Free practice combining all types. Ask follow-up questions to encourage elaboration.
💡 Practical Teaching Tips
- Use the question method: "How often?" "How?" "How much?" to help students identify adverb types
- Drill frequency adverb position with workplace routines (checking emails, meetings, etc.)
- Practice manner adverbs through feedback scenarios (common in business)
- Connect to students' real work experiences for authentic practice