English Grammar Guide: Adverbs, Modals, Tenses, and Causative Verbs
Adverbs of Manner
Adverbs of manner answer the question “how?” and describe the way an action happens. Examples:
- aloud
- badly
- carefully
- quickly
- happily
Adverbs of Opinion and Observation
These adverbs express the speaker’s viewpoint or observation about an action. Examples:
- Actually
- Basically
- Bravely
- Carelessly
- Clearly
- Credibly
- Effectively
- Foolishly
- Fortunately
- Generously
- Kindly
- Logically
- Luckily
- Naturally
- Personally
- Pleasantly
- Practically
- Presumably
- Rudely
- Seriously
- Surely
- Technically
- Theoretically
Modal Verbs
Modal verbs express possibility, ability, permission, or obligation. Examples:
- can
- must
- may
- will
Future Tenses
Future Continuous
Formed with “will” + “be” + the present participle (-ing). Describes an action in progress at a specific future time.
Future Perfect
Formed with “will” + “have” + the past participle. Describes an action completed before a specific future time.
Causative Structures
Subject + Let/Make/Help/Have + Object + Verb
These structures express that someone causes another person to perform an action.
Subject + Get/Want/Ask/Tell + Object + To + Verb
These structures express desires, requests, or instructions.
Health and Illness Vocabulary
Health and Illness
ache, acne, allergy, asthma, backache, broken leg, cold, cough, earache, fever, flu, headache, sore throat, stomach ache, toothache, temperature, rash, spots, black eye, bruise, burn, appetite loss, voice loss, arm fracture, ankle sprain, dizziness, fainting, exhaustion, constipation, food poisoning, vomiting, hurt, swelling, pain, aspirin, medicine
Health Professionals
doctor, nurse, surgeon, dentist, pharmacist, therapist, paramedic, optometrist, psychiatrist, physiotherapist, nutritionist, radiologist, midwife
Health and Senses Related Verbs
see, smell, hear, feel, touch, listen to, notice, taste, feel good, catch a cold, have a cold, sneeze, cough, blow one’s nose, feel sick, be stung, have food poisoning, feel dizzy, faint, pass out, be tired, be exhausted, have backache, have earache, have a headache, have a sore throat, have a stomach ache, have toothache, have temperature, have a cough, have diarrhea, have a rash, have spots, have a black eye, get a bruise, get burnt, lose appetite, lose voice, break one’s arm, sprain one’s ankle, twist one’s ankle, be constipated, have constipation, be allergic to, suffer from, vomit, throw up, hurt, swell, be in pain, take an aspirin, take medicine
More on Adverbs
Adverbs of Manner (Additional Examples)
quickly, carefully, slowly, comfortably, patiently, safely, angrily, happily, seriously, perfectly, meticulously, mercilessly, gracefully, boldly, painfully, unexpectedly
Commenting Adverbs
ultimately, increasingly, potentially, unquestionably, immediately, inevitably, undoubtedly, feasibly, eventually
Causative Verbs
Causative verbs indicate that one person or thing causes another to do something:
Have
To permit someone to do something. Example: “I’ll have Jeremy buy the fruits tomorrow.”
Get
Similar to “have,” but less formal. Example: “She got her dad to enroll her at UCLA.”
Make
To require, demand, or force someone to do something. Example: “She made me go to the party even if I didn’t want to.”
Let
To permit someone to perform a specific action. Example: “Do not let kids watch violent movies.”