What are modal and negative

adverbs?

Grammar Toolkit

Modal and negative adverbs

Grammar Toolkit

Modal and negative adverbs

Will the cat catch the mouse?

maybe possibly probably definitely

Negative adverbs give a negative message. It will not escape. The cat will never catch it.

Modal adverbs add a sense of possibility. They show how certain the writer is about

what they are saying.

Grammar Toolkit

Modal and negative adverbs

Arrange these modal adverbs to show possibility from most possible to least possible.

sometimes

often usually perhaps always

There is near enough chocolate in the world. Mr Finch can keep his mouth shut.I lock my keys in the car.

Choose negative adverbs to complete these sentences.

hardly seldom

nowhere

Grammar Toolkit

Modal and negative adverbs

• An adverb adds meaning to a verb, adjective or another adverb.

• Modal adverbs add a sense of possibility (e.g. She may arrive on time).

• Negative adverbs give a negative message (e.g. He is barely 21 years old.)

• In the following sentence, the modal adverb is red and the negative adverb is blue: Caramel popcorn is perhaps what she wants, but I am not giving it to her.

Grammar Toolkit

Modal and negative adverbs

The End