6.94 adverbs indicating destinations and targets

Adverbs can be used to indicate destinations and targets.

• 'I have expected you,' she said, inviting him inside.
• No birds or animals came near.

The following adverbs are used to indicate destinations or targets:

• aboard, abroad, ashore, close, downstairs, downtown, heavenward, home, homeward, in, indoors, inland, inside, inward, inwards, near, next door, out of doors, outdoors, outside, overseas, skyward, there, underground, upstairs, uptown

The comparative forms 'nearer' and 'closer' are more commonly used than 'near' or 'close'.

• Come nearer.

'Deep', 'far', 'high', and 'low' are also used as adverbs indicating a destination or target but only when followed by another adjunct or modified in some other way.

• The dancers sprang high into the air brandishing their spears.

The comparative forms 'deeper', 'further' (or 'farther'), 'higher', and 'lower' are also used, and so is the superlative form 'furthest' (or 'farthest'). These do not have to be followed by another adjunct or modified in another way.

• We left the waterfall and climbed higher.
• People have to trek further and further from the villages.