Walk slowly to the window. Walk rapidly to the window.
The child can perform the action which, now, is a simple one. The adverb, however, changes, _modifies_, the action. If the teacher in play puts the two adverbs together in the same sentence the child has the problem of interpreting two contrary movements. That is, he is to go to the window _slowly_ and _rapidly_ at the same time. Taking away the adverb cards the sentence left is _Go to the window_. This action the child can perform. But how shall he perform it, in what way? With the help of adverbs! Similarly in the following sentences:
Bend your head _a little_. Bend your head _much_.
Written without the adverb they indicate one action. What slight changes in the position of the head can be brought about by these adverbs! It is the _adverb_ which really shows fine differentiations in movement!
In other sentences also where the adverb is, so to speak, an _adjective_ to an _adjective_ and therefore really affects the object (noun), similar permutations may be made.
Make a broad mark on the blackboard. Make a _very_ broad mark on the blackboard.
Here by the use of an adverb two different _objects_ (nouns) are distinguished which, though they have the same quality (breadth) differ in degree (broad, very broad). Take, for instance, two objects belonging to the same series:
Place on your table the prism which is most thick. Place on your table the prism which is least thick.
If the adverbs are taken away the factor determining the degree of quality (thickness) disappears and we have sentences which are far less precise in their meaning:
Place on your table the prism which is thick.
As the teacher proceeds to make permutations in the different sentences she should remember (for Italian) that the normal position of the adverb is after the verb (in the compound tenses it comes between the auxiliary and the participle).
(Note: In English the position of the adverb is much freer than in Italian; it often stands at the end of the sentence and even between subject and verb,--something quite foreign to normal Italian usage. We retain the text entire.)
In the sentences analyzed by the child it is sufficient to recall that the adverb modifies the verb and follows the verb it modifies. Take the sentence: