An adverb is a part of speech that describes or modifies a verb, an adjective, another adverb, clause, or sentence.
Adverbs answer the questions "How?", "When?", "Where?", "Why?", "In what way?", "How much?", "How often?", "Under what condition", "To what degree?"
The easiest adverbs to recognize are those that end in -ly. Some adjectives end with -ly also but remember that adjectives can modify only nouns and pronouns. Adverbs modify everyting else.
An adverb can be placed anywhere in a sentence.
The three most common adverbs used in English Language are: not, very, too
• An adverb modifies a verb He walked quickly. ('quickly' modifies verb 'walked') I accepted new task willingly. ('willingly' modifies verb 'accepted') Mike snored melodically. ('melodically' modifies verb 'snored')
• An adverb modifies an adjective They were really unhappy. ('really' modifies adjective 'unhappy') My brother is completely fearless. ('completely' modifies adjective 'fearless') I know she is very careful. ('very' modifies adjective 'careful')
• An adverb modifies an adverb He is almost always hungry. ('almost' modifies adverb 'always') John plays tennis very well. ('very' modifies adverb 'well') You never can work too carefully. ('too' modifies adverb 'carefully')
• An adverb modifies a clause Perhaps you are correct, but not at first glance. ('perhaps' modifies clause 'you are correct') Surely he will be on time, but I hope not. ('surely' modifies clause 'he will be on time')
• An adverb modifies a sentence Suddenly, she went home. ('suddenly' modifies a whole sentence) Finally, he will be on time. ('finally' modifies a whole sentence) Today, we can take a vacation.('today' modifies a whole sentence)
•Adverbs that end in -ly are formed by adding -ly to an adjective, a present participle, or a past participle. - from an adjective careful - carefully beautiful - beautiful fitting - fittingly
- from a present participle willing - willingly glowing - glowingly surprising - surprisingly
- from a past participle assured - assuredly affected - affectedly surprised - surprisedly
•When adjective ends in -able or -ible, the adverb is formed by replacing final -e with -y horrible - horribly terrible - terribly
•When adjective ends in -y, the adverb is formed by replacing final -y with -ily happy - happily lucky - luckily
•When adjective ends in -ic, the adverb is formed by replacing final -ic with -ically economic - economically ironic - ironically
Adverbs can be placed anywhere in a sentence.
•At the front (prior to the subject) Today we will study adverbs. Lately, I have had lots of phone calls.
•At the center of the sentence (between the subject and the verb) He seldom goes to movies. I hardly noticed her.
•At the end of the sentence I learn English slowly. I study adverbs now.
Adverbs can be used as amplifiers, down toners, or emphasizers.
•As emphasizers. I really like him. I literally wrecked my car.
•As amplifiers They completely abandoned the city. I absolutely refuse to leave.
•As down toners I somewhat like this movie. Peter almost quit that job.
Adverbs starting with: a b c d e f g h Adverbs starting with: i j k l m n o p q Adverbs starting with: r s t u v w x y z
Adverb Quizzes Adverbs Practice List of random sentences is given. You need to identify each adverb by clicking on it.
Adverb Adverbs in English, examples of adverbs in adverbial functions and more
BBC - Skillswise Words - Making more interesting sentences using adverbs. Factsheets,worksheets, quizzes
Adverb from The Guide to Grammar and Writing. Lots of info and two quizzes.
•Adverbs of manner - answer the question How? I watch them closely. I play well. I walk carefully. List: cheerfully, fast, quicly, slowly, inadequately, healthy
•Adverbs of time - answer the question When? He has not played chess recently. I arrive late for most appointments. Lately, I have had many sleepless nights. List: early, never, now, often, soon, then, today, tomorrow
•Adverbs of place (location, direction) - answer the question Where? I walked downstairs. Have you ever gone there? I will meet you outside. List: above, away, below, down, here, inside, there, up
•Adverbs of degree - answer the question How much? He is totally prepared for his birthday. I am too tired to play tennis tonight. He is completely tired from the journey. List: almost, entirely, little, much, rather, very, too
•Adverbs of frequency - answer the question How often? He rarely goes by himself. She constantly finishes her job first. List: always, never, usually, frequently, sometimes, occasionally
•Conjunctive (connecting) adverbs - connect the ideas expressed in different clauses or sentences. Use of conjunctive adverb between two independent clauses requires a semicolon before the adverb and comma after it. I want to sleep; however, I need to study.
If conjunctive adverb is used at the beginning of a sentence, comma is used to set it off. note that the period takes the place of a semicolon. The day was over. Therefore, I went to sleep.
If conjunctive adverb is placed within a clause, commas are used to set it off. The day is over. I will, therefore, go to sleep.
Some of the most common conjunctive adverbs: accordingly, also, anyhow, furthermore, however, moreover, otherwise, still, therefore.
•Interrogative adverbs - used at the beginning of questions. Why are you so angry? When does the movie start? List: why, where, how, when
•Positive degree expresses the quality without comparison. •Comparative degree compares two verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. •Superlative degree compares three or more verbs, adjectives or adverbs.
Adverb comparison Most adverbs are compared by using another adverb. More or less are used to express the comparative degree. Most or least are used to express the superlative degree. I dance gracefully (or horribly). I dance more gracefully (or more horribly). I dance most gracefully ( or most horribly).
Suffix comparison Some adverbs are compared using a suffix –er for the comparative forms and –est for the superlative forms. I will arrive soon (or fast). I will arrive sooner (or faster). I will arrive soonest (or fastest).
Irregular comparison There are also a number of adverbs compared irregularly. These must be remembered. Here are some of them.
Beyond comparison Some adverbs are never compared. They express qualities unsuitable for comparison. Here are some of them: again, almost, before, ever, never, here, there, now, then, there, thus, too, twice, very.
