On this page
- What is an adverb?
- How do you recognize an adverb?
- What are common types of adverbs?
- Where can you find an adverb in a sentence?
- Additional information
What is an adverb?
An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, another adverb or sometimes even an entire sentence. As a modifier, an adverb describes or limits the meaning of the word it refers to.
Example with a verb:
- The tent collapsed slowly.
[The adverb slowly modifies the verb collapsed.]
Example with an adjective:
- Amy grew increasingly bored.
[The adverb increasingly modifies the adjective bored.]
Example with an adverb:
- Jorge played especially well.
[The adverb especially modifies the adverb well.]
Example with a sentence:
- Naturally, I accepted.
[The adverb naturally modifies the sentence I accepted.]
How do you recognize an adverb?
The majority of adverbs end in -ly. The reason is that we form most adverbs by taking an adjective and adding the ending -ly: the adjective quiet becomes the adverb quietly, the adjective careful becomes the adverb carefully, and so on.
But there are also many adverbs that do not end in -ly. Here are some examples: almost, always, down, fast, hard, here, in, long, never, now, often, out, quite, rather, so, then, there, today, too, up, very, well.
What are common types of adverbs?
Most adverbs fall into five categories.
Adverbs of manner
Adverbs of manner answer the question how?:
- John tiptoed quietly past the sleeping guard.
- The cat leaped gracefully down from the ledge.
Adverbs of place
Adverbs of place answer the question where?:
- Inwardly, Marielle was seething.
- Eric lives nearby.
Adverbs of time
Adverbs of time answer the question when?:
- We’ll leave tomorrow.
- The rickety barn immediately collapsed.
Adverbs of frequency
Adverbs of frequency answer the question how often?:
- Jenna and Kurt visit the East Coast regularly.
- My sister often has to work late.
Adverbs of degree
Adverbs of degree answer the question to what extent?:
- The fire completely destroyed the building.
- I could barely hear the sound of the distant waves.
- The soup is too hot to eat right now.
- Madeline is very excited about her upcoming trip.
Note: The adverbs of degree too and very cannot modify verbs. They are used only to modify adjectives and other adverbs: very happy, too fast.
Where can you find an adverb in a sentence?
Adverbs that modify an adjective or another adverb can be found in front of the word they modify: too hot, quite loudly.
But an adverb that modifies a verb or a sentence is movable. These adverbs may appear at the beginning or end of the sentence, as well as before or after the verb:
- Swiftly the runner leaped over the hurdle.
- The runner swiftly leaped over the hurdle.
- The runner leaped swiftly over the hurdle.
- The runner leaped over the hurdle swiftly.
Additional information
- Adverb (HyperGrammar 2)
- Conjunctive adverb (Writing Tips Plus)
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