adverbs

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)

Quizzes

• Are you adept at adverbs?
• Agile adverbs
• Choose the correct adverb!