Adverb

What is an Adverb?

An adverb is a word that is used to change or qualify the meaning of an adjective, a verb, a clause,
another adverb, or any other type of word or phrase with the exception of determiners and adjectives
that directly modify nouns.

Traditionally considered to be a single part of speech, adverbs perform a wide variety of functions,
which makes it difficult to treat them as a single, unified category. Adverbs normally carry out these
functions by answering questions such as:

When? She always arrives early.

How? He drives carefully.

Where? They go everywhere together.

In what way? She eats slowly.

To what extent? It is terribly hot.

This is called adverbial function and may be accomplished by adverbial clauses and adverbial phrases as
well as by adverbs that stand alone.

There are many rules for using adverbs, and these rules often depend upon which type of adverb you
are using. Remember these basics, and using adverbs to make sentences more meaningful will be easier
for you.

Adverbs can always be used to modify verbs. Notice that the second of these two sentences is much
more interesting simply because it contains an adverb:

The dog ran. (You can picture a dog running, but you don’t really know much more about the scene.)

The dog ran excitedly. (You can picture a dog running, wagging its tail, panting happily, and looking glad
to see its owner. You can paint a much more interesting picture in your head when you know how or
why the dog is running.)

Adverbs are often formed by adding the letters “-ly” to adjectives. This makes is very easy to identify
adverbs in sentences. There are many exceptions to this rule; everywhere, nowhere, and upstairs are a
few examples.

An adverb can be used to modify an adjective and intensify the meaning it conveys. For example:
He plays tennis well. (He knows how to play tennis and sometimes he wins.)

He plays tennis extremely well. (He knows how to play tennis so well that he wins often.)

As you read the following adverb examples, you’ll notice how these useful words modify other words
and phrases by providing information about the place, time, manner, certainty, frequency, or other
circumstances of activity denoted by the verbs or verb phrases in the sentences.

Examples of Adverbs

As you read each of the following adverb examples, note that the adverbs have been italicized for easy
identification. Consider how replacing the existing adverbs with different ones would change the
meaning of each sentence.

She was walking rapidly.

The kids love playing together in the sandbox.

Please come inside now.

His jokes are always very funny.

You don’t really care, do you?

Adverbs Exercises

The following exercises will help you gain greater understanding about how adverbs work. Choose the
best answer to complete each sentence.

The driver stopped the bus _______________.

Financially

Exactly

Abruptly

Now

Answer: C. The driver stopped the bus abruptly.

During autumn, colorful leaves can be seen falling ______________ from trees.

Everywhere
Very

Gently

Loudly

Answer: C. During autumn, colorful leaves can be seen falling gently from trees.

My grandmother always smiled _______________.

Cheerfully

Sadly

Never

Yesterday

Answer: A. My grandmother always smiled cheerfully.

After the party, confetti was strewn _________________.

Blandly

Everywhere

Later

Carefully

Answer: B. After the party, confetti was strewn everywhere.

It’s time to go ____________.

Before

Now

Yesterday

Lightly

Answer: B. It’s time to go now.

There are many different words that function as adverbs. The following list is broken down into
segments which list adverbs by function. After reading, you will be able to think of additional adverbs to
add to your own list – after all, there are thousands.

Many adverbs end in “-ly”. This makes it very easy to spot the adverbs in most sentences.

Abruptly, Boldly, Carefully, Deliberately, Excitedly, Financially, Horribly, Mildly, Naughtily, Openly, Poorly

Quickly, Sadly,Terribly. Willingly, Yearly

Some adverbs tell us where the action happened. These are known as adverbs of place.

Everywhere, Here, Inside, There, Underground, Upstairs

Certain adverbs let us know when or how often the action happened. These are known as adverbs of
time and adverbs of frequency.

After., Always,Before, Later, Now, Today, Yesterday

Many adverbs tell us the extent of the action.

Almost, Enough, So, Too, Quite, Rather, Very

Some adverbs are used as intensifiers., Absolutely, Certain, Completely,Heartily, Really

Certain adverbs called adverbs of manner tell us about the way in which something was done.

Briskly, Cheerfully, Expectantly, Randomly, Willingly

Types of Adverbs

2. Comparison of Adverbs

There are different kinds of adverbs expressing different meaning. The following are some of the
common ones.

Adverb of time

An adverb of time tells us when something is done or happens. We use it at the beginning or at the end
of a sentence. We use it as a form of emphasis when we place it at the beginning. Adverbs of time
include afterwards, already, always, immediately, last month, now, soon, then, and yesterday.

Examples:
He collapsed and died yesterday.

His factory was burned down a few months ago.

Last week, we were stuck in the lift for an hour.

Adverb of place

An adverb of place tells us where something is done or happens. We use it after the verb, direct object
or at the end of a sentence. Adverbs of place include words such as above, below, here, outside, over
there, there, under, upstairs.

Examples:

We can stop here for lunch.

The schoolboy was knocked over by a school bus.

They rushed for their lives when fire broke out in the floor below.

Adverb of manner

An adverb of manner tells us how something is done or happens. Most adverbs of manner end in –ly
such as badly, happily, sadly, slowly, quickly, and others that include well, hard, fast..

Examples:

The brothers were badly injured in the fight.

They had to act fast to save the others floating in the water.

At the advanced age of 88, she still sang very well.

Adverb of degree

An adverb of degree tells us the level or extent that something is done or happens. Words of adverb of
degree are almost, much, nearly, quite, really, so, too, very, etc.

Examples:

It was too dark for us to find our way out of the cave. (Before adjective)

The referee had to stop the match when it began to rain really heavily. (Before adverb)

Her daughter is quite fat for her age.

The accident victim nearly died from his injuries.

After all these years, she is still feeling very sad about her father’s death.
Adverb of frequency

An adverb of frequency tells us how often something is done or happens. Words used as adverbs of
frequency include again, almost, always, ever, frequently, generally, hardly ever, nearly, nearly always,
never, occasionally, often, rarely, seldom, sometimes, twice, usually, and weekly.

Examples:

They were almost fifty when they got married.

He hardly ever say something nice to his wife.

While overseas, he frequently phoned home.

She is not nearly always right although she thinks she is always right.

He complained that she never smiled back.

We only write to each other very occasionally.

Peter seldom reads the Bible.

Sometimes he stays late in the office to complete his work.

Our cat was bitten twice by the same dog.

The man usually proposes marriage.