Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They tell us how, when, where, or to what extent something is done. Adverbs can be single words or phrases, and they usually appear before or after the word they modify.

Here are some common adverbs and the words they modify:

  • She sings beautifully (beautifully modifies the verb sing)
  • He runs very fast (very modifies the adjective fast)
  • She speaks English fluently (fluently modifies the verb speak)
  • He drove the car carefully (carefully modifies the verb drive)

Types of Adverbs

There are many types of adverbs, including adverbs of manner, adverbs of time, adverbs of place, and adverbs of degree. Click on each adverb type to learn more. 

  • Adverbs of manner tell us how something is done. Some examples include: quickly, slowly, loudly, quietly, happily, sadly, etc.
  • Adverbs of time tell us when something happened. Some examples include: now, then, later, yesterday, tomorrow, etc.
  • Adverbs of place tell us where something happened. Some examples include: here, there, everywhere, nowhere, etc.
  • Adverbs of degree tell us the extent or intensity of something. Some examples include: very, extremely, completely, totally, etc.

Other Uses for Adverbs

It’s important to note that some adverbs can also be used as adjectives. For example, the word “fast” can be an adjective (He is a fast runner) or an adverb (He runs fast).

Adverbs can also be formed from adjectives by adding the suffix “-ly”. For example, the adjective “happy” becomes the adverb “happily”, and the adjective “sad” becomes the adverb “sadly”. However, not all adjectives can be turned into adverbs in this way. For example, the adjective “bad” becomes the adverb “badly”, but the adjective “good” becomes the adverb “well”.

Summary

In conclusion, adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They provide information about how, when, where, or to what extent something is done. There are many types of adverbs, including adverbs of manner, adverbs of time, adverbs of place, and adverbs of degree. It’s important to be aware of the different types of adverbs and how they are used in sentences.