Adverbs can tell you where, when, how, why and to what extent something happens.
There are several different classes of adverb (see above).
They are often formed from adjectives or nouns be adding the suffix -ly.
For example: Quick becomes quickly, sudden becomes suddenly, intelligent becomes intelligently.
To form an adverb from adjectives ending in -y change the y to i before adding the -ly.
For example: angry becomes angrily, busy becomes busily.
To form an adverb from adjectives ending in -e drop the -e before adding the -ly.
For example: feeble becomes feebly, true becomes truly.
Some adjectives ending in -ly need no changes.
For example: heavenly.
However there are exceptions.
For example: sly becomes slyly, shy becomes shyly.
Some adverbs do not end in -ly.
For example: fast, hard, straight.
| Adjective | Pretty | Serious | Fast | Quiet |
| Example | She was a pretty girl. | He was a serious boy. | It was a fast car. | They were quiet children. |
| Adverb | Prettily | Seriously | Fast | Quietly |
| Example | The bird sang prettily. | The policeman spoke seriously. | Schumacher drives fast. | The woman spoke quietly. |
Adverbs can modify adjectives
An adjective can be modified by an adverb, which precedes the adjective.
For example:-
That's really nice.
Adverbs can modify adverbs
Some adverbs can modify others. As with adjectives, the adverb precedes the one it is modifying.
For example:-
She did it really well.
Adverbs can modify nouns
Adverbs can modify nouns to indicate time or place.
For example:-
The concert tomorrow.
The room upstairs.
Adverbs can modify noun phrases
Some adverbs of degree such as quite, rather, so, such ... can modify noun phrases.
For example:-
We had quite a good time.
They're such good friends.
Adverbs can modify determiners, numerals and pronouns
Adverbs such as almost, nearly, hardly, about, etc., can be used:
For example:-
Nearly everyone, who was invited, came to the party.
Adverbs can modify sentences
Some adverbs modify a whole sentence, not just a part of one.
For example:-
Luckily the car stopped in time. In this sentence luckily modifies the whole sentence, it shows that it was good luck that the car stopped in time.
Adverbs of Degree
Adverbs of degree tell us the strength or intensity of something that happens. Many adverbs are gradable, that is, we can intensify them. Basically they answer the sort of question that asks How much ...? or How little...?
Adverbs of degree include; adequately, almost, entirely, extremely, greatly, highly, hugely, immensely, moderately, partially, perfectly, practically, profoundly, strongly, totally, tremendously, very, virtually etc.
For example:-
The man drove badly. = The man drove really badly. - In this sentencereally shows us just how badly he drove.
They enjoyed the film. = They enjoyed the film immensely. - In this sentence immensely shows us how much they enjoyed the film.
These intensifiers are not gradable though, you cannot say The man drove extremely very badly.
Adverbs of Duration
Adverbs of duration tell us how long something happened.
They include; briefly, forever, long, shortly, permanantly, temporarily etc.
For example:
"They were occupied." = "They were briefly occupied." - In this sentencebriefly shows us the duration.
"The phone was out of order." = "The phone was temporarily out of order." - In this sentence temporarily shows us the duration.
Adverbs of Frequency
Adverbs of frequency tell us how often something is done.
Adverbs of frequency include; always, constantly, continually, frequently, infrequently, intermittently, normally, occasionally, often, periodically, rarely, regularly, seldom, sometimes etc.
For example:
I always do my homework on time. - In this sentence always shows us the frequency.
She goes out occasionally. - In this sentence occasionally shows us the frequency.
| Most frequent | always |
| constantly |
| nearly always |
| almost always |
| usually |
| generally |
| normally |
| regularly |
| often |
| frequently |
| sometimes |
| periodically |
| occasionally |
| now and then |
| once in a while |
| rarely |
| seldom |
| infrequently |
| hardly ever |
| scarcely ever |
| almost never |
| Least frequent | never |
When something happens regularly at a fixed time we can use the following as adverbs:-
| Every day | = | Daily |
| Every week | = | Weekly |
| Ever fortnight (two weeks) | = | Fortnightly |
| Every month | = | Monthly |
| Every year | = | Yearly/Annually |
For example:
I get a newspaper every day. = I get the newspaper daily.
I pay my rent every month. = I pay my rent monthly
Adverbs of Manner
Some adverbs tell us how an action is or should be performed.
Often these adverbs are formed by adding -ly to the end of an adjective.
Adjectives ending -l add -ly ; careful-carefully.
Adjectives ending -y change to -ily ; lucky-luckily
Adjectives ending -ble change to -bly ; responsible-responsibly
| adjective | adverb |
| anxious | anxiously |
| bad | badly |
| beautiful | beautifully |
| capable | capably |
| lucky | luckily |
| quick | quickly |
| weak | weakly |
For example:
The little girl ran quickly. In this sentence quickly modifies the verb ran (to
Adverbs of Place
Adverbs of place indicate where something happens.
These include; abroad, anywhere, here, outside, somewhere, there, underground, upstairs etc.
For example:
My passport is here in my bag.
| Place | Example |
| Upstairs | The children were playing upstairs. |
| In London | The people demonstrated in London. |
| Outside | The children were playing outside. |
Adverbs of Probability
Adverbs of probability tell us the likelihood of something happening.
If you imagine playing dice, what's the likelihood (probability) of rolling a six? It's possible, but it's not certain. You'll certainly throw something between one and six, but your not likely to throw two sixes.
Adverbs of probability include; certainly, definitely, doubtless, maybe, perhaps, possibly, probably etc.
For example:
We will win the game. = We will certainly win the game. - In this sentencecertainly shows us the probability.
Adverbs of Time
Some adverbs tell us when something happened.
These include:afterwards, later, now, soon, yesterday etc.
For example:-
Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away. - In this sentenceyesterday shows us when the singers troubles seemed so far away..
Other adverbs of time include:-
| Time | Example |
| Saturday, Sunday ... | I am going to the shops on Monday. |
| Today | I've been to the shops today. |
| Yesterday | I went yesterday. |
| Next week/month/year | I am going next week. |
| Last week/month/year | I went last year. |
| Finally | I finally went. |
| Eventually | I eventually went to the shops. |
| Already | I've already been to the shops. |
| Soon | I'm going to the shops soon. |
| Just | I'm just going to the shops. |
| Still | I'm still at the shops. |
Adverbs of Comparison
When we compare what two things or people do we look at what makes one different from the other.
Adverbs of comparison are used to show what one thing does better or worse than the other.
When an adverb ends in -ly, more is put in front of the adverb.
For example:-
- "Jill did her homework more frequently."
The rule for forming the comparative of an adverb is if it has the same form as an adjective add the suffix -er to the end.
For example:-
- "Jill did her homework faster."
The following irregular adverbs are exceptions to this rule:
- 'well' becomes 'better'
- 'badly' becomes 'worse'
- 'little' becomes 'less'
For example:
- "Jill was better."
- "Jack was worse."
- "To lose weight you need to eat less."
When comparing two things you need to put than between the adverb and what is being compared.
For example:-
- "Jill did her homework faster than Jack."
- "Jill did her homework more frequently than Jack."
Superlative form of Adverbs
The superlative form of an adverb is used to say what thing or person does something to the greater degree within a group or of its kind. Superlatives can be preceded by 'the'. In general the superlative forms of adverbs are the same as for superlative forms of adjectives.
The rule for forming the superlative of an adverb is if it has the same form as an adjective add the suffix -est to the end.
For example:-
- fast - "Jill ran the fastest."
When an adverb ends in -ly, most is put in front of the adverb.
For example:-
- Frequently - "Jill did her homework most frequently."
The following irregular adverbs are exceptions:-
- 'well' becomes 'the best'
- 'badly' becomes 'the worst'
For example:
- "Jill did the best in the test."
- "Jack did the worst in the test."
