Adverbs are one of the most flexible parts of English grammar as their use can be multi functional.
- WHAT DO ADVERBS DO?
Adverbs modify, or tell us more about, other words. Usually adverbs modify verbs, telling us how, how often, when, or where something was done. The adverb is placed after the verb it modifies.
An adverb is a part of speech that describes or modifies a verb, an adjective, another adverb, clause or sentence.
Adverbs also answer the following question formats:
How?, When?, Where?, Why?, In what way? How much?, How often?, Under what condition?, To what degree?
Three of the most common adverbs used in English are: not, very, too.
Adverbs are classed by their functions such as:
- Adverbs of manner.
- Adverbs of Time.
- Adverbs of Place.
- Adverbs of degree.
- Adverbs of frequency.
- Interrogative adverbs.
- Connecting Adverbs.
EXAMPLES
- The car drove slowly.
- The car drove fast.
- He ate greedily.
Sometimes adverbs modify adjectives, making them stronger or weaker.
EXAMPLES
- You are absolutely beautiful.
- She is slightly nervous.
- He was very annoying.
Some types of adverbs can modify other adverbs, changing their degree or precision.
EXAMPLES
- He played the violin extremely well.
- I was totally upset by his remarks.
- She was studying passionately.
Note:
Many adverbs can be formed simply by adding ‘ly’ to the end of what was once an adjective. For example:
blind = blindly
angry – angrily
awkward = awkwardly
bad = badly
Try putting some of these adverbs into sentences:
- accidentally
- always
- angrily
- anxiously
- awkwardly
- badly
- blindly
- boastfully
- boldly
- bravely
- brightly
- cheerfully
- coyly
- crazily
- defiantly
