Adverbs: Modifying Verbs, Adjectives, and Adverbs

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They often tell us how, when, where, or to what extent.

Types of Adverbs

Adverbs of Manner (How?)

• quickly, slowly, carefully, badly, well
• She speaks quietly.
• He drives carefully.

Adverbs of Time (When?)

• now, today, yesterday, soon, already, still
• I’ll call you tomorrow.
• She has already finished.

Adverbs of Place (Where?)

• here, there, everywhere, outside, upstairs
• Come here.
• The cat is outside.

Adverbs of Frequency (How often?)

• always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never
• I always eat breakfast.
• She never drinks coffee.

Adverbs of Degree (To what extent?)

• very, quite, rather, almost, too, enough
• It’s very cold.
• She’s quite tall.

Forming Adverbs

From Adjectives: Add -ly

Spelling Rules

-le → -ly:

• simple → simply
• gentle → gently

-y → -ily:

• happy → happily
• easy → easily

-ic → -ically:

• basic → basically
• automatic → automatically

Irregular Adverbs

Position of Adverbs

Adverbs of Manner

Usually at the end:

• She sings beautifully.
• He solved the problem quickly.

Adverbs of Frequency

Usually before the main verb:

• I always wake up early.
• She often visits her parents.

After “be”:

• He is always late.
• They are never on time.

Adverbs of Degree

Before the word they modify:

• It’s very hot.
• She speaks quite fluently.

Comparative and Superlative Adverbs

Examples:

• She runs faster than me.
• He works the hardest in the team.

Quiz