Adverbs

Adverbs are words that add more meaning to a verb, adjective, or another adverb. They tell us how, when, where, or to what extent something happens. Learning about adverbs helps you use English more effectively and describe actions clearly. In this guide, you will understand the definition, formation, placement, and correct usage of adverbs with simple examples. 

Table of Contents

• What Is the Meaning of an Adverb?
• Types of Adverbs
• Examples of Adverbs
• How Are Adverbs Used in Sentences?
• Common Mistakes with Adverbs and How to Avoid Them
• Frequently Asked Questions on Adverbs

 

What Is the Meaning of an Adverb?

An adverb is a word that is used to modify verbs, adjectives, clauses, and other adverbs. Many adverbs end in -ly, and they usually appear next to the word that they modify. 

Adverbs are a commonly used part of speech that, like adjectives, provide more information in a sentence or clause by modifying (describing) another word. Adverbs are used to answer questions such as How?, Where?, When?, How often?, and How much? 

Unlike adjectives (and most other parts of speech), adverbs can sometimes be moved to another spot in a sentence, and the sentence will still make grammatical sense. Typically, this is possible when an adverb is modifying a verb. For example,

• The dog slept peacefully on her bed.

• The dog peacefully slept on her bed.

• The dog slept on her bed peacefully.

Types of Adverbs

Adverbs are categorized into different types according to their functions when used in a sentence. Given below are the different types of adverbs.

Adverbs of Manner

Adverbs of Time

Adverbs of Place

Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of Degree

Conjunctive Adverbs

Examples of Adverbs

Here are some more examples of adverbs:

1. She swims quickly.

             (Here, the adverb "quickly" modifies the verb "swims.")

2. He spoke softly.
   (Here, the adverb "softly" modifies the verb "spoke.")

3. The movie was incredibly interesting.
   (The adverb "incredibly" modifies the adjective "interesting.")

4. He ran very quickly.
   (The adverb "very" modifies the adverb "quickly.")

5. They arrived early.
   (Here, the adverb "early" modifies the verb "arrived.")

6. The exam was surprisingly easy.
   (The adverb "surprisingly" modifies the adjective "easy.")

7. She danced quite gracefully.
   (The adverb "quite" modifies the adverb "gracefully.")

8. He finished the work carefully.
   (Here, the adverb "carefully" modifies the verb "finished.")

9. She is an extremely quick swimmer.

            (The adverb "extremely" modifies the adjective "quick.")

10. She swims extremely quickly.

           (The adverb "extremely" modifies the adverb "quickly.")

How Are Adverbs Used in Sentences?

Knowing where to place adverbs in a sentence is essential for writing and speaking accurately. The position of adverbs often depends on what they describe: verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

1. Beginning of a Sentence

Adverbs that modify the whole sentence or show time/frequency often appear at the start.

• Usually, I take the bus to school.

• Sometimes, we visit our grandparents.

2. Middle of a Sentence

Adverbs that describe verbs like be, have, or do often go before the main verb or after an auxiliary verb.

• He always eats breakfast early.

• She has already finished her homework.

3. End of a Sentence

Adverbs of manner, place, and time are usually placed at the end.

• He spoke clearly.

• They arrived home late.

Order of Adverbs

When using more than one adverb, follow this natural order:
Manner -----> Place -----> Time
Example: She sang beautifully at the concert last night.

Mini Exercise

Rearrange these words correctly:

1. He / early / arrived / very.

2. We / tomorrow / meet / will / there.

Answers:

1. He arrived very early.

2. We will meet there tomorrow.

Difference Between Adjectives and Adverbs

Many learners confuse adjectives and adverbs because both describe or modify something. However, their functions are different.

Adjectives

Describe nouns or pronouns; they tell us what kind, how many, or which one.

• She is a careful driver.
  (Careful describes the noun driver.)

Adverbs

Describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs that tell us how, when, where, or to what extent.

• She drives carefully.
  (Carefully describes the verb drives.)

Common Confusions

• He feels bad. (Correct: bad is an adjective describing he, not feels.)

• He plays well. (Well is an adverb modifying plays.)

Tips:

If the word answers “how?”, it’s usually an adverb.
If it describes a thing or person, it’s an adjective.

Common Mistakes with Adverbs and How to Avoid Them

Adverbs are easy to use but also easy to misuse. Let’s look at some common errors and how to correct them.

1. Using Adjectives Instead of Adverbs

She sings beautiful. (Wrong)
She sings beautifully. (Correct)

(Beautifully correctly modifies the verb sings.)

2. Double Adverbs

Avoid using two adverbs together unnecessarily.
He runs very extremely fast.  (Wrong)
He runs extremely fast. (Correct)

3. Wrong Adverb Placement

Incorrect word order can change the meaning.
He almost drove his kids to school every day. (Meaning: He didn’t.)  (Wrong)
He drove his kids to school almost every day.  (Correct)

4. Forgetting Irregular Forms

Remember that some adverbs don’t end in -ly.
He worked hard. (Not hardly, which means “barely.”)

5. Overusing Adverbs

In good writing, use adverbs only when necessary. Instead of:
She shouted loudly,
Try: She shouted. (The verb already shows loudness.)

Frequently Asked Questions on Adverbs

Q1. What are adverbs and examples?

Answer: An adverb is a word that modifies (describes or gives more information about) a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. They provide details about how, when, where, or to what extent something happens. Examples include "softly" in "She speaks softly," "very" in "The movie was very interesting," and "incredibly" in "He runs incredibly quickly".  

Q2. How many types of adverb​s are there?

Answer: There are typically six main types of adverbs: adverbs of manner, time, place, frequency, degree, and conjunctive adverbs. Other classifications include interrogative, relative, and focusing adverbs.

Q3. What are the four main types of adverbs?

Answer: Adverb of manner that describes how an action happened. Adverb of Place, which describes where an action happened, Adverb of Time, which describes when exactly the action happened, and Adverb of Frequency, which describes how often the action took place. 

Q4. How do you identify an adverb?

Answer: To identify an adverb, look for words that modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb by answering questions like how, when, where, or to what extent. Many adverbs end in "-ly," but many common ones, such as "fast," "late," "here," or "now," do not.

Q5. Which adverb is "completely"?

Answer: "Completely" is an adverb of degree, which means it indicates the extent or intensity of something, such as a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It answers the question "to what extent?"

Q6. What is an adverb for short?

Answer: The short adverbs are short and shortly, though "short" can also be an adjective. "Shortly" means "in a short time," while "short" as an adverb can mean "abruptly," "suddenly," or "without enough" of something.

Q7. Which is a common adverb + adjective collocation?​

Answer: Common adverb + adjective collocations include deeply concerned, highly likely, completely wrong, and utterly ridiculous. Other examples are bitterly cold, heavily polluted, and perfectly clear.