What are adverbs in English grammar?

Adverbs provide more information in the sentence by modifying verbs, adverbs, and adjectives.

In this useful guide, you will learn the definition of adverbs, use and purpose of adverbs in English grammar, and how to properly use adverbs in your English communication. 

What is an Adverb?

An adverb in English is a word that is used to describe or modify verb, another adverb, adjective or even the whole sentence. Take a look at the following examples to see how adverb modifies verb, adverb, adjective, and the whole sentence.

Example of sentences using adverbs

• He sings loudly. [verb]
• He is very tall. [adjective]
• The show ended too quickly. [another adverb]
• Fortunately, I had brought an umbrella. [whole sentence]
• He did not run badly.
• Tom is very tall.
• The race finished too quickly.
• Fortunately, Lucy recorded Tom’s win.

You can easily identify adverbs in the above sentence and see how an adverb functions in the sentence.

Adverb Examples

Adverbs are easy to recognize in the sentence because they usually end in -ly, but not always. Take a look at the most common adverbs examples:

• really, very
• well, badly
• today, yesterday, everyday, etc.
• sometimes, often, rarely, etc.
• early, late, soon, etc.
• here, there, everywhere, etc.

Types of Adverbs

Adverbs can be divided in to different categories and types. These types include;

• Adverbs of Frequency
• Adverbs of Time 
• Adverbs of Place
• Adverbs of Manner
• Adverbs of Degree
• Conjunctive Adverbs

Adverbs and Verbs

Adverbs often modify verbs. This means that they describe the way an action is happening.

For example;

• He sings loudly in the shower.
• My cat waits impatiently for his food.
• I will seriously consider your suggestion.

Explanation

In the above sentences, you might have noticed that adverbs modify the meaning of a verb by adding more detail and information for the reader or listener. The reader or listener will understand how the actions are happening in the sentence.

Exception of the rule – Linking Verbs

Adverbs do not mix well with linking verbs. Linking verbs are verbs that precede adjectives, not adverbs. The most common examples of linking verbs are;

• feel
• smell
• sound 
• seem 
• appear

Let’s take a look at the following example;

• He feels badly about what happened.

Adverbs and Adjectives

Adverbs can also modify adjectives. An adverb modifying an adjective generally adds a degree of intensity or some other kind of qualification to the adjective.

Examples

• The lake is quite beautiful.
• This book is more interesting than the last one.
• “Is my singing too loud?” asked Huan.
• My cat is incredibly happy to be having his dinner.
• We will be slightly late to the meeting.
• This shirt is a very unflattering shade of puce.

Adverbs and Other Adverbs

You can use an adverb to describe another adverb. In the following sentence, the adverb almost is modifying the adverb always (and they’re both modifying the adjective right).

• The weather report is almost always right.
• He sings rather enormously too loudly.

In fact, if you wanted to, you could use several adverbs to modify another adverb.

However, that often produces weak and clunky sentences like the one above, so be careful not to overdo it.

Adverbs and Sentences

Some adverbs can modify entire sentences – unsurprisingly, these are called sentence adverbs. Common ones include generally, fortunately, interestingly, and accordingly. sentence adverbs don’t describe one particular thing in the sentence – instead, they describe a general feeling about all of the information in then sentence.

Adverbs also modify the whole sentence. Words like generally, fortunately, interestingly, and accordingly are most commonly used to modify the meaning of the entire sentence. Take a look at the following examples.

Examples

• Fortunately, we got there in time.
• Interestingly, no one at the auction seemed interested in bidding on the antique spoon collection.

Degrees of Comparision

Like adjectives, many adverbs can show degrees of comparison, although it’s slightly less common to use them this way. With certain flat adverbs (adverbs that look exactly the same as their adjective counterparts), the comparative and superlative forms look the same as the adjective comparative and superlative forms. it’s usually better to use stronger, more precise adverbs (or stronger, more precise adjectives and verbs) than to rely on comparative and superlative adverbs.

An absolute or positive adverb describes something in its own right:

• He smiled warmly.
• They asked me to deliver a hastily written note.

To make the comparative form of an adverb that ends in -ly, add the word more:

• He smiled more warmly than the others.
• The more hastily written note contained the clue.

To make the superlative form of an adverb that ends in -ly, add the word most.

• He smiled most warmly of them all.
• The most hastily written note on the desk was ovelooked.

How to Use Adverbs

Placement of Adverbs

In general, adverbs should be placed as close as possible to the words they are intended to modify. Putting the adverb in the wrong spot can produce an awkward sentence at best and completely change the meaning at worst. Consider the difference in meaning between the following two sentences:

Examples:

• I almost dropped all the papers I was holding.
• I dropped almost all the papers I was holding.

When an adverb is modifying a verb phrase, the most natural place for it is usually the middle of the phrase. 

Examples:

• We are quickly approaching the deadline.
• Huan has always loved singing.
• I will happily assist you.

When to Avoid Adverbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions.

What are adverbs in English grammar?

What are adverbs in English grammar?

What are adverbs in English grammar?

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