ADVERBS. FORM & USE.

What Is an Adverb? By www.grammar-monster.com

An adverb can be added to a verb to modify its meaning. Usually, an adverb tells you when, where, how, in what manner, or to what extent an action is performed.

Many adverbs end in ly — particularly those that are used to express how an action is performed.

Although many adverbs end ly, lots do not, e.g., fast, never, well, very, most, least, more, less, now, far, and there.

Examples:

• Anita placed the vase carefully on the shelf.
(The word carefully is an adverb. It shows how the vase was placed.)

• Tara walks gracefully.
(The word gracefully is an adverb. It modifies the verb to walk.)

• He runs fast.
(The word fast is an adverb. It modifies the verb to run.)

• You can set your watch by him. He always leaves at 5 o'clock.
(The word always is an adverb. It modifies the verb to leave.)

• The dinner guests arrived early.
(early modifies to arrive)

• She sometimes helps us.
(sometimes modifies to help)

• I am the only person in the world I should like to know thoroughly. (Oscar Wilde)
(thoroughly modifies to know) 

 

Types of Adverbs

Although there are thousands of adverbs, each adverb can usually be categorized in one of the following groupings:

Adverbs of Time

• Press the button now.
(now - adverb of time)

• I have never been.
(never - adverb of time)

• I tell him daily.
(daily - adverb of time)

Adverbs of Place

• Daisies grow everywhere.
(everywhere - adverb of place)

• I did not put it there.
(there - adverb of place)

Adverbs of Manner

• He passed the re-sit easily.
(easily - adverb of manner)

• The lion crawled stealthily.
(stealthily - adverb of manner)

Adverbs of Degree

• That is the farthest I have ever jumped.
(farthest - adverb of degree)

• He boxed more cleverly.
(more cleverly - adverb of degree and manner.) 

 

Adverbs Can Modify Adjectives and Other Adverbs

Although the term adverb implies that they are only used with verbs, adverbs can also modify adjectives and other adverbs. For example:

• The horridly grotesque gargoyle was undamaged by the debris.
(The adverb horridly modifies the adjective grotesque .)

• Peter had an extremely ashen face.
(The adverb extremely modifies the adjective ashen.)

• Badly trained dogs that fail the test will become pets.
(The adverb badly modifies the adjective trained.)
(Note: The adjective trained is an adjective formed from the verb to train. It is called a participle.)

• She wore a beautifully designed dress.
(The adverb beautifully modifies the adjective designed.)

• Peter Jackson finished his assignment remarkably quickly.
(The adverb quickly modifies the verb to finish. The adverb remarkably modifies the adverb quickly.)

EXERCISE ONE

EXERCISE TWO

EXERCISE THREE