AN ADVERB

WHAT IS AN ADVERB?

Adverbs are words that are used to modify (or "describe") verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

For example:

We will eat there.

He walked slowly across the square.

Here, one can see that the Adverb ‘slowly’ is describing the Verb ‘walk’ by telling that the person was walking slowly.

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, ever, 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.)

·         Amour  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.)

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)

How did he lift the barbell?

Easily is an adverb.

When will we use it?

Tomorrow functions as an adverb.

Where did she hide the key?

Nearby is an adverb.

TYPES OF ADVERBS

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

ADVERBS OF TIME

E.g. The results were announced yesterday

Here the Adverb is yesterday which is answering the question: When were the results announced? ‘Announced’ is the verb in this sentence.

She will visit the hospital tomorrow.

Here the Verb is ‘visit’ and the Adverb is tomorrow as the question being asked is: When will she visit the hospital?

• Press the button now.

(now - adverb of time)

• I have never been.

(never - adverb of time)

• I tell him daily.

(daily - adverb of time)

The results were announced yesterday

ADVERBS OF PLACE

E.g.: They will meet you there.

The Adverb here is there that is specifying a place for the Verb meet and the question being answered is: Where will they meet you?

• Daisies grow everywhere.

(everywhere - adverb of place)

• I did not put it there.

(there - adverb of place)

Other examples of Adverbs of Place are - Anywhere, Somewhere, Near, Far etc.

ADVERBS OF MANNER

These Adverbs tell about the manner of the action being done.

E.g.: He quietly slipped away.

The Adverb here is quietly which is telling the way or manner in which the action was carried out and the Verb is slipped which is telling:

How did he slip away.

She works fast.

The Verb here is work and the Adverb is fast and the question being asked is: How does she work?

He passed the re-sit easily.

(easily - adverb of manner)

• The lion crawled quietly.

(quietly.- adverb of manner)

Other examples of Adverbs of Manner are - Honestly, Joyfully, Cunningly etc.

ADVERBS OF DEGREE

The Adverbs of Degree are used to show to what extent or how much has an action been done or will be done.

She almost finished the work.

The Verb here is finished and the Adverb is almost which is telling us about the amount of the work finished.

The question being asked is: How much of the work did she finish?

They were completely surprised by the windfall.

The adverb here is completely which is showing the degree to which ‘they’ were surprised which is the Verb. The question being asked here is: How much were they surprised?

That is the farthest I have ever jumped.

(farthest - adverb of degree)

• He boxed more cleverly.

(more cleverly - adverb of degree and manner.)

 .

The different types of Adverbs are as following:

 Other examples of these Adverbs are - Fully, Partially, Altogether etc.

ADVERB OF FREQUENCY

These Adverbs are used to show the duration or timing of the action that is happening/had happened/will happen. They also tell us how often and how long these actions would be

He likes to watch TV every day.

Here, the Adverb is every day and it is telling about the amount of time spent in doing the Verb, which is watch. The question in this sentence is: How often does he watch TV?

They meet every week.

The Adverb here is every week and it is telling the frequency and the Verb is meet. The sentence is telling us: How often do they meet?

Other examples of Adverbs of Frequency are - Frequently, Often, Yearly, Briefly etc.

ADVERBS OF CONFIRMATION AND NEGATION

These Adverbs either confirm or deny the action of the Verb.

Examples:

They will certainly like this vase.

The Adverb here is certainly which is reinforcing the Verb like in answer to the question: Will they like this vase?

He never leaves his house.

The Adverb never is negating the Verb leave. It is answering the question in denial: Does he ever leave his house?

Other examples of Adverbs of Confirmation are - Definitely, Absolutely, Surely etc

LIST OF ADVERBS, ADVERB EXAMPLES

Accidentally	Eventually	Jealously	Poorly	Suddenly
Always	Exactly	Joyfully	Positively	Surprisingly
Angrily	Excitedly	Kindly	Properly	Sweetly
Arrogantly	Extremely	Lazily	Quickly	Terribly
Badly	Fairly	Less	Quietly	Thankfully
Beautifully	Faithfully	Loudly	Rarely	Thoughtfully
Bitterly	Fast	Lovingly	Really	Tomorrow
Blindly	Foolishly	Loyally	Regularly	Unexpectedly
Boldly	Fortunately	Madly	Reluctantly	Unfortunately
Bravely	Frankly	More	Repeatedly	Urgently
Briefly	Generally	Mysteriously	Rudely	Usually
Busily	Generously	Naturally	Sadly	Valiantly
Carefully	Gently	Nearly	Safely	Very
Certainly	Gracefully	Nervously	Seldom	Violently
Clearly	Happily	Never	Selfishly	Well
Courageously	Highly	Obediently	Seriously	Wisely
Cruelly	Honestly	Officially	Silently	Yearly
Curiously	Hopelessly	Often	Slowly	Yesterday
Daily	Immediately	Openly	Softly
Delightfully	Innocently	Painfully	Sometimes
Easily	Instantly	Patiently	Soon