Adverbs

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. Very 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' - adverb; modifies 'to arrive')

She sometimes helps us.
('sometimes' - adverb; modifies 'to help')

I am the only person in the world I should like to know thoroughly. (Oscar Wilde)
('thoroughly' - adverb; modifies 'to know')

Types of Adverbs

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

Adverb of time

An adverb of time tells us when something is done or happens. We use it at the beginning or at the end of a sentence. We use it as a form of emphasis when we place it at the beginning. Adverbs of time include afterwards, already, always, immediately, last month, now, soon, then, and yesterday.

• He collapsed and died yesterday.

• His factory was burned down a few months ago.

• Last week, we were stuck in the lift for an hour.

Adverb of place

An adverb of place tells us where something is done or happens. We use it after the verb, object or at the end of a sentence. Adverbs of place include words such as above, below, here, outside, over there, there, under, upstairs.

• We can stop here for lunch.

• The schoolboy was knocked over by a school bus.

• They rushed for their lives when fire broke out in the floor below.

Adverb of manner

An adverb of manner tells us how something is done or happens. Most adverbs of manner end in –ly such as badly, happily, sadly, slowly, quickly, and others that include well, hard, fast, etc.

• The brothers were badly injured in the fight.

• They had to act fast to save the others floating in the water.

• At the advanced age of 88, she still sang very well.

Adverb of degree

An adverb of degree tells us the level or extent that something is done or happens. Words of adverb of degree are almost, much, nearly, quite, really, so, too, very, etc.

• It was too dark for us to find our way out of the cave. (Before adjective)

• The referee had to stop the match when it began to rain very heavily. (Before adverb)

• Her daughter is quite fat for her age.

• The accident victim nearly died from his injuries.

• After all these years, she is still feeling very sad about her father’s death.

Adverb of frequency

An adverb of frequency tells us how often something is done or happens. Words used as adverbs of frequency include again, almost, always, ever, frequently, generally, hardly ever, nearly, nearly always, never, occasionally, often, rarely, seldom, sometimes, twice, usually, and weekly.

They were almost fifty when they got married. He hardly ever say something nice to his wife. While overseas, he frequently phoned home. She is not nearly always right although she thinks she is always right. He complained that she never smiled back. We only write to each other very occasionally. Peter seldom reads the Bible. Sometimes he stays late in the office to complete his work. Our cat was bitten twice by the same dog. The man usually proposes marriage.