Adverbs

Adver
bs
/ædvərbz/
What are
adverbs?
An adverb modifies the meaning of a verb, an adjective or another
adverb. Read the following sentences:
Noor smiled quickly.

Those mangoes were very
sweet. Nida spoke quite
loudly.
In sentence 1, the adverb quickly shows how (or

in what manner),
Noor smiled. It modifies the verb smiled.
In sentence 2, the adverb very says something about the sweetness of

the mangoes. It modifies the adjective sweet.
In sentence 3, quite says something about the manner in which he

spoke. It modifies the
adverb loudly.
What are
adverbs?
• Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and other
adverbs
• Many adverbs end with /ly/
• Most adverbs answer the question “How?”

“When?”
“Where?” “How often?” “To what
extent”
What are
adverbs?
• These are adverbs
• Eating quickly . (modifying a verb)
• Trying very hard. (modifying an adverb)
• A really big show. (modifying an adjective)
• “How?” “When?” “Where?” “How often?” “To what
extent” Nida went to the store yesterday. (when)
Noor lefts the teddy bear on the desk.
(where) Nida eats ice cream everyday.
(how often) The boat was extremely
large. (to what extent)
• Most adverbs describe an action verb.
Walk is a verb. You
could: Walk fast
Walk slow
Walk backward
Walk sideways
Fast, slow, backward, sideways – these are all adverbs
What are
adverbs
•Some adverbs describe ?
adjectives. Pretty is an
adjective.
You could say:

quite pretty
really pretty
definitely
pretty
Quite, really,definitely – these are all

adverbs because they describe the
adjective pretty.
What are
adverbs
• Some adverbs ? other adverbs.
also describe
Cowardly is an adverb.
You could say:
very
cowardly
never
cowardly
always cowardly
thoroughly
cowardly
Kinds of
adverbs
Adverbs of
time
•
Adverbs of time answer the question
‘when’. Examples are: today,
yesterday, now, before, daily, already,
since, ago, never etc.
• I met him yesterday.
• His father died two years ago.
• I have seen him before.
• They have already come.
• We will have to start now.
Adverbs of frequency
• Adverbs of frequency answer the

question ‘How often’. Examples are:
often, always, once, never, again, seldom,
frequently etc.
• We seldom go out on Sundays.
• I have seen him only once.
• He called again this morning.
• We must always try to do our best.
Adverbs of place
• Adverbs of place answer the

question ‘Where’. Examples are:
here, there, up, down, everywhere,
out, in etc.
• She sat down.
• He looked up.
• I searched for him everywhere.
• Come in.
Adverbs of
manner
Adverbs of manner answer the question
‘How’ or ‘in What manner’. Note that this
class includes nearly all those adverbs
ending in -ly.
Examples are:
quickly, carefully, sweetly, clearly, bravely,
beautifully, well, fast etc.
• The soldiers fought bravely.
• This essay is well written.
• She walked slowly.
Adverb or Adjective?
• An ADVERB modifies verbs, adjectives and
other adverbs.
• An ADJECTIVE modifies nouns.
Example:
The fast car is racing.
(Fast describes car(. Car is a noun.
The kind of word that describes a noun is an
adjective; therefore, in this sentence, fast is
an adjective.)
Example: The car races fast.

(Fast describes how it races(. Races is a verb.
The kind of word that describes a verb is an
adverb; therefore, in this sentence, fast is
an adverb.)
Recognizing Adjectives &
• Adverbs
Many words have both an adjective and
adverb form
Adjective Adverb
Happy kids Playing happily
Smooth rock Running smoothly
Good night Eating Well
Efficient workers Working efficiently
Casual dress Dressing casually
Quick meeting Talking quickly
hopeful children Waiting hopefully
Real butter Really hot
Common Errors
with Adverbs and Adjectives
People often mistakenly use adjectives
when they should use an adverb and
vice versa. For example, a sentence
that reads:
•He behaved very bad on the field trip.
Is incorrect, because bad is modifying or

describing behaved, which is a verb. It
should read
•He behaved very badly.

Good and
Well
• Confusing adverbs and
adjectives is a common error
with the words good and
well.
• Good is an adjective that

should modify nouns (the
good boy).
• Well is an adverb that

modifies a verb (he listens
well), or even an adjective
Don’t use adjectives when adverbs are needed
You did a real nice job

– (an adjective can’t modify another
adjective)
 You did a really nice job
– (the adverb “really” modifies “nice”)
He did good
 He did well or
 He did a good job
Fuel injection helps the car run
efficient
 Fuel injection helps the car run
efficiently
Come quick!
 Come quickly!
Hopefully, it won’t rain
– (an adverb explains how
Don’t use needless
• adverbs
Before using any of these words, check to
see if they add anything to the sentence
 Really, very, absolutely, extremely, quite,
actually,
somewhat, rather
 I am really happy to see you
 Grammar is very boring
 You are absolutely correct
 Her language was extremely crude
 You are quite intelligent
 Context will help you decide whether to
retain the underlined words
 Keep them only if they add to the
meaning
 Bill Gates is very rich. I hope he gives me some
money.
 Most college instructors are poor; their
students are
very poor.
Adverb
Practice
To practice what you've learned here, identify the
adverb in each of the following sentences.
 Nada will miss the many wonderful people at
work.
 Noor walked slowly and steadily up the hill.
 Nagham ate quickly and then felt sick.
 Hamza is very late.

 Haneen wanted to be the great, big house.
Answers
Nada will miss the many wonderful people at work. Many is the
adverb, which modifies the adjective wonderful, which modifies
the noun people.
Noor walked slowly and steadily up the hill. "Slowly" and "steadily"
are both adverbs here, describing the way Joe walked.

Nagham ate quickly and then felt sick. "Quickly" is the adverb
here, modifying the verb "ate."

Hamza is very late. "Very" is an adverb modifying late which is an
adjective modifying Joe.
Haneen wanted to be the great, big house. "Great" is an adverb

modifying "big," which is an adjective modifying the noun "house."

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Adver

Noor smiled quickly.

In sentence 1, the adverb quickly shows how (or

In sentence 2, the adverb very says something about the sweetness of

In sentence 3, quite says something about the manner in which he

• Many adverbs end with /ly/

• Most adverbs answer the question “How?”

You could say:

Quite, really,definitely – these are all

• Adverbs of frequency answer the

• Adverbs of place answer the

Example: The car races fast.

•He behaved very bad on the field trip.

Is incorrect, because bad is modifying or

•He behaved very badly.

• Good is an adjective that

• Well is an adverb that

You did a real nice job

 Hamza is very late.

are both adverbs here, describing the way Joe walked.

here, modifying the verb "ate."

Haneen wanted to be the great, big house. "Great" is an adverb

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