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Grammar > Adjectives and adverbs > Adverbs > Adverb phrases

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Adverb phrases: forms

An adverb phrase consists of one or more words. The adverb is the head of the phrase and can
appear alone or it can be modified by other words. Adverbs are one of the four major word classes,
along with nouns, verbs and adjectives.
In the examples the adverb phrases are in bold. The other words that modify the adverb are
underlined:

We usually go on holiday in August.

Time goes very quickly.
The day passed quickly enough.

This works really well for its size.

Luckily for us, the cost was not so high.
We kept the new money quite separately from what we’d already collected.

In general, these patterns are similar to adjective phrases.

See also:
Adjective phrases

Adverb phrases: types and meanings

An adverb phrase can consist of one adverb or an adverb plus other words before it (premodification)
or after it (postmodification). Adverb phrases have many different meanings.
In the examples the adverb phrases are in bold. The other words that modify the adverb are
underlined.
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Search Grammar used to giveinformation

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example type
Contents about To top 

We walked very carefully across the floor. manner how something happens

Here is where I was born.

place where something happens
That’s it. Right there.

Dad got home very late. time when something happens

how long something

This pill will take away the pain temporarily. duration
happens

They almost never invite people to their house how often something
frequency
these days. happens

A: Want some sugar in your coffee?

focusing something specific
B: Only half a spoon, please.

how much or to what degree

That dog behaves incredibly stupidly! degree
something happens

The train will probably be late. certainty or how certain or necessary

It doesn’t necessarily mean that. necessity something is

Unfortunately for me, I can’t speak Italian. the speaker’s opinion of

evaluative
something

Personally, I don’t see why the party has to start the speaker’s perspective or
viewpoint
so early. reaction

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Search Grammar used to giveinformation

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example type
about

It rained very heavily this summer. Therefore, relationships between

linking
many of the vegetables were very small. clauses and sentences

See also:
Adverbs: types

Adverb phrases: functions

Adverb phrases + verbs
We use adverb phrases most commonly to modify verbs. In the examples the adverb phrases are in
bold. The verbs that they modify are underlined:

Children grow up really quickly.

I exercise very regularly and I eat quite healthily.

Adverb phrases + be
We use adverb phrases with be. This is especially typical of adverbs of place:

I’m upstairs. I’ll only be a minute.

A: Have you seen my gloves?

B: They’re right there, on the table.

Adverb phrases + adjectives/adverbs

We use adverb phrases (adv) to modify adjectives and other adverbs:

[ADV] [adjective]
I found it extremely difficult to talk to her.
[ADV] [ADV]
He drives really carefully.

Adverb phrases + other phrases

We
Thisuse adverb
website phrases
uses (adv)
cookies. Fortomore
modify noun phrases
information, (np)
please and
visit prepositional
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[ADV] [NP]
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That’s Grammar
quite a tree. (it’s a tree that is special in some way, e.g. it’s very big)  
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[ADV] [pronoun]
There was hardly anyone at the concert.
[ADV] [prepositional phrase]
We climbed right over the top of the hill and down again.

Adverb phrases + determiners

We use adverb phrases to modify determiners, especially words like all, some, half, many
(quantifiers):

Only half of my friends could come to my party.

Very few people have heard of my city. It’s very small.

Popular searches
01 Advice or advise?

02 As well (as)

03 Word formation

04 Adverbs and adverb phrases: position

05 At, on and in (place)

06 Open or opened?

07 Discourse markers (so, right, okay)

08 Verbs

09 As … as

10 If or whether?

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a person who tries to prevent or stop arguments or fighting between two or more people or
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