Adverbs

Adapted from The Little, Brown Handbook, 11th Edition, Contributors Dayne Sherman,
Jayetta Slawson, Natasha Whitton, and Jeff Wiemelt, 2010, 315-326. Prepared by the Southeastern
Writing Center. Last updated July, 2011.

Adverbs describe verbs and modify adjectives and other adverbs. Adverbs, unlike adjectives, do not modify nouns. Adverbs
can also modify phrases, clauses, and sentences. Adverbs answer one of the following questions: When? Where? Why? How?
Under what conditions? and To what extent?

Example: The teacher had to speak loudly to be heard over the children. (Loudly modifies the verb speak.)
The children were really bad during the movie. (Really modifies the adjective bad.)
John approached the wounded dog very slowly. (Very modifies the adverb slowly.)
Clearly, Sarah did not understand the directions. (Clearly modifies the sentence.)
The box is still below the stairs. (Still modifies the phrase “below the stairs.”)

Types of Adverbs
Adverbs of Time
An adverb of time answers the question When? Adverbs of time include: after, always, before, during, early, later,
never, now, often, rarely, recently, sometimes, soon, then, today, tomorrow, usually, yesterday, etc.

Example: John will attend the soccer game after he finishes his homework. (After answers the question: When
will John attend the soccer game?)

Adverbs of Manner
An adverb of manner answers the question How? Adverbs of manner include: badly, beautifully, better, bravely,
cheerfully, fast, hard, quickly, slowly, inadequately, healthy, well, etc.

Example: Sarah slowly walked over the rocky beach. (Slowly answers the question: How did Sarah walk?)

Adverbs of Place
An adverb of place answers the question Where? Adverbs of place include: above, away, below, down, here, inside,
near, outside, there, up, etc.

Example: Susan placed the boxes above the file cabinet. (Above answers the question: Where did Susan place
the boxes?)

Adverbs of Degree
An adverb of degree answers the question How much? It describes the strength and intensity at which something
happens. Adverbs of degree include: almost, completely, enough, entirely, extremely, hardly, just, little, much, nearly,
quite, rather, very, too, etc.

Example: John worked very hard to complete his part of the project. (Very answers the question: How hard
did John work?)

Adverbs of Frequency
An adverb of frequency answers the question How often? Adverbs of frequency include: always, never, usually,
frequently, occasionally, rarely, seldom, sometimes, etc.

Example: Bob always forgets to check his email before class begins. (Before answers the question: How often
does Bob forget to check his email?)

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 Interrogative Adverbs
An interrogative adverb introduces a question. Interrogative adverbs are usually placed at the beginning of the
sentence. Interrogative adverbs include: how, when, why, and where.

Example: When will John’s plane arrive from Atlanta?

Conjunctive Adverbs
Conjunctive adverbs serve as transitional words, joining and relating independent clauses. Conjunctive adverbs
include: accordingly, also, alternatively, certainly, consequently, finally, nevertheless, moreover, previously,
therefore, etc. For a list of more conjunctive adverbs, refer to the Writing Center’s handout Common Conjunctions.

Example: We plan to leave early in the morning; therefore, we will go to bed early.

Forming Adverbs
Adding –ly to the end
Many adverbs are formed by adding –ly to an adjective.

Example: clear/clearly hard/hardly

Irregular Adverbs
Some adverbs do not use the –ly ending. These adverbs do not have a particular form. Following is a list of some of
the most common irregular adverbs: already, also, always, here, never, not, now, often, quite, seldom, soon, still, then,
there, too, very well.

Adverb Placement
Adverbs are flexible in their placement; therefore, they can be placed just about anywhere within the sentence.

At the beginning of a sentence or a clause

Example: Clearly, John has a problem arriving to work on time.

At the end of a sentence or a clause

Example: Sarah and John attend the opera frequently.

After the verb

Example: Bob and John have always participated in the soccer tournament.

Between the subject and the verb

Example: Sarah rarely forgets to call home when she is out late.
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Adverbs

CONTENTS Click on any heading below to jump directly to that topic.

THE PURPOSE OF ADVERBS ............................................................................................ 1
FORMING ADVERBS ........................................................................................................ 1
ADVERB TYPES............................................................................................................... 3
FUNCTION AND POSITION .............................................................................................. 3
COMMON PROBLEMS WITH ADVERBS .............................................................................. 4
PRACTICE ...................................................................................................................... 5

THE PURPOSE OF ADVERBS

Adverbs are words that describe or modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Adverbs
express ideas of time, place, manner, cause, and degree.

Examples: MODIFYING A VERB: John attends the Writing Center regularly.

MODIFYING AN ADJECTIVE: John is a very conscientious student.
MODIFYING ANOTHER ADVERB: John writes his papers really well.

Like the adjective, the adverb qualifies other words by answering questions about those
words.

How? The student worked diligently. (Worked how?)

Where? Mary went home to write her paper. (Went where?)
When? John handed in his paper yesterday. (Handed in when?)
To what degree? The paper was unusually well-written. (How well-written?)

FORMING ADVERBS
Adverbs can have inflectional endings for comparative and superlative degrees—often formed
by adding –ly to the adjective form.

Adjective form: radiant certain odd impressive

Adverb form: radiantly certainly oddly impressively

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Adverbs

Some adverbs will use the same form as adjectives. The adjective may not have a suffix or
may already have an –ly ending.

No suffix: straight late far right

-ly suffix early daily weekly hourly

Some words are almost always adverbs but are not identified by an –ly ending:

also maybe only soon

anyway never perhaps tomorrow
ever not quite then
somewhat now rather there
fast often seldom today
indeed sometimes so too
yesterday always somehow very

Adverbs form the comparative and superlative degrees similarly to adjectives. An -er is
added to the positive form to make the comparative degree, which shows a comparison
between two things. An -est is added to the positive form to make a superlative degree,
which shows a comparison between one thing and several others.

Positive: soon late fast

Comparative: sooner later faster
Superlative: soonest latest faster

If the adverb ends in –ly, more and most are used to form the degrees of comparison.

Positive: quickly tenderly loudly

Comparative: more quickly more tenderly more loudly
superlative: most quickly most tenderly most loudly

Note: Use less and least with the adverb to show a lesser degree.

Example: quickly less quickly least quickly

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Adverbs

Some adverbs from the comparative and superlative degrees irregularly:

Positive: good badly much far

Comparative: better worse more farther/further
Superlative: best worst most farthest/furthest

Note: Some prepositions may be used as adverbs to express a spatial relationship.

Example: John let the cat in. (No object of the preposition)

ADVERB TYPES
• Interrogative adverbs ask a question—where, when, why, and how.
Examples: Why do you work so hard?
Where are you going?

• Relative adverbs introduce relative or subordinate clauses—where, when, why and

how.
Examples: When you are ready, we will go.
You did not tell me where you want to go.

FUNCTION AND POSITION

• The adverb is usually near the word it modifies, but it can be found anywhere in the
sentence.
• When the adverb modifies another adverb or an adjective, it is in front of the word it
modifies.
• If the adverb is modifying a verb, the adverb can appear almost anywhere—before or
after the verb, between the helping and main verbs, or at the beginning or end of the
sentence.
Examples: BEFORE THE VERB: Mary often stays late.
AFTER THE VERB: Mary stays, often late.
BETWEEN THE HELPING AND MAIN VERB: Mary will often stay late.
BEGINNING OF THE SENTENCE: Often Mary stays late.
END OF THE SENTENCE: Mary stays late often.

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Adverbs

• Adverbs can modify entire clauses or sentences. Because they can modify so many
different elements in the sentence, their positions can be more varied than other parts
of speech.
The eight meanings which adverbs can express are as follows:
1. Manner—Mary writes well. (Shows how Mary writes)
2. Degree—Mary's paper is too long. (Describes a quality of the paper)
3. Frequency—Mary attends the Writing Center often. (Shows how frequently
Mary attends)
4. Time—Mary wrote her paper yesterday. (Tells when she wrote her paper)
5. Place—Mary wrote her paper here. (Tells where she wrote her paper)
6. Negation—Mary never writes her paper in the library. (Negates that she
writes in the library)
7. Affirmation—Mary really likes to write. (Affirms that she likes to write)
8. Qualification—Mary will probably get a high grade on her paper.
(Expresses the quality of certainty or probability)

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH ADVERBS

• Do not confuse adverbs with adjectives, especially well with good. Well is an
adverb; good is an adjective.
• Avoid double negatives. For instance, do not use hardly, scarcely, only, or never
with no or not. One negative word to a clause is enough.

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Adverbs

PRACTICE
Practice Exercise A
Choose the correct form in parentheses in the first five sentences.
1. The sick man (was not, was) scarcely able to sit up in bed.
2. The sergeant did not want (any, no) advice from (anyone, no one).
3. They (could, could not) hardly hear each other above the crowd.
4. Mr. Sand's work does not allow him (any, no) margin of error.
5. I (do not never, never) anticipate trouble.

Practice Exercise B
Underline the adverbs in the following sentences.
1. My co-workers seldom attend the annual conference.
2. Have you ever seen this machine in operation?
3. Often Mr. Sands was in a very cheerful mood.
4. He responded intuitively to the call for help.
5. Sometimes he drove fast, but he was not reckless.

Practice Exercise C
Complete each of these sentences by inserting an adjective or an adverb. If an adjective is
required, insert the adjective printed in parentheses. If an adverb is required, insert the
adverb formed from the adjective printed in parentheses.
1. The president of the company looked __________ on my suggestion. (cold)

2. Please return to the office as _________ as you can. (quick)

3. We shall need _______ more information before we can give you an answer.

(considerable)

4. I will _________ call you at your office at the time you have suggested. (sure)

5. The mistake she made has ________ caused her to feel __________ . (sure, bad)

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Adverbs

Practice Exercise D
Insert the word only at the proper places in these sentences. The sense in which only is to
be used in the sentence is indicated by the words in parentheses.
1. This offer holds good for ten days. (not more than ten days)

2. Ms. Simpson is able to do this work. (no one else can do it)

3. It will take a few minutes to get the figures. (not more than a few minutes)

4. I am calling to see whether I can be of further service. (for no other reason)

5. A person gets what he is worth. (not more than he is worth)

Practice Exercise E
In the blanks in these sentences insert good or well—whichever is correct.
1. She has been ill, and she still looks far from ________ .

2. Your handwriting is _______, and you write _________ .

3. He has done _______ in his new position.

4. Do you really feel __________ enough to come to the office?

5. He has not been a ________ man since he had that severe attack of illness last

winter.

Practice Exercise F
Underline the correct form in parentheses.
1. Mary has felt (bad, badly) since her last cold.
2. Jim arranged the layout (crooked, crookedly).
3. The host nation gave the delegates a (real, really) friendly reception.
4. An unknown arsonist set fire to (most, almost) all the houses on Quivira Road.
5. (Most, Almost) all the votes have now been counted.

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