What are adverbs?

What are adverbs?

1. 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 which are used to express how an action is performed. Although many adverbs end in "ly", lots do not, such as: fast, never, well, very, most, least, more, less, now, far, 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")

Click on the adverbs:

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

Adverbs of Time

Press the button now.
("now" - adverb of time)

I have never been.
("never" - adverb of time)

I tell him daily.
("daily" - adverb of time)

Adverbs of Place

Daisies grow everywhere.
("everywhere" - adverb of place)

I did not put it there.
("there" - adverb of place)

Adverbs of Manner

He passed the re-sit easily.
("easily" - adverb of manner)

The lion crawled stealthily.
("stealthily" - adverb of manner)

Adverbs of Degree

That is the farthest I have ever jumped.
("farthest" - adverb of degree)

He boxed more cleverly.
("more cleverly" - adverb of degree and manner.)
(This is covered more in the lesson "Comparatives")

3. Although the name "adverb" implies that they are only used with verbs, adverbs can also modify adjectives and other adverbs:

Examples:

The heavenly blue light shone on the water.
(The adverb "heavenly" modifies the adjective "blue".)

Peter had an extremely ashen face.
(The adverb "extremely" modifies the adjective "ashen".)

Badly trained dogs that fail the test will become pets.
(The adverb "badly" modifies the adjective "trained".)
("Trained" is an adjective formed from the verb "to train". This is covered in
the lesson "Verbs".)

She wore a beautifully designed dress.
(The adverb "beautifully" modifies the adjective "designed".)

Peter Jackson finished his assignment remarkably quickly.
(The adverb "quickly" modifies the verb "to finish". The adverb "remarkably"
modifies the adverb "quickly".)

Below are some common errors related to nouns:

When an adverb modifies an adjective, there is no need to join the two with a hyphen.

Examples:

Thomas was a highly respected member of the team.

(There is no need to join the adverb "highly" to the adjective "respected" with a hyphen.)

She passed him the most crimson apple in the basket.

(There is no need to join the adverb "most" to the adjective "crimson" with a
hyphen. Incidentally, "most" is an adverb of degree.)

Dawn was an exceptionally-talented teenager.

(There is no need to join the adverb "exceptionally" to the adjective "talented" with a hyphen.)

should be "neatly arranged"
(newspaper article)

WELL AND FAST

With words like "well" and "fast" (which are both adjectives and adverbs), a hyphen can be used to avoid ambiguity.

Examples:

We will be visited by a well-known actress.

(In this example, a hyphen is added to differentiate between "well-known" (i.e. a widely known actress) and "well" and "known" (i.e. healthy and recognised
actress). As unlikely, as the latter may be, it is grammatically feasible. The
hyphen eliminates all ambiguity.)

He tried to sell me 200 fast-growing chickens.

(A hyphen is added to differentiate between "fast-growing" (i.e. chickens which grow quickly) and "fast" and "growing" (i.e. chickens which are good runners and still growing). As unlikely as the latter may be, the hyphen eliminates all ambiguity.)

This is also covered in "hyphens in compound adjectives"

USE A HYPHEN WITH "WELL"

This simple rule will cover most situations: When preceding an adjective with an adverb, only use a hyphen if the adverb is the word "well".

well-known play

(< hyphen with "well")

widely known play

(< no hyphen with any other adverb)

Associated lessons:

What are adverbial clauses and phrases?
What are adjectives?
What are conjunctions?
What are interjections?
What are nouns?
What are prepositions?
What are pronouns?
What are verbs?