An adverb is a composition, which conveys further information concerning an adverb or verb or an adjective or adverb or the entire sentence. To put it in simple terms, verbs inform us of what happens and adverbs inform us how, when, where, how many times or how much happens.
Examples of adverbs:
- “She runs quickly.” (how)
- “He arrived yesterday.” (when)
- “They live far away.” (where)
- “She is very kind.” (to what extent)
Types of Adverbs
Adverbs exist in a number of types. All of them are typically categorized into eight, and they provide answers to various questions.
- Adverbs of Manner – How? (quickly, slowly)
- Adverbs of Time – When? (now, tomorrow)
- Adverbs of Place – Where? (here, outside)
- Adverbs of Frequency – How often? (always, never)
- Adverbs of Degree – To what extent? (very, too)
- Adverbs of Certainty – How certain? (probably, surely)
- Adverbs of Emphasis or Focus – What is emphasized? (only, just)
- Sentence Adverbs – Modify whole sentences (fortunately, honestly)
How Adverbs Work in Sentences
- Adverbs usually come after verbs. Example: “He runs fast.”
- They can appear at the end of a sentence. Example: “We’ll meet later.”
- They sometimes come before adjectives or other adverbs. Example: “She is quite tall.”
- They can also appear at the beginning for emphasis. Example: “Unfortunately, we missed the train.”
Adverbs and Adjectives
- Adjectives describe nouns. Example: “a fast car.”
- Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Example: “He runs fast.”
Not every adverb ends with -ly (for example, fast, well), and not every word ending in -ly is an adverb (for example, friendly).
Forming Adverbs
- Add -ly to adjectives: slow → slowly
- Change y to i and add -ly: happy → happily
- Add -ally: basic → basically
- Some have irregular forms: well, hard, fast
Adverbs in Sentences
- “The child whispered softly.” (manner)
- “We will start the show soon.” (time)
- “The cat slept outside.” (place)
- “They always arrive early.” (frequency)
- “I’m quite certain of that.” (degree)
- “She will definitely attend.” (certainty)
- “He only eats vegetables.” (focus)
- “Fortunately, the weather cleared.” (sentence)
Learn Adverbs: Tips
- Practice spotting adverbs in sentences.
- Try turning adjectives into adverbs.
- Group adverbs by type and learn examples.
- Write your own sentences using different adverbs.
- Read stories and notice how adverbs are used.
Conclusion
Adverbs enrich our sentences, making them explain how, when, where, how many times or how much something takes place.
This knowledge of the eight categories of adverbs helps in making writing and speech more precise and vivid. Trying and examples allow learners to freely apply adverbs when creating more interesting and stronger sentences.
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