An adverb is a powerhouse of a word, acting as a modifier or descriptor for various parts of speech. Think of it as a spotlight, illuminating and adding depth to verbs (“He spoke softly“), adjectives (“incredibly brave”), other adverbs (“moved remarkably quickly”), and even entire sentences (“Undoubtedly, grammar is essential.”).
Essentially, adverbs are your go-to for enriching sentences with extra layers of meaning. They paint a clearer picture by specifying how, when, where, to what extent, or how often an action unfolds. They bring nuance to the manner, time, location, frequency, or intensity of an action or characteristic.
While many adverbs are easily recognized by their -ly ending, it’s worth noting that some adverbs, like “fast,” share their form with their adjective counterparts.
Adverbs are also capable of expressing comparison (“more skillfully,” “most skillfully“) and should ideally be positioned near the words they are modifying to maintain clarity and avoid any ambiguity.
However, a word of caution: avoid the temptation to overuse adverbs. Often, a stronger verb or a more descriptive adjective can communicate your intended meaning with greater impact and efficiency.
Adverbs are undeniably versatile tools for sentence construction, but understanding their correct application can sometimes feel like navigating a maze. In this guide, we’ll demystify adverbs using clear rules and illustrative examples. We’ll explore their definition, proper usage, and situations where it’s best to exercise restraint.
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Table of contents
Adverbs and Degrees of Comparison
Common Adverb Mistakes to Avoid
Adverb Definition {#adverb-definition}
Adverbs are words that serve as modifiers to verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or even entire sentences. Their primary function is to provide supplementary details about how, where, when, to what extent, or how often something occurs.
A common characteristic of adverbs is the -ly suffix, but this isn’t a universal rule.
Consider these examples:
The athlete performed poorly in the competition.
The skyscraper is exceptionally tall.
The presentation concluded abruptly.
Fortunately, the weather cleared up for the event.
Flat Adverbs
Flat adverbs, also known as bare adverbs, are unique because they maintain the same form as their corresponding adjectives. Common examples include fast, hard, early, late, straight, and loud.
Examples:
Please drive fast; we’re running late.
He worked hard to achieve his goals.
Arrive early to get a good seat.
Speak loud and clear so everyone can hear you.
Interestingly, some flat adverbs have alternate forms ending in -ly. For instance, safe/safely, slow/slowly, and bright/brightly are pairs where both forms are grammatically correct as adverbs.
The sun is shining bright [or brightly] this morning.
Please drive safe [or safely] on your trip.
A table showing showing the definition of an adverb with common adverbs that describe how, when, where, how much, and how often.
Alt text: Adverb definition table with common adverbs illustrating how, when, where, how much, and how often adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
How Adverbs Modify Different Parts of Speech and Sentences
Let’s break down how adverbs interact with verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, and sentences:
- Verb: Adverbs specify the manner, time, place, or extent of an action. (Example: The cheetah runs swiftly.)
- Adjective: Adverbs intensify or add degree to an adjective. (Example: The diamond is remarkably brilliant.)
- Adverb: When modifying another adverb, an adverb refines or strengthens its meaning. (Example: She danced exceptionally gracefully.)
- Sentence: Adverbs can express the speaker’s attitude or provide a general viewpoint on the entire sentence. (Example: Regrettably, the store was closed.)
Adverbs and Verbs {#adverbs-and-verbs}
Adverbs are most frequently used to modify verbs. They enrich the verb’s action by providing details about the manner, time, place, frequency, or degree of that action.
Manner
Adverbs of manner describe how an action is performed. Here are some examples to illustrate:
He speaks Spanish fluently.
The dog wagged its tail happily.
She handled the situation skillfully.
Time
Adverbs of time indicate when an action takes place. Consider these examples:
The train will arrive soon.
She finished her project yesterday.
We plan to travel next year.
Adverbs of time can also specify the duration of an action, answering the question of how long.
The meeting lasted briefly.
The rain continued throughout the night.
Place
Adverbs of place specify where an action occurs. Examples include:
Please come here.
They searched for the keys everywhere.
The birds flew overhead.
Frequency
Adverbs of frequency tell us how often an action happens.
She always checks her email in the morning.
They visit their grandparents occasionally.
He rarely eats fast food.
Degree
Adverbs of degree describe to what extent an action is performed.
I partially agree with your opinion.
She is completely exhausted after the marathon.
They are deeply grateful for your help.
Tip: To ensure you’re using adverbs correctly in your writing, utilize Grammarly to check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Grammarly also offers proofreading capabilities to refine your text for clarity and polish.
Adverbs and Adjectives {#adverbs-and-adjectives}
Adverbs also play a role in modifying adjectives. Typically positioned before the adjectives they modify, they add nuance to the adjective’s description of a noun.
This added detail often relates to the degree to which a quality is present, how true it is, or its frequency.
Manner
When an adverb of manner modifies an adjective, it provides insight into how the adjective applies to the noun.
Observe the subtle difference in meaning in these sentences, where different manner adverbs modify the same adjective (calm) describing the same noun (sea):
The sea was surprisingly calm for a stormy day.
The sea was dangerously calm before the hurricane.
Degree
An adverb of degree modifying an adjective communicates the intensity or extent of the adjective’s quality, either in isolation or in comparison.
The coffee is extremely hot.
This movie is less exciting than I expected.
The soup was slightly too salty for my taste.
Frequency
Adverbs of frequency indicate how often an adjective is true about a noun.
He is usually cheerful in the mornings.
My dog is rarely aggressive towards strangers.
Adverbs and Other Adverbs {#adverbs-and-other-adverbs}
Adverbs can also modify other adverbs, adding another layer of detail to the original adverb’s modification.
Adverbs that modify other adverbs primarily convey degree, answering the question of to what extent or how intensely the principal adverb applies.
In this sentence, the adverb of degree (quite) modifies the adverb of manner (effectively):
The medicine worked quite effectively.
Here’s another example where a degree adverb (incredibly) modifies an adverb of time (quickly):
The project was completed incredibly quickly.
Multiple Adverbs Together
Because adverbs can modify other adverbs, it’s grammatically feasible to use multiple adverbs in sequence, each modifying the subsequent one. This can be effective for emphasizing intensity, particularly in informal or emotionally charged contexts, or to create a specific tonal emphasis.
Examples:
She is so incredibly, undeniably talented in music.
He felt they were not quite adequately prepared for the challenge.
However, using multiple adverbs in this way should be done judiciously. Overuse can lead to sentences that sound hesitant, convoluted, weak, or awkward. Consider this example:
He ran unbelievably excessively fast.
Adverbs and Sentences {#adverbs-and-sentences}
Certain adverbs, known as sentence adverbs or conjunct adverbs, modify entire sentences. Common examples include however, therefore, furthermore, indeed, certainly, and fortunately.
The meaning of a sentence adverb applies to the speaker or writer’s overall stance or perspective on the entire sentence, rather than modifying a specific element within the sentence.
Examples:
Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident.
Surprisingly, the event was a huge success.
Sentence adverbs often convey rhetorical nuances like certainty, doubt, or anticipation of counterarguments.
Clearly, more research is needed on this topic.
Arguably, this is the most effective solution.
Admittedly, there are some challenges to overcome.
Adverbs and Degrees of Comparison {#adverbs-and-degrees-of-comparison}
Similar to adjectives, many adverbs can express degrees of comparison. These are typically adverbs that have corresponding adjectives, including many formed with the -ly suffix.
The three degrees of comparison are absolute, comparative, and superlative.
Absolute
The absolute (or positive) degree is the base form of the adverb. It expresses a quality directly, without comparison.
She spoke kindly.
He wrote the report carefully.
Comparative
The comparative degree is used to compare how two entities perform an action in terms of the adverb’s quality. For most adverbs ending in -ly, the comparative is formed by adding “more.”
She spoke more kindly than her colleague.
This report is more carefully written than the previous one.
Superlative
The superlative degree compares three or more entities, indicating the highest degree of the adverb’s quality. For -ly adverbs, the superlative is formed with “most.”
She spoke most kindly of all the staff members.
This is the most carefully written report I have ever reviewed.
Flat Adverbs and Degrees of Comparison
Flat adverbs follow the same comparative and superlative forms as their adjective counterparts.
Could you speak louder, please?
Of all the runners, she ran fastest.
Placement of Adverbs {#placement-of-adverbs}
Adverb placement is crucial for sentence clarity. While there’s some flexibility, following guidelines ensures your meaning is effectively conveyed.
With Single-Word Verbs
Adverbs modifying verbs should be placed as close to the verb as possible. Often, they precede intransitive verbs:
She smiled radiantly.
However, some adverbs naturally fit between the subject and intransitive verb:
They always eat breakfast together.
With transitive verbs, the clearest placement is usually after the verb’s object. Never separate a transitive verb from its direct object:
They painted the house beautifully.
With Verb Phrases
When modifying a verb phrase, the adverb typically sits in the middle of the phrase.
We are rapidly approaching our destination.
He has consistently demonstrated excellent skills.
With Adjectives and Other Adverbs
Adverbs modifying adjectives or other adverbs should be placed immediately before the word they modify:
She is exceptionally talented.
He drove incredibly fast.
With the Adverb “Only”
Pay special attention to the placement of “only,” a common misplaced modifier. Consider the difference:
He only drank water. (He did nothing else but drink water.)
He drank only water. (He drank water but nothing else.)
The first sentence implies water was the only action, while the second specifies water as the sole beverage.
Common Adverb Mistakes to Avoid {#common-adverb-mistakes-to-avoid}
While adverbs are essential, misuse can weaken your writing. Recognizing common pitfalls is key.
Superfluous Adverbs
Sometimes, adverbs are redundant. If a verb or adjective is weak without an adverb, consider using a stronger word instead. Compare:
He spoke very angrily.
He raged.
“Raged” is more impactful than “spoke very angrily.”
Intensifier Overuse
Degree adverbs like very, really, extremely, and quite are easily overused. Excessive use can dilute their impact and sound insincere.
Instead of: “The movie was very, very good.”
Try: “The movie was exceptional.”
Sentence Adverb Pitfalls
Be cautious with sentence adverbs like clearly, obviously, certainly, and inarguably, especially in persuasive or academic writing. Overuse can weaken your claims if the statements aren’t genuinely beyond question.
Adverbs with Linking Verbs
Linking verbs (feel, smell, sound, seem, appear) connect subjects to adjectives, not adverbs.
Incorrect: He feels terribly.
Correct: He feels terrible. (“Terrible” describes his state, not the act of feeling).
Misplacement
Incorrect adverb placement can create awkward sentences or change meaning entirely.
Ambiguous: I almost finished the entire book. (Did you nearly finish, or finish almost all?)
Clearer: I nearly finished the entire book. (Nearly completed)
Clearer: I finished almost the entire book. (Completed most of it)
Adverb FAQs {#adverb-faqs}
What are adverbs used for?
Adverbs enrich language by modifying verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, and sentences, providing details about manner, time, place, degree, frequency, and reason.
How can you identify adverbs?
Identify adverbs by looking for words answering how, when, where, to what extent, or why. Many end in -ly, but not all.
What are some common examples of adverbs?
Common adverbs include:
- really, very
- well, badly
- today, yesterday, daily
- sometimes, often, seldom
- early, late, soon
- here, there, everywhere
Where do adverbs go in sentences?
Place adverbs close to the modified word to avoid confusion. Before adjectives (“very kind”) or after verbs (“speaks softly“).
When should you avoid adverbs?
Avoid unnecessary adverbs. Opt for stronger verbs or adjectives for clearer, more impactful writing.
