What is an adverb?
• An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an
adjective, or another adverb.
– Explorers eagerly chase adventure.
• Eagerly is an adverb because it is modifying the verb,
chase.
– Some explorers visit amazingly beautiful places.
• Amazingly is an adverb because it is modifying the
adjective, beautiful.
– Others quite bravely explore the unknown- space.
• Quite is an adverb because it is modifying the adverb,
bravely, which is modifying the verb explore.
Adverbs answer the questions how, when,
where, or to what extent.
- How? suddenly, carefully, sadly
- When? now, later, soon
- Where? there, up, ahead
- To What Extent? completely,
totally, fully
Adverbs can appear in different positions in
sentences.
– The tourists boarded the bus eagerly. [after
the verb]
– The tourists eagerly boarded the bus. [before
the verb]
– Eagerly, the tourists boarded the bus. [at the
beginning]
Commonly Used Adverbs
slightly
always
completely
partially
hardly
ever
how
quite
rather
especially
how
almost
often
too
still
not
never
somewhat
later
already
here
there
when
where
then
now
• Adverbs that modify adjectives or other
adverbs usually come directly before the
words they modify. They usually answer
the question to what extent.
– Marco Polo told really wonderful tales of
China.
• really modifies the adjective, wonderful.
– People were very eager to hear his stories.
• very modifies the adjective, eager.
– They nearly always hung on every word.
• Nearly modifies the adverb, always.
Attitude Adverbs
􀂃 Attitude adverbs express the writer’s attitude toward the state
or action described in the sentence.
􀂃 Some common attitude adverbs are
fortunately, luckily, obviously.
􀂃 Fortunately, there was no need to debug the circuit.
􀂃 Obviously, you need to debug the circuit.
Sentence Adverbs
• Sentence adverbs express the certainty or uncertainty of the state or
action described in the sentence.
Some common sentence adverbs are certainly,
possibly, and probably.
􀂃 Computers certainly have changed our lives.
􀂃 Computers have certainly changed our lives.
Time Adverbs
􀂃 Some common time adverbs are
already, always, ever, finally, frequently,
just, and never.
􀂃 Computers are already standard equipment in most
elementary schools.
􀂃 Frequently, students are already familiar with
computers when they enter the first grade.
Manner Adverbs
􀂃 Some
common manner adverbs are
carefully, quietly, slowly, quickly, and
well.
􀂃 The students guided the robot slowly and carefully
through the designated turns.
􀂃 The students slowly and carefully guided the robot
through the designated turns.
􀂃 Quantity Adverbs
Quantity adverbs modify the quantity or intensity of an adjective, a
verb, or another adverb. They typically are placed immediately
before the words they modify.
Quantity Adverbs
Some common quantity adverbs are
almost, completely, especially, hardly,
just, nearly, only, quite, really, relatively,
extremely, and very.
􀂃
􀂃 Electrical engineers have just recently begun to
question whether or not the use of fiber optics is
cost effective.
􀂃 Opinions are quite diverse on that subject
Degrees of Adverbs:
􀂃 Like adjectives, adverbs can appear in the positive, comparative, or
superlative degree:
􀂃 rapidly [positive]
􀂃 more rapidly [comparative]
􀂃 most rapidly [superlative]
Comparative Adverbs
􀂃 All adverbs ending in –ly and certain other
adverbs, especially long ones, form the comparative by the addition
of the word more or less.
􀂃 We performed the experiment more quickly than we expected
[comparative with more].
􀂃 The robot completed the course less rapidly than we thought it
would [comparative with less].