Grammar 3.3
What Is an Adverb?
What Is an Adverb?
An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Although adverbs
may modify adjectives and other adverbs, they generally modify verbs.
Modifying a verb
Historians strongly believe that the Chinese invented rockets.
→ verb: believe
→ adverb: strongly
Modifying an adjective
Ancient Chinese warriors fired very powerful rockets.
→ adjective: powerful
→ adverb: very
Modifying another adverb
Today, rockets almost always power missiles and spacecraft.
→ adverb: always
→ adverb: almost
A Sentence Without Adverbs
An Adverb Modifying a Verb
An Adverb Modifying an
Adjective
An Adverb Modifying an
Adverb
Adverbs Modifying a Verb,
Adjective, and Adverb
Position of Adverbs
The position of adverbs can vary. An adverb that modifies an adjective or
another adverb is generally placed just before the word it modifies.
The dog is extremely cute. (before adjective)
When driving, I tire too quickly. (before adverb)
An adverb that modifies a verb can be placed after the verb, before the verb,
between parts of the verb phrase, at the beginning of the sentence, or at the
end of the sentence.
The rocket ascended suddenly. (after verb)
The rocket suddenly ascended. (before verb)
The rocket is suddenly ascending. (between parts of a verb phrase)
Suddenly, the rocket ascended. (at beginning of sentence)
The rocket ascended into the air suddenly. (at end of sentence)
Adverbs as Intensifiers
Intensifiers are adverbs that modify adjectives or other adverbs. They are
usually placed directly before the words they modify. Intensifiers usually answer
the question to what extent.
Intensifiers
almost
especially
extremely
nearly
quite
really
so
very
too
usually
We covered our ears very quickly at the shuttle launch.
→ very intensifies another adverb (quickly)
Adverbs Modifying Verbs
Adverbs that modify verbs will answer one of these four questions: Where?
When? In what way? To what extent?
These adverbs are also known as adverbs of place (where), adverbs of time
(when), adverbs of manner (in what way), and adverbs of degree (to what
extent).
Where
push upward
fell there
stay nearby
go outside
is here
jump away
drove down
When
will leave soon
comes daily
swims often
exhibits yearly
report later
come tomorrow
went yesterday
In What Way
works carefully
speaks well
chews noisily
acted willingly
walk quietly
smiled happily
moved gracefully
To What Extent
hardly ate
really surprised
almost cried
partly finished
nearly won
fully agree
totally oppose
Adverbs Modifying Verbs
(cont.)
Negative adverbs, such as not, never, and nowhere, also modify verbs.
Mark never arrived at the meeting.
verb: arrives
adverb: never
She could not understand the essay.
verb (phrase): could understand
adverb: not
The line of questioning led nowhere.
verb: led
adverb: nowhere
Adverbs Modifying Verbs
(cont.)
Read the sentences. Write the adverb in each sentence and list the question it
answers: when? where? in what way? to what extent?
1. We have had good success lately.
→ lately -- when?
2. Jared climbed the rock wall slowly and carefully.
→ slowly -- in what way?
→ carefully -- in what way?
3. We hardly noticed the storm brewing.
→ hardly -- to what extent
4. I need your help now.
→ now -- when?
5. The coach almost tripped over the equipment on the floor.
→ almost -- to what extent?
6. Ike quietly walked away from the disturbance.
→ quietly -- in what way?
→ away -- where?
Adverbs Modifying Adj. and
Other Adv.
An adverb modifying an adjective or another adverb only answers one
question: to what extent?
Modifying adjectives
very upset
definitely wrong
extremely tall
not hungry
Your very upset mother is going to ground you.
That answer is definitely wrong.
Modifying adverbs (1st word in each sentence is a verb)
traveled less slowly move very carefully
lost too early
lived almost happily
I traveled less slowly with a partner than going solo.
When your hand is near a scorpion, move very carefully.
Adverbs and the Words
They Modify
Read the sentences. Write down each adverb. Then, write down the word it
modifies and tell whether that word is a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
1. Ashley looks extremely serious.
→ extremely modifies serious (adjective)
2. Dad usually naps after working too hard.
→ usually modifies naps (verb)
→ too modifies hard (adjective)
3. Because of the weather, the traffic was moving very slowly.
→ very modifies slowly (adverb)
→ slowly modifies moving (verb)
4. I often walk in the park to think.
→ often modifies walk (verb)
5. She spoke rather inappropriately.
→ rather modifies inappropriately (adverb)
→ inappropriately modifies spoke (verb)
Forming Adverbs
Many adverbs are formed by adding the -ly suffix to adjectives. Sometimes a
base word’s spelling changes when -ly is added.
Adjective
sudden
true
heavy
Rule
add -ly
drop the e and add -ly
change the y to i and add -ly
Adverb
suddenly
truly
heavily
The -ly suffix does not always denote an adverb. There are many adjectives
that end in -ly. For instance: friendly, likely, and lovely.
The friendly cat jumped on my shoulder. → friendly is an adjective
Don’t just assume a word is an adjective or an adverb. Look for what the word
modifies. Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns. Adverbs modify verbs,
adjectives, or other adverbs.