Adverbs – Concept and Its Types

Adverbs 

Adverbs are words that describe verbs. They describe the way an action is happening. 

An adverb tells us more about a verb. 

For example:He ran quickly.  

Here ran is the verb. “Quickly” denotes how he ran. “Quickly” is the adverb. 

Adverbs can modify adjectives and other adverbs. 

Adverbs are words that modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb or sometimes a whole sentence. 

Adverbs modifying an adjective 

For example: He is smart. 

Here, smart is an adjective. 

He is really smart. 

Here, “really” is an adverb that describes the adjective “smart”. 

Adverbs modifying another adverb 

For example: He ran very fast. 

Here, fast is an adverb that says how Tom ran. It describes the verb ran. 

Very is another adverb that modifies fast. 

Adverbs modifying a sentence are called sentence adverbs.  

For example: Fortunately, we didn’t miss the class. 

Adverbs are often formed by adding –ly to adjectives.  

For example: Slowly, carefully 

There are exceptions to this, such as everywhere, nowhere, etc. 

Adverbs modify other words to answer questions such as how (beautifully), when (yesterday), where (there), how often (almost) and to what extent (often). 

Adverbs can be identified by determining their function in a sentence. 

Types of adverbs 

The different types of adverbs are: 

Adverbs of manner- This type indicates how something happens. 

For example: Quickly, slowly 

Adverbs of time – This type indicates when something happens. 

For example: Yesterday, next week 

Adverbs of place – This type of adverb shows where something happens. 

For example: Here, there 

Adverbs of degree – This type of adverb shows how much of something happens. 

For example: Almost, so 

Adverbs of frequency – This type denotes how often something happens. 

For example: Always, often 

Position of adverbs 

Adverbs take different positions in a sentence depending on whether it modifies an adjective, another adverb or a verb. 

Adverbs that modify an adjective or an adverb come in the middle of the sentence. 

We had a really tough time. 

Here, “really” is the adverb that describes the adjective “tough”. 

She drove the car very slowly. 

Here “very” is the adverb which describes another adverb “slowly”. 

Adverbs that modify verbs are positioned based on the type of adverb. 

Adverbs of manner or place usually appear at the end of the sentence. 

For example: She spoke feebly. 

Let’s go outside.  

If an adverb shows a definite time, it is placed at the end of the sentence. 

For example: The train arrived yesterday. 

If an adverb shows indefinite time, it is placed in the middle of the sentence, between the subject and the main verb. 

For example: John often visits us.