ADVERBS

Another type of describing word or modifier is the adverb. Adverbs limit, change, or alter the words they modify.

1.      ADVERBS MODIFY VERBS

He is driving.

This sentence tells you only that a person is doing an action. If an adverb is added, you will find out how he is driving, where he is driving, or when he is driving.

How is he driving? He is driving quickly.

Where is he driving? He is driving away.

When is he driving? He is driving now.

2.      ADVERBS MODIFY ADJECTIVES

In the following sentence, the noun sunset is described as beautiful. What part of speech is the word beautiful?

The campers saw a beautiful sunset.

Beautiful is an adjective modifying the noun sunset. If you want to tell how beautiful it was, you can add something in front of the adjective.

The campers saw a very beautiful sunset.

The campers saw a truly beautiful sunset.

When a word is added that expresses how beautiful the sunset was, or to what extent it was beautiful, that word is called an adverb. Thus very and truly are adverbs modifying the adjective beautiful?

Here are some of the words that can be used as adverbs in front of adjectives.

extremely                           somewhat

a little                                completely

really                                 tremendously

particularly                       especially

perfectly                            unusually

3.      ADVERBS MODIFY OTHER ADVERBS

Adverbs may also be used to modify other adverbs.

The dog ate quickly.

The adverb quickly modifies the verb ate and shows how the dog ate. By adding another adverb, we can find out how quickly the dog ate, as follows:

How quickly did the dog eat? The dog ate very quickly.

WORDS ENDING IN “LY”

Many adverbs are often made by adding ly to an adjective.

ADJECTIVE                  ADD -LY                    ADVERB

bright                                                                     brightly

easy                                   *first, change y to I       easily

soft                                                                        softly

full                                     *first, change ll to l       fully

careful                                                                   carefully

quick                                                                     quickly

* Check the dictionary if you are unsure about the correct spelling of any word.

WORDS THAT ARE ALWAYS ADVERBS

Some words can only be used as adverbs, never as adjectives. A list of these words follows.

The only way to remember these words is to memorize them, and learn to recognize them in

sentences.

well4                                 often

quite                                  surely

very                                   not

almost                                never

always                               so (He was so happy.)

usually

In the section on verb phrases, you learned that some small words can be found in the middle

of verb phrases, but they are not verbs. Those words are adverbs.

He was always asking questions.

He will never tell another lie.

Eric will not shop on Sundays.

I have often wondered about the moon.

WORDS THAT MAY BE ADVERBS OR ADJECTIVES

A few words can be used as adverbs or adjectives. Three examples of such words are early, fast, and late.

The train arrived early. (adverb)

 It was an early train. (adjective)

Penny drives fast. (adverb)

Penny is a fast driver. (adjective)

A student is late. (adverb)

There is a late student. (adjective)