Adverbs are used to modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb:

[1] Mary sings beautifully [2] David is extremely clever [3] This car goes incredibly fast

In [1], the adverb beautifully tells us how Mary sings. In [2], extremelytells us the degree to which David is clever. Finally, in [3], the adverbincredibly tells us how fast the car goes. Before discussing the meaning of adverbs, however, we will identify some of their formal characteristics.

Formal Characteristics of Adverbs

From our examples above, you can see that many adverbs end in -ly. More precisely, they are formed by adding -ly to an adjective:

Adjective slow Adverb

quick

soft

sudden

gradual

slowly quickly softly suddenly gradually

Because of their distinctive endings, these adverbs are known as -LYADVERBS. However, by no means all adverbs end in -ly. Note also that some adjectives also end in -ly, including costly, deadly, friendly, kindly, likely, lively, manly, and timely. Like adjectives, many adverbs are GRADABLE, that is, we can modify them using very or extremely: softly suddenly slowly very softly very suddenly extremely slowly

The modifying words very and extremely are themselves adverbs. They are called DEGREE ADVERBS because they specify the degree to which an adjective or another adverb applies. Degree adverbs includealmost, barely, entirely, highly, quite, slightly, totally, and utterly. Degree adverbs are not gradable (*extremely very). Like adjectives, too, some adverbs can take COMPARATIVE and SUPERLATIVE forms, with -er and -est:
John works hard -- Mary works harder -- I work hardest

However, the majority of adverbs do not take these endings. Instead, they form the comparative using more and the superlative using most: Adverb recently effectively frequently Comparative more recently Superlative most recently

more effectively most effectively more frequently most frequently

In the formation of comparatives and superlatives, some adverbs are irregular: Adverb well badly little much Comparative better worse less more Superlative best worst least most

Adverbs and Adjectives

Adverbs and adjectives have important characteristics in common -- in particular their gradability, and the fact that they have comparative and superlative forms. However, an important distinguishing feature is that adverbs do not modify nouns, either attributively or predicatively: Adjective David is a happy child David is happy Adverb *David is a happily child *David is happily

The following words, together with their comparative and superlative forms, can be both adverbs and adjectives:
early, far, fast, hard, late

The following sentences illustrate the two uses of early: Adjective I'll catch the early train Adverb I awoke early this morning

The comparative better and the superlative best, as well as some words denoting time intervals (daily, weekly, monthly), can also be adverbs or adjectives, depending on how they are used. We have incorporated some of these words into the following exercise. See if you can distinguish between the adverbs and the adjectives.

In each of the following pairs, indicate whether the highlighted word is an adverb or an adjective: 1a. My train arrived late, as usual 1b. I'm watching the late film

Adverb Adjective

Adverb Adjective

2a. My brother loves fast cars 2b. He drives too fast

Adverb Adjective

Adverb Adjective

3a. This exercise is harderthan I thought

Adverb

3b. I hope you'll try harder in future

Adjective

Adverb Adjective

4a. The Times is publisheddaily 4b. The Times is a dailynewspaper

Adverb Adjective Adverb Adjective

5a. You've just ruined my bestshirt 5b. Computers work best if you kick them
Adverb Adjective

Adverb Adjective

In each of the following sentences, indicate whether the highlighted word is an adverb of manner, time, or place.

1. The thief

crept silentlyacross the rooftops

Manner Time Place

2. I'm not feeling well today

Manner Time Place

3. The teacher

smiledenigmatically

Manner Time Place

4. We'll meet here after the match

Manner Time Place

5. My aunt never comes to visit

Manner Time Place

An adverb has been highlighted in each of the following sentences. Indicate whether it is additive, exclusive, or a particularizer. 1. I was especially pleased to read about your award

Additive Exclusive Particularizer

2. We're only trying to help, you know

Additive Exclusive Particularizer

3. The rise in sea level

islargely due to global warming

Additive Exclusive Particularizer

4. Roberts was both a coward and a thief

Additive Exclusive Particularizer

5. Realism is preciselywhat I'm looking for

Additive Exclusive Particularizer

Exercise on the Form of Adverbs

Find the adjective in the first sentence and fill the gap with the adverb.
happily

1. Joanne is happy. She smiles 2. The boy is loud. He shouts

.

3. Her English is fluent. She speaks English 4. Our mum was angry. She spoke to us 5. My neighbour is a careless driver. He drives 6. The painter is awful. He paints
. .

7. Jim is a wonderful piano player. He plays the piano 8. This girl is very quiet. She often sneaks out of the house 9. She is a good dancer. She dances really 10. This exercise is simple. You EXERCISE - TYPES OF ADVERBS Choose the most suitable adverb in bold to fill each blank: angrily, enough, never, outside, yesterday
.

. .

have to put one word in each space.

1. She left _____ for the university where she is doing a degree course. 2. We are standing _____ his house waiting for him.

3. He told us _____ not to walk on the grass. 4. I am not strong _____ to help him carry that box. 5. She will _____ be happy in that job.