Learning English Grammar: The Adverb

Adverbs are words that give more information about verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs in a sentence. Adverbs are also known as modifiers as they modify the meaning of a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs modify phrases, too.

Let us analyze the definition with the help of examples:

1. She writes beautifully.
2. This mango is very sour.
3. The doctor dealt with Rita quite patiently.

In sentence number one, writes is the verb in the sentence. The answer to the question "how does she write?" is beautifully. The word beautifully is an adverb as it is giving additional information about the verb write.

In sentence number two, sour is the adjective as it tells us the quality of the subject mango. The answer to the question "how sour is the mango?" is answered by the word very. The word very is an adverb as it gives additional information about the adjective sour.

In the case of sentence number three, let us first look at the sentence as "The doctor dealt with Rita patiently." The answer to the question "how did the doctor deal with Rita?" is patiently. Since patiently is describing the verbal phrase dealt with, it is an adverb as per the definition. In the original sentence "The doctor dealt with Rita quiet patiently", the word quite gives more information about the adverb patiently. As per the definition, an adverb gives more information about other adverbs, too. Hence, quite is also an adverb in the sentence.

Some more examples of adverbs are:

1. Reena walks smartly.
2. Sam sings delightfully.
3. One can only guess.
4. Even though they were in the same city, they rarely met.
5. Are you seated comfortably?

Adverbs also modify phrases. For example:

1. The teacher was standing right on my head.
2. She was dressed entirely in pink.
3. We had quite a good time.

An adverb at the beginning of a sentence modifies the complete sentence. For example:

1. Probably, it is a case of mistaken identity.
2. Certainly, you are right about this.

Adverbs give different information about the words they modify. They could give more information about the manner of doing a thing or the timing. According to what information adverbs give about other words, adverbs are of the following kinds:

Adverbs of Time: Words that give us additional information about the time of an event are known as adverbs of time. Examples of adverbs of time are:

1. We are going for a movie later.
2. May I speak to Ms. Rhea? Is she available now?

Adverbs of time answer the question "when?" Working with example one, the answer to the question "when are you going for the movie?" is later. Later is the adverb of time in this sentence.

Adverbs of Frequency: Adverbs of frequency tell how often something happens or is done. Some examples are:

1. Always eat your vegetables.
2. Is she usually in by nine o’clock?

Adverbs of frequency answer the question "how often?" Working with example one, the answer to the question "how often should you eat your vegetables?" is always. Always is the adverb of frequency in this sentence.

Adverbs of Place: Words that give us more information about the place of the event are adverbs of place. Examples of adverbs of place are:

1. The dog followed the child everywhere.
2. John’s house is located there.

Adverbs of place are always the answer to the question "where?" Working with example one, the answer to the question "where did the dog follow the child?" is everywhere. Everywhere is the adverb of place in this example.

Adverbs of Manner: Adverbs of manner provide information on how a thing is done. They answer the question "how?" Let us look at some examples:

1. The child recited the poem well.
2. Sumi dresses very smartly.

Working with example one, the answer to the question "how did the child recite the poem?" is well. In this example, well is the adverb of manner because it tells how the poem was recited.

Adverbs of Duration, Degree, or Quantity: Adverbs giving information about how much, how long, or to what degree an act was done are adverbs of duration, degree, or quantity. Examples of these adverbs are:

1. She was quite vocal about her thoughts.
2. Surubhi is very caring.
3. The restrooms were temporarily out of order.

The answer to the question "how caring is she?" is very. Very is the adverb of degree in sentence number two.

It is important to place adverbs at the right place in a sentence for the correct meaning.

Adverbs of manner, degree, place are placed after the verb or phrase they modify. For example:

• Shradha speaks softly. (Softly is the adverb of manner)
• Put the flowers there. (There is the adverb of place)

Adverbs of frequency are usually placed before the verbs they modify and after the subject. For example:

• Mother always cooks at home.

Some adverbs (sometimes, normally, usually) of frequency are placed at the beginning of the sentence.

• Sometimes, cooking becomes an adventure.

In case two or more adverbs are being used in a sentence, the normal order is adverb of manner, followed by adverb of place, followed by adverb of time.

• She spoke emphatically (adverb of manner) here (adverb of place) already (adverb of time).

When an adverb is modifying an adjective or another adverb, it is placed before the word being modified.

• The story is rather interesting.

Underline the adverbs in the following sentences:

1. The teacher scolded loudly.
2. Sweena smiles beautifully.
3. Sharma’s are a very hospitable family.
4. I’m nearly through with my assignment.
5. Ruby is often late for the class.
6. The story is extremely frightening.
7. Sam is unduly rash in his behavior.
8. Sometimes, I relish non-vegetarian food.
9. Set the table here.
10. On seeing a monkey, the children ran here and there.

Answers: loudly, beautifully, very, through, often, extremely, unduly, sometimes, here, here and there

Ref: High School English Grammar- Wrenn & Martin, Collins Cobuild Students Grammar