Types of Adverbs

• Definition
• Adverbs of Manner
• Adverbs of Time
• Adverbs of Place
• Adverbs of Frequency
• Adverbs of Degree
• Interrogative Adverbs
• Adverbs of Reason
• Exercises

THE ADVERB

Definition :
An adverb is used to modify an adjective, a verb or other adverb. It tells us about an action, or the way 
something is done.

An adverb can be formed from an adjective by adding the suffix -ly.

e.g.

Drive carefuly She writes neatly

He acts cleverly She gets up early in the morning

Westerns can be very exciting She yelled loudly

Drive carefuly Whose car is this?

Note : It’s important to keep in mind that not all -ly words are adverbs. Some can be adjectives: friendly,
neighborly, yearly, mannerly, daily, lovely, elderly, and cowardly, to name just a few. If the -ly modifies a noun or
pronoun is called adjective. If the -ly modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb is called adverb.

Adverbs answer four specific questions about the verbs, adjectives, and adverbs they modify:
e.g.

How? quickly, gracefully, fluently

When? late, never, tomorrow

Where? there, inside, below

How often? very, well, almost

Adverb Phrases

Adverb phrases are groups of words that functions as single adverbs to describe the action of the verb.
e.g.

The bus arrived on time

She draws cartoons like a real cartoonist

What is a simple adverb?

Definition :
An adverb used as a simple modifier to convey degree, manner, number, place, or time.

Two Adverbs sometimes go together, joined by the conjunction and; as

e.g.

again and again now and then

by and by once and again

far and wide out and out

first and foremost off and on

far and wide over and above

ADVERB OF MANNER

Definition :
Adverbs of manner are mostly formed from Adjectives by adding ‐ly.

These adverbs express in what manner or how an action is done.

e.g.

Adjective Adverb

wise wisly

quick quickly

clever cleverly
foolish foolishly

wonderful wonderfully

e.g.

Nancy dances gracefully on the stage

The girls answered all the questions correctly

The plane landed safely

Mr.David speaks English fluently

The bird flies swiftly

My uncle is badly in need of money

Alexander fought bravely

You can buy fruit very cheaply in this shop

He was driving carelessly

He left quickly

My brother works hard

Maria sings well

When the Adjective ends in -y preceded by a consonant, change -y into -i and add -ly as,
e.g.

Adjective Adverb

ready readily

heavy heavily
easy easily

happy happily

When the Adjective ends in -le simply change -e into -y; as

e.g.

Adjective Adverb

single singly

simple simply

double doubly

Some Advers are made up of a Noun and a qualifying Adjective; as

e.g.

single singly

simple simply

double doubly

Position of Adverb

Adverbs of Manner, which answer the question ‘How’ are generally placed after the verb or after the object if
there is one; as,
e.g.

She speaks French fluently

He does his work carefully

It is raining heavily

ADVERB OF TIME

Definition :
Adverbs of time express the time of an aciton

These adverbs express in which or when an action is done.

e.g.

Mrs.Nancy arrived late for the party

The train has already left

We moved into our new house last week

Mr.David never listens to me

They are coming now

I was waiting in the bus stop until 6 p.m

My brother goes to college in the autumn

It rained heavily last night

Go to bed early

We’ll leave as soon as possible

Never tell a lie

Since my birth, I have been keeping this

Adverbs of Time are usually placed after the verb or after the object if there is one; as,

e.g.

I went there yesterday

She is getting married next week

ADVERB OF PLACE

Definition :
These express or point out the place of an action.

e.g.
Come here

Come in

Go there

The boys are playing upstairs

They live in a house nearby

We’re going to New York City on our school trip

My brother is studying at an English university

Please let me in

Keep the mice away

The bus will stop here as soon as it arrives

Adverbs of Place are usually placed after the verb or after the object if there is one; as,

e.g.

They will go there

She will come here

ADVERB OF FREQUENCY

Definition :
Position of adverbs of frequency which answer the question ‘How often?’

These Adverbs tell us how often or how frequently an action takes place.
e.g.

She always like black tea

She seldom goes there

Sometimes I feel bad

I never expect this again

David never comes here

We’ve been to Disneyland twice

The newspaper is delivered daily

I clean my bedroom every week

You should go to the dentist once every six months

If the adverb is am, is, are, was, were, these adverbs are placed after the verb.
e.g.

She is always late

He was never absent

I am always at home on Saturday

In the case of other verbs, they are put before the verb.

e.g.

She seldom comes here

They frequently go there

I never do such a thing

When there are two verbs, these adverbs are placed after the auxiliary verb

e.g.

He will certainly help you

I can easily answer this question

She has already passed the examination

ADVERB OF DEGREE OR QUANTITY

Definition :
Adverbs of Degree which show how much, or in what degree or to what extent.

e.g.

very extremely too

completely greatly nearly

well almost here

hardly fully enough

altogether for in this

for this quite rather

These Adverbs express the degree or extent of an action.

e.g.

You are quite right

He helped me greatly

He hardly works

I donot have any experience in this

I am rather busy

She is fully prepared

I have enough food

You are partly responsible for this

The tank is almost full

We all had gone altogether

She sings pretty well

I finish the work almost

INTERROGATIVE ADVERBS

Definition :
Adverbs of Degree which are used in asking quetions.

e.g.

Why are you late?

When did you come?

Where are you going?

Why did you go there?

Whence will the train arrive?

ADVERBS OF REASON OR PURPOSE

Definition :
These Adverbs express the reason for or purpose of an action

e.g.

She therefore left college

The teacher is ill and therefore is unable to come to school

Michel was hence neglected by the teachers

He gets the award consequently of his talent

The bell rang so he left the school

He said thus to accept

On account of rain the match was postponed

Since it is hot, I am very tired

ADVERB PHRASES - EXERCISES

Exercise -1

Insert the given adverbs (or adverb phrases) in their normal position :

1. They are busy. (always)  Answer  

2. The train has left. (just)  Answer  

3. A miser likes visitors. (never)  Answer  

4. I drink wine. (never)  Answer  

5. She goes to the cinema. (seldom)  Answer  

6. Is he there? (still)  Answer  

7. He is on time for meals. (never)  Answer  

8. I know the answer. (already)  Answer  

9. She is late. (sometimes)  Answer  

10. Have you seen a ghost? (ever)  Answer  

Exercise -2

Insert the given adverbs (or adverb phrases) in their normal position :

1. Have you spoken in a public meeting?. (never)  Answer  
2. Have you visited a planetarium?. (ever)  Answer  

3. Do you sit up till late in the night?. (always)  Answer  

4. How do you go to the library?. (often)  Answer  

5. Do you write letters to frinds?. (often)  Answer  

6. Do you speak English outside the college? (ever)  Answer  

7. How do you brush your teeth?. (often)  Answer  

8. We eat out. (occasionally)  Answer  

9. Barking dogs bite. (seldom)  Answer  

10. They have had trouble with their car. (never)  Answer