Meaning & use
adverb
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A word that describes or adds information to a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'an adverb', 'two adverbs'.
Patterns
- adverb of manner
- adverb of time
- adverb of degree
In 'She sings beautifully', 'beautifully' is an adverb.
Adverbs like 'quickly' and 'slowly' tell us how something happens.
The adverb 'very' modifies the adjective 'happy'.
Word forms
| plural | adverbs |
|---|
Common combinations
- adverb of frequency
- 'Always' and 'never' are adverbs of frequency.
- adverb clause
- An adverb clause can begin with 'because' or 'although'.
- form an adverb
- You often form an adverb by adding -ly to an adjective.
- adverb placement
- Adverb placement can change the emphasis in a sentence.
Synonyms and how they differ
- modifier
- Modifier is a broader term that includes adverbs and adjectives; adverb is more specific.
Word family
- adverbial adjective
- Relating to or functioning as an adverb.
- adverbially adverb
- In a way that relates to an adverb.
Commonly confused: adverb or adjective? adverb or verb?
adverb vs adjective
An adjective describes a noun (e.g., 'a quick runner'), while an adverb describes a verb (e.g., 'he runs quickly').
adverb vs verb
A verb shows an action or state, while an adverb describes how, when, or where that action happens.
Practice
Which word in the sentence 'She spoke softly' is an adverb?
Choose one answer.
'Softly' describes how she spoke, so it is an adverb. 'She' is a pronoun, and 'spoke' is a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “adverb”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.