An adverb is a word that modifies (gives more information about) a verb, an adjective, or another adverb in a sentence.

Example 1.

• Sara is laughing.
• Sara is laughing loudly.

In the above example, the verb ‘laugh’ expresses an action. In the second sentence, the word ‘loudly’ is an adverb because it provides more information about the verb ‘laugh’. In the first sentence, only the action (laughing) is conveyed. However, in the second sentence, the adverb ‘loudly’ adds further detail by indicating that the sound of the laughter is loud. A word that modifies (gives more information about) a verb in this way is called an adverb.

Example 2.

• David is driving a car.
• David is driving a car carelessly.

In the above example, the verb ‘drive’ expresses an action. In the first sentence, we are only informed that David is driving the car. In the second sentence, the adverb ‘carelessly’ provides additional information about how David is driving. It indicates that the action of driving is being performed in a careless manner. Therefore, the adverb ‘carelessly’ modifies the verb ‘drive’.

   Formation of Adverbs

  Most adverbs are formed by adding “-ly” at the end of an adjective. e.g., fluently, quickly, happily, immediately, easily, loudly, proudly, interestingly, etc.

  Some adverbs do not follow this pattern and do not end in “-ly”. Examples: too, very, late, here, close, straight, well, pretty, low, right, fast, deep, hard, far, high, hard, etc.  

   Usage of Adverbs

An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective or any other adverb in a sentence, , as explained below: The following examples illustrate adverbs modifying verbs, where the red word is an adverb, whereas the blue word is a verb.

• He answered the question quickly.
• She can speak Chinese fluently.
• He treats his kids harshly.
• She talks nicely.
• The officer behaved decently.
• She goes to school daily.
• He sometimes needs my help.
• I will go to London tomorrow.
• He may come here.
• She watches movies on holidays.

The following examples illustrate adverbs modifying adjectives, where the red word is an adverb, whereas the blue word is an adjective.

• They were joyously happy.
• She was seriously ill.
• The joke was truly funny.
• This shirt is extremely nice.
• We saw a badly damaged car on the road.
• The movie was really interesting.
• The duration of the class is exceedingly long.
  

The following examples illustrate adverbs modifying other adverbs. The modifying adverb (which modifies another adverb) is showni in red words is an adverb and the modified adverb(which is being modified) is shown in blue words.

• They were laughing too loudly.
• They started their journey very happily.
• He drives his car very carelessly.
• She responded too quickly.
• He walked fast enough to reach the school in time.
• She painted the wall pretty beautifully.

An adverb modifies (gives more information about) a verb in various aspects. Based on this, adverbs are divided into the following types:

• Adverb of manner: Happily, sadly, easily, rudely, loudly, fluently, rapidly, angrily, greedily, wildly, etc.
• Adverb of Place: Here, there, near, somewhere, outside, inside, ahead, high, top, bottom, etc.
• Adverb of time: Now, then, yesterday, today, tomorrow, late, early, again, tonight, soon, etc.
• Adverb of frequency: Sometimes, often, usually, seldom, frequently, daily, generally, occasionally, again and again, never, etc.

  Click to read the "Types of Adjectives" in detail.