Adverbs modify, or tell us more about, other words. Usually adverbs modify verbs, telling us how, how often, when, or where something was done and adjectives, making them stronger or weaker. The adverb is placed after the verb it modifies and before the adjective. Adverbs can modify other adverbs, changing their degree or precision.

E.g., He works hard.  (modifying verbs)

I always get up early.

I see him daily.

He is a very good doctor. (modifying adjectives)

I know her quite well. (modifying adverbs)

Compare adverbs and adjectives.

In most cases, an adverb is formed by adding -ly to an adjective. If the adjective ends in -y,  replace the -y with -i and add -ly. If the adjective ends in -able, -ible, or -le, replace the -e with -y.

If the adjective ends in -ic, add -ally. 

Adjective  Adverb
careful  carefully
correct correctly
loud loudly
easy easily
happy happily
probable  probably
terrible terribly
basic  basically
economic economically

 

Adverbs frequently end in -ly; however, many adverbs do not end in -ly, and some words that end in -ly are not adverbs. For example, the words lovely, lonely, lively, friendly are adjectives.

Some adverbs have the same form as the adjective: early, fast, hard, high, late, near, straight, & wrong.

E.g., I was never a fast swimmer.

Driving fast is dangerous.

All of your answers were wrong.

People always spell my name wrong.

When a group of words not containing a subject and verb acts as an adverb, it is called an adverbial phrase.

I'll be with you in a minute.

We have been living in this house for over ten years.


Adverbs of place describe where something happens. Most adverbs of place are also used as prepositions.

anywhere
here
nowhere
somewhere
there
downstairs
upstairs
E.g., I went downstairs to answer the phone.

Adverbs of purpose describe why something happens.

accidentally
because
so
since
in order to
so that
E.g., I accidentally knocked a glass over.

Adverbs of time describe when something happens.
during
tomorrow/today/yesterday
recently
soon
now
later
next
after
while
when
Recently, I've been feeling a bit depressed.

Adverbs of frequency describe how often something happens.
sometimes
usually
seldom/rarely
always
every
never
often
It's always cold in this room.

Manner adverbs describe how something happens.
accurately
beautifully
expertly
professionally
anxiously
carefully
greedily
quickly
badly
cautiously
loudly
quietly
E.g., She spoke very loudly.

Degree adverbs express degrees of qualities, properties, states, conditions and relations.
absolutely
enough
perfectly
somewhat
a (little) bit
entirely
pretty
terribly
a lot
extremely
quite
too
almost
fairly
rather
totally
awfully
highly
remarkably
utterly
completely
lots
slightly
very
hardly
much
nearly
E.g., Remarkably, she wasn't hurt in the crash.


Focusing adverbs point to something.
especially
just
mainly
particularly
generally
largely
only
simply
E.g., I didn't particularly want to go, but I had to.

Linking adverbs show a relationship between two clauses or sentences
therefore
then
however
nevertheless
still
yet
besides
moreover
otherwise
else
consequently
when
then
where
why
how
E.g., He called when I was busy.

Evaluative and viewpoint adverbs tell us about the speaker's viewpoint or opinion about an action.
personally
presumably
clearly
surely
seriously
cleverly
luckily
fortunately
disappointingly
E.g., Disappointingly, she got second place.

Adverbs of certainty express how certain we feel about an action or event.
definitely
certainly
surely
probably
undoubtedly
E.g., She was undoubtedly the best candidate.

Adverbs do not normally change in form, but a few have comparative and superlative forms. These are usually short adverbs and so they normally have comparative and superlative forms with -er and -est.

Adverb Comparative Superlative
soon sooner soonest
fast faster fastest
hard harder hardest
near nearer nearest
early  earlier earliest
late later  latest

 

Adverbs with two or more syllables (-ly adverbs) form the comparative and superlative with more and most:

Adverb Comparative Superlative
carefully more carefully most carefully
beautifully more beautifully most beautifully
accurately more accurately most accurately

 

Some adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

Adverb Comparative Superlative
badly worse worst
well better best
far farther/further farthest/furthest
little less least

 


Note: Well is the adverb that corresponds to the adjective good.
E.g., She is a good student. She studies well.
E.g., A lot of people behaved badly at the party, but she behaved worst of all.