What is An Adverb?

What is an adverb? An Adverb is a word or group of words (phrase or clause) that modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb. Adverbs are describing words or modifying words.

1. Adverbs as a word, phrase or clause

She sang beautifully. (single word)

The real estate agent came into the office. (Adverbial phrase)

The disgruntled homeowner left when I came. (Adverbial clause)

2. Adverbs usually answer one of the following questions

(How? When? Where? Or To What Extent?)

David ran quickly. (Quickly modifies the verb ran and tells how)

Jonathan will leave soon. (Soon modifies the verb leave and tells when)

The boys went out. (Out modifies the verb went and tells where)

Rebekah is not late. (Not modifies the adjective late and tells to what extent)

The old man moved quite slowly. (Quite modifies the adverb slowly and tells to what extent)

3. Adverbs by meaning

Adverbs can be distinguished from one another according to their meaning.

Adverbs that tell how are called adverbs of manner (for example: beautifully, energetically, happily, quickly, fast).

He did his work slowly but surely.

Adverbs that tell when are called adverbs of time (for example: now, soon, then, before, later).

He did this before and you have done it since.

Adverbs that tell where are called adverbs of place (for example: in, out, near, up, down, forward, there).

We must rest here and not there.

Adverbs that tell to what extent are called adverbs of degree (for example: very, extremely, rather, somewhat, quite, almost).

He is almost, but not quite, the smartest teenager in the class.

4. Adverbs by Function

Interrogative adverbs introduce questions.

When did she go? (Time)

Where did she go? (Place)

How quickly can you get the job done? (Manner)

How much more water are you going to drink? (Degree)

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(Note: The adverbs ‘how’ and ‘what’ are sometimes used in an exclamatory sense: How kind of you to do that! What a stupid boy he is!)

Relative adverbs introduce dependent (subordinate) clauses.

I will meet you when school is finished.

Do you know why Jonathan was late?

I do not know where I left my wallet.

Conjunctive adverbs join two independent clauses and modify one of them.

Jonathan liked the car; nevertheless, he did not buy it.

Rachel went to the shops; however, she did not find anything to buy.

David kept talking during lectures; therefore, he was asked to leave.

(Note: Independent adverbs have no grammatical function in the sentence or clause. No, I will not speak against them. Yes, you did leave your keys in the car.)

5. Adverbs of comparison

Adverbs of manner (tell how), like adjectives, may be compared upward and downward in three degrees: positive, comparative and superlative.

One syllable adverbs compare upward by using –er for the comparative degree and –est for the superlative degree.

	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
	early	earlier	earliest
	near	nearer	nearest
	fast	faster	fastest

Two syllable adverbs compare upward by using ‘more’ for the comparative degree and ‘most’ for the superlative degree.

	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
	happily	more happily	most happily
	wisely	more wisely	most wisely
	quickly	more quickly	most quickly

All adverbs are compared downward by using ‘less’ for the comparative degree and ‘least’ for the superlative degree.

	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
	early	less early	least early
	quickly	less quickly	least quickly
	happily	less happily	least happily

Some adverbs are compared irregularly.

	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
	much	more	most
	little	less	least
	well	better	best

Resources For What is an Adverb?

English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy

Plain English Handbook by J. Martyn Walsh and Anna Kathleen Walsh

The Only Grammar Book by Susan Thurman

Mastering English Grammar by S.H. Burton