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While adjectives modify nouns, adverbs can modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs. That said, they should be used with restraint.
While adjectives modify nouns, adverbs can modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs. That said, they should be used with restraint.
Adverb - a part of speech that describes a verb, adjective or another adverb.
Introduction
Introduction
Adverbs are flexible, but they are also susceptible to overuse.
In addition to modifying verbs, adjectives and other adverbs, they can also modify entire sentences, and make helpful references to time.
Modifying Verbs
Modifying Verbs
Just as an adjective can modify a noun, so too can an adverb modify a verb.
Examples
The cat screeched loudly.
She anxiously tapped her foot.
Note that each of these adverbs is formed by adding -ly to an existing adjective (eg. loud becomes loudly). These are known as regular adverbs.
However, there are also irregular adverbs which can either leave the original adjective unaltered (eg. fast remains fast), or change the adjective completely (eg. good becomes well).
Regular adverb - an adverb that can be formed by adding -ly to an adjective.
Irregular adverb - an adverb that either does not alter, or completely rewrites, the adjective it is based on.
Consider the following examples of irregular adverbs.
Examples
They drove fast.
We played well.
Modifying Adjectives
Modifying Adjectives
An adverb can also modify an adjective—often to intensify the meaning.
Examples
It's a really beautiful creature.
That phone is quite expensive.
Modifying Adverbs
Modifying Adverbs
Additional adverbs can be used to reflect the extent to which an existing adverb modifies a word.
Examples
They drove really fast.
That phone is unfortunately quite expensive.
However, such phrasing is not recommended as meaning can easily be lost.
Degrees of Comparison
Degrees of Comparison
Just as an adjective can be used to describe the quality of a noun in comparison to other nouns, so too can an absolute, comparative or superlative adverb perform this function for a verb or adjective.
Absolute adverb
She wrote beautifully.
Comparative adverb
She wrote more beautifully than him.
Superlative adverb
She wrote the most beautifully of all.
Note that because all regular adverbs end in -ly they have at least two syllables. Thus, they are never modified with-er or -est when used to compare verbs.
Incorrect
I waited calmlyer than you.
I waited the calmlyest of all.
Correct
I waited more calmly than you.
I waited the most calmly.
However, irregular adverbs with only one syllable are modified with -er and -est when used in comparative sentences.
Incorrect
He arrived more late than her.
He arrived the most late of all.
Correct
He arrived later than her.
He arrived the latest of all.
Responding to Questions
Responding to Questions
Adverbs are used to respond to questions that begin with How ...?
Question
How did she tap her foot?
How did they drive?
Answer
She tapped her foot anxiously.
They drove fast.
Follow up How ...? questions can be asked to seek further clarification.
Question
How anxiously did she tap her foot?
How fast did they drive?
Answer
She tapped her foot really anxiously.
They drove quite fast.
Sentence Adverbs
Sentence Adverbs
A sentence adverb can modify an entire sentence.
Sentence adverb - an adverb that limits or describes the meaning of an entire statement rather than just a single word or phrase.
Consider the following examples.
Examples
Surely, you can land this plane, can't you?
Frankly, I don't give a damn.
A sentence adverb can also modify a clause within a sentence.
Example
I thought we were in trouble, but luckily our ticket was refundable.
Adverbs and Time
Adverbs and Time
Many references to time in the English language are made using adverbs.
Consider the following examples, in which the verb and adverb are written in bold.
Examples
I will clean my room tomorrow.
I saw that film last year.
Adverbs can also be used to express how frequently something happens.
Examples
I never fly.
I rarely sprint.
I sometimes jog.
I often cycle.
I usually walk.
I always sleep at night.
Placing Adverbs
Placing Adverbs
To improve clarity, we should place adverbs as closely as possible to the words they are modifying.
Vague
I ran to the top quickly.
Preferred
I quickly ran to the top.
I ran quickly to the top.
Adverb Phrases
Adverb Phrases
Just as there are noun phrases, verb phrases and adjective phrases, so too are there adverb phrases.
Adverb phrase (adverbial phrase) - a group of one or more words, including a head adverb, which together modify a verb, adjective or adverb.
Grammatically, adverb phrases function in a similar way to adjective phrases.
Consider the following examples of adverb phrases, with the head adjective underlined.
Examples
We usually visit friends on the weekend.
Holidays end very quickly.
This model performs quite well for its price.
There are a couple of things to note from these examples.
First, an adverb phrase can come before or after the word it is modifying.
Secondly, if an adjectival phrase is removed from a sentence, the sentence remains grammatically complete (albeit with different meaning).
With adverb phrase
We usually visit friends on the weekend.
Holidays end very quickly.
This car performs quite well for its price.
Without adverb phrase
We visit friends on the weekend.
Holidays end.
This car performs.
An adjective phrase can be one word or many; grammatically, however, it is always treated as a single entity within a sentence.
Using Adverbs
Using Adverbs
Less is more when it comes to using adverbs.
While they do serve a grammatical function, they can easily come across as pleading or desperate.
Consider which of the following sales pitches is more convincing:
With adverbs
You should really try this new productivity app because it will helpfully and significantly improve your efficiency.
Without adverbs
You should try this new productivity app because it will improve your efficiency.
While we should not avoid adverbs altogether, an effective way to improve our writing is to remove unnecessary adverbs. Thus, our writing becomes more concise, elegant and direct.
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