Adverb Notes

Adverb An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. An adverb will answer one of the following questions: How?: The girl ran swiftly. When?: The paper arrives daily. Where?: Mrs. Lewis travels everywhere. Under what condition? Mrs. Lewis cleverly uses the computer. To what extent (or degree)? Mrs. Lewis almost laughed.

Adverbs and Adjectives Many adverbs end in –ly. These adverbs are formed by adding –ly to adjectives. Examples: clearly, quietly If you are not sure if a word is an adjective or an adverb, ask yourself what it modifies (remember that an adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun) The word not is nearly always used as an adverb to modify a verb. When not is part of a contraction (didn’t) the –n’t is still an adverb and not part of the verb.

Words Often Used as Adverbs Where? away, here, inside, there, up When? ago, later, now, soon, then How? clearly, easily, quietly, slowly Under what condition? always, usually, continuously, never, forever, briefly To what extent (degree) ? almost, so, too, more, least, extremely, quite

The Position of Adverbs One of the characteristics of adverbs is that they may appear at various places in a sentence. Adverbs may come before, after, or between the words they modify. Examples: We often study together. We study together often. Often we study together.

When an adverb modifies a verb phrase , it frequently comes in the middle of the phrase. Example: We have often studied together. An adverb that introduces a question, however, must be placed at the beginning of a sentence. Examples: When does your school start? How did you spend your vacation?