What Is an Adverb? Categories of Adverbs and Their Order with Examples

An adverb is a word that modifies or gives more information about a verb, an adjective, a preposition, another adverb, or even an entire sentence. Adverbs usually answer the following questions:

• Where? Home. (“I went home.”)
• When? Yesterday. (“We met yesterday.”)
• How? Slowly. (“The turtle moves slowly.”)
• How often? Sometimes. (“Sometimes it stops working.”)
• How long? Temporarily. (“She is staying with us temporarily.”)
• How likely? Surely. (“Our team will surely win!”)
• To what degree? Very. (“She was very pleased.”)

An adverb can describe a verb: She runs quickly.
An adverb can describe an adjective: She is so beautiful.
An adverb can describe another adverb: He smokes very rarely.
An adverb can describe an entire sentence: Naturally, you do not have to come.

In many cases (but not always!) adverbs have the following form: Adjective + “-ly”

• Quick + ly = quickly
• Strange + ly = strangely
• Dead + ly = deadly
• Sudden + ly = suddenly
• Clever + ly = cleverly
• Brave + ly = bravely
• Real + ly = really

When an adjective ends with “y” replace the “y” with an “i” and add “ly” to form an adverb:

• Heavy + ly = heavi + ly = heavily
• Happy + ly = happi + ly = happily

When the adjective ends with an “e”, drop the “e” (if “e” is not pronounced) and add “ly” to form an adverb:

• True-truly

If “l” already exists, then drop the “e” and add “y” to form an adverb.

• Simple-simply, Gentle-gently, Terrible-terribly

However, there are many adverbs that do not end in “-ly”:

• Fast, very, hard, home, just, too, well, never, sometimes, etc.

Categories of English Adverbs

We can divide English adverbs into several categories:

1. Adverbs of degree
2. Adverbs of manner
3. Adverbs of place
4. Adverbs of time
5. Adverbs of frequency
6. Adverbs of duration
7. Adverbs of probability

Adverbs of degree (How much)

Adverbs of degree show us the strength or degree of the action or state. They answer the following questions: How much? To what degree?
Examples: Very, highly, totally, perfectly, partially, almost.

Example sentences:

• He is very concerned about you.
• He answered perfectly.
• You are totally right.
• We almost made it to the train.

Adverbs of manner (How)

Adverbs of manner show us the way the action is done. They answer the following question: How? Examples: Well, badly, nicely, slowly, loudly, quietly, happily, sadly, secretly, weakly.
Example sentences:

• He handled the situation well.
• She listened secretly to their conversation.
• The children ran happily to their father.
• They run happily.

 Adverbs of place (Where)

Adverbs of place show us the location of the action or state. They answer the following question: Where? Examples: Home, here, there, outside, inside, away, around, anywhere, abroad, up, down, out.
Example sentences:

• We are here.
• He went home.
• We found him there.
• She looked up.
• The weather is cold outside.

Adverbs of time (When)

Adverbs of time show us the time of the action or state. They answer the following question: When? Examples: Now, soon, later, yesterday, tomorrow, early, before, lately, recently.
Example sentences:

• They are having dinner now.
• Let’s talk now.
• I will do it later.
• He promised to write back soon.
• What are you doing tomorrow?
• We have not met before.

Adverbs of frequency (How often)

Adverbs of frequency show us the frequency of the action or state. They answer the following question: How often? Examples: Always, never, sometimes, often, rarely, usually, occasionally.
Example sentences:

• I always brush my teeth after a meal.
• I will never do that!
• We often meet and chat.
• He is usually here on time.

Adverbs of duration (How long)

Adverbs of duration show us the length of the action or state. They answer the following question: For how long? Examples: Forever, constantly, temporarily, briefly (Shortened), Broadly (Widely)
Example sentences:

• He is working there temporarily.
• He will forever be her little boy.
• We spoke briefly.
• I will be forever grateful.

Adverbs of probability (Chance)

Adverbs of probability show us the chances for the action or state to happen. They answer the following question: How likely? Examples: Certainly, maybe, probably, possibly, surely.
Example sentences:

• She will certainly forget about it.
• He is probably in trouble.
• Maybe we will come after all.
• It will probably not work.
• Surely you are not serious!

Order of Adverbs

1. We normally put adverbials after the verb:
   • He spoke angrily.
   • They live just here.
   • We will go in a few minutes.
2. If the verb has an object, we put the adverbial after the object:
   • He opened the door quietly.
   • She left the money on the table.
   • We saw our friends last night.
   • You are looking tired tonight.
3. If we want to emphasize the adverbial, we can put it at the beginning of a clause:
   • Last night we saw our friends.
   • In a few minutes we will go.
   • Very quietly he opened the door.
4. Adverbs of degree or probability are placed before the modified word or between the auxiliary and main verb:
   • He is extremely
   • The results are absolutely
   • I have almost finished the work.
   • They are probably
5. Adverbs of duration are placed before the modified word, or between the auxiliary and main verb, or at the end of the sentence:
   • He is temporarily working here.
   • He is working here temporarily.
6. Adverbs of place, time, or manner are placed after the modified word:
   • He has gone home.
   • They left yesterday.
   • He is talking loudly.
7. Adverbs of frequency are placed before the modified word or at the end of the sentence:
   • We often eat at that restaurant.
   • We eat at that restaurant often.
8. Adverbs that modify the entire sentence are placed at the beginning or at the end of the sentence:
   • Unfortunately, I missed the class. (Note: use a comma when placed at the beginning).
   • I missed the class unfortunately.

Common Mistakes

Good vs. Well

• Good is an adjective, while well is an adverb answering the question “How?“.
• Sometimes, well also functions as an adjective pertaining to health.

Examples:

• You did a good job. (Good describes job, which is a noun).
• You did the job well. (Well is an adverb describing how the job was performed).
• Incorrect: He plays tennis good.
• Correct: He plays tennis well.

Exercise 6.6: Fill in the blanks
Based on handwritten answers (G = Good, W = Well):

1. He is a good student.
2. He works well.
3. I like reading good books.
4. She speaks English well.
5. It is a very good place to go on holiday.
6. She speaks good English.
7. He always drives well.
8. I am not going to work today. I do not feel well.
9. You are a very good football player.
10. You play football very well.