Adverbs
What is an adverb?
Definition
A word that describes or gives more information about a verb, adjective, adverb or phrase:
- She smiled cheerfully. > cheerfully is the adverb.
- The house was spotlessly clean. > spotlessly is the adverb.
Below you can find a presentation on the theory of the adverbs. Read this before your do any of the exercises below.
Types of adverbs
Adverbs of degree
Adverbs of degree give more information about how much or to which degree something is done. You can look at them as a way of saying how strongly or how intensely something happens.
Examples
I quite enjoyed the film.
My father seemed so angry.
You are walking very slowly.
He hardly looked at the assignment.
The task is pretty difficult.
Adverbs of manner
Adverbs of manner describe how something happens. Often - but not always - they are formed by taking an adjective and adding -ly. Sometimes the spelling changes, so be careful when turning an adjective into an adverb.
Examples
I play the drums loudly.
He dropped the jar of jam accidentally on the floor.
My mother talks fast.
They lived happily ever after.
The shop assistant helped us in a friendly way.
Adverbs of place
Adverbs of place tell you where something is done or where something takes place.
To talk about where something takes place, one word - an adverb - can be used. Sometimes people use an adverbial phrase. This is a group of words that functions as an adverb. Often a preposition is used in an adverbial phrase.
Examples
I left my book upstairs.
The compass says we should travel north.
We are camping in the garden tonight.
A submarine is a boat that moves below the water surface.
There is a lot of noise in the flat above.
Adverbs of time
Adverbs give an answer to the question: 'When does something happen or when does it take place?'
To talk about when something takes place, one word - an adverb - can be used. Sometimes people use an adverbial phrase. This is a group of words that functions as an adverb. Often a preposition is used in an adverbial phrase.
Often an adverb or adverbial of time helps to know which tense you need to use and, thus, how you need to conjugate the verb of the sentence.
Examples
I already cleaned my room.
We went on holiday to England last year.
I will start making dinner in 5 minutes.
Can we have a cookie before dinner?
I think they will be married in the future.
Adverbs of frequency
Adverbs of certainty
Adverbs of certainty describe how sure it is that something is done.
Examples
Adverbs that express something that it is 100% sure, there is no doubt about it.
The question is certainly not easy.
He definitely said he would be here.
The problem surely does not lie with me.
She is obviously very intelligent.
They truly behaved well today.
Not 100% sure, there is some doubt about it.
He will probably get the job.
You will presumably go on holiday with your boyfriend.
I will possibly finish my work at around 8 pm.
Maybe I will start knitting.
The adverb maybe is usually positioned at the beginning of the sentence.
