ADVERBS

 

1. Adverbs tell how (“eagerly”), when (“lately,” “often”), where (“there,” “outside”), how much (“very,” “too”), and why (“therefore”).

 

2. Adverbs usually modify verbs, other adverbs, or adjectives.

Bob drives carefully . (“Carefully” modifies the verb “drives.”)

Bob drives very carefully.  (“Very” modifies the adverb “carefully.”)

Bob is quite tall. (“Quite” modifies the adjective “tall.”)

 

3. Adverbs are often “adjective + -ly”: 

patient--patiently

careless--carelessly

expensive--expensively

probable--probably

certain--certainly

happy--happily

honest--honestly

personal--personally

real--really

direct--directly

fair-fairly

serious--seriously

 

4. But not all adverbs end in –ly:

again, ago, all, almost, also, always, any, anyhow, anymore, anyplace, anytime, anyway, anywhere, better, best, enough, far, farther, fast, further, furthest, here, how, inside, just, later, maybe, more, most, much, never, next, now, often, once, outside, quite, rather, slow  (also slowly), so, some, somehow, sometime, sometimes, somewhat, still, straight, there, therefore, too, very, well, what, whatever, when, whence, whenever, where, whereby, wherein, wherever, yet.

 

5. Not all words that end in -ly are automatically adverbs;

“friendly,” “likely,” “lonely,”  and “lovely” are adjectives. 

“Early” can be an adjective OR an adverb.

 

6. “Fast,” “slow,”  “quick,” “early,” and “straight” are examples of other words that can be adjectives AND adverbs, BUT have the same meaning:

 

Sara walks fast.  (adverb) = Sara is a fast walker. (adjective). 

The early bus (adjective) = the bus that arrives early (adverb).

 

7. Most adverbs, like adjectives, can be compared using “more” and “most”: sharply--more sharply--most sharply. One- syllable adverbs are compared using “-er” and “-est”: straight--straighter--straightest.

 

Some adverbs are irregular: 

well--better--best,  

badly (ill)--worse--worst,  

much--more--most,  

little--less--least,  

far--farther (further)--farthest (furthest).