Adverbs are descriptive words which are used to add detail to a sentence. They can give important or necessary information (e.g. Please hand me the scalpel now), or they can just make the sentence more interesting or detailed (e.g. A wind blew violently and unceasingly around the town). Adverbs usually modify verbs, and they frequently end in ‑ly.
Adverbs can be identified by how or where or when:
The dog ran quickly.
How did the dog run? It ran quickly.
KINDS OF ADVERB
Adverb of time
An adverb of time tells us when something is done or happens. We use it at the beginning or at the end of a sentence. We use it as a form of emphasis when we place it at the beginning. Adverbs of time include afterwards, already, always, immediately, last month, now, soon, then, and yesterday.
e.g.
He collapsed and died yesterday.
His factory was burned down a few months ago.
Last week, we were stuck in the lift for an hour.
Adverb of place
An adverb of place tells us where something is done or happens. We use it after the verb, object or at the end of a sentence. Adverbs of place include words such as above, below, here, outside, over there, there, under, upstairs.
e.g.
We can stop here for lunch.
The schoolboy was knocked over by a school bus.
They rushed for their lives when fire broke out in the floor below.
Adverb of manner
An adverb of manner tells us how something is done or happens. Most adverbs of manner end in –ly such as badly, happily, sadly, slowly, quickly, and others that include well, hard, fast, etc.
e.g.
The brothers were badly injured in the fight.
They had to act fast to save the others floating in the water.
At the advanced age of 88, she still sang very well.
Adverb of degree
An adverb of degree tells us the level or extent that something is done or happens. Words of adverb of degree are almost, much, nearly, quite, really, so, too, very, etc.
e.g.
It was too dark for us to find our way out of the cave. (Before adjective).
The referee had to stop the match when it began to rain very heavily. (Before adverb)
Her daughter is quite fat for her age.
The accident victim nearly died from his injuries.
After all these years, she is still feeling very sad about her father's death.
Adverb of frequency
An adverb of frequency tells us how often something is done or happens. Words used as adverbs of frequency include again, almost, always, ever, frequently, generally, hardly ever, nearly, nearly always, never, occasionally, often, rarely, seldom, sometimes, twice, usually, and weekly.
e.g.
They were almost fifty when they got married.
He hardly ever say something nice to his wife.
While overseas, he frequently phoned home.
She is not nearly always right although she thinks she is always right.
He complained that she never smiled back.
We only write to each other very occasionally.
Peter seldom reads the Bible.
Sometimes he stays late in the office to complete his work.
Our cat was bitten twice by the same dog.The man usually proposes marriage.
COMPARISON OF ADVERB
Adverbs, like adjectives, have three degrees of comparison – the positive, the comparative and the superlative. The different degrees of comparison are formed in different ways:
Short adverbs having just one syllable form the comparative and the superlative by the addition of –er and –est to the positive.
Hard (positive), harder (comparative), hardest (superlative)
Soon, sooner, soonest
Fast, faster, fastest
Late, later, latest
Loud, louder, loudest
Clean, cleaner, cleanest
Clear, clearer, clearest
Low, lower, lowest
High, higher, highest
Note that almost all adverbs which are also used as adjectives belong to this class.
Adverbs ending in –ly
Adverbs which end in –ly take more for the comparative and most for the superlative.
Softly (positive), more softly (comparative), most softly (superlative)
Happily, more happily, most happily
Swiftly, more swiftly, most swiftly
Ably, more ably, most ably
Truly, more truly, most truly
Greedily, more greedily, most greedily
Efficiently, more efficiently, most efficiently
Certainly, more certainly, most certainly
Painfully, more painfully, most painfully
Joyfully, more joyfully, most joyfully
Exception
The adverb early is an exception to this rule.
Early (positive), earlier (comparative), earliest (superlative)
Some adverbs form their comparative and superlative degrees in an irregular manner:
Far (positive), farther, further (comparative), farthest, furthest (superlative)
Late (positive), later (comparative), last, latest (superlative)
Well (positive), better (comparative), best (superlative)
Badly, worse, worst
Little, less, least
Much, more, most
Notes
It should be noted that only adverbs of time, degree and manner have three degrees of comparison.
Adverbs such as now, then, once, there, where, why, how, not, never, ever etc., cannot be compared and hence they do not have the three degrees of comparison.
