Adverb

What is an Adverb?

An adverb can modify averb, an adjective, another adverb, a phrase, or a clause. An adverb indicates manner, time, place, cause, or degree and answers questions such as "how," "when," "where," "how much".


In the following examples, each of the highlighted words is an adverb:

• The seamstress quickly made the mourning clothes.

In this sentence, the adverb "quickly" modifies the verb "made" and indicates in what manner (or how fast) the clothing was constructed.

• The midwives waited patiently through a long labour.

Similarly in this sentence, the adverb "patiently" modifies the verb "waited" and describes the manner in which the midwives waited.

• The boldly spoken words would return to haunt the rebel.

In this sentence the adverb "boldly" modifies the adjective "spoken."

• We urged him to dial the number more expeditiously.

Here the adverb "more" modifies the adverb "expeditiously."

• Unfortunately, the bank closed at three today.
  

In this example, the adverb "unfortunately" modifies the entire sentence.

ADJECTIVES/ADVERBS

Adverbs tell us in what way someone does something. Adverbs can modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.
Adjectives tell us something about a person or a thing. Adjectives can modify nouns or pronouns.

Form
Adjective + -ly

Tip: Not all words ending in -ly are adverbs.

adjectives ending in -ly: friendly, silly, lonely, ugly

nouns, ending in -ly: ally, bully, Italy, melancholy

verbs, ending in -ly: apply, rely, supply

There is no adverb for an andjective ending in -ly.