Adverbs in English

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using adverbs in English image - car going quickly

In this post we will look at how we use adverbs in English. We also have a post on adverb suffixes.In English, adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to provide extra details about an action or a quality. We often think about

  • how
  • when
  • where
  • how much

Let’s see how these different forms of adverbs are used.

Types of adverbs

We can talk about adverbs according to the kind of information they provide:

  • Manner (how we do something): quickly, slowly, carefully, well
    – Example: She sang beautifully.
  • Place (where something happens): here, there, everywhere, nowhere, upstairs, outside
    – Example: They looked everywhere for the missing keys.
  • Time (when something happens): now, later, yesterday, soon
    – Example: I will call you later.
  • Frequency (how often something happens): often, rarely, sometimes, usually, frequently
    – Example: They rarely go out for dinner.
  • Degree (how much): very, too, quite, almost, enough
    – Example: The soup is very hot.

Adverbs with different forms

As you know the way to create adverbs is by adding -ly to the end of an adjective. One familiar exception to this is well from the adjective good.

However, we also have a group of adverbs with the same form as adjectives. Here are some common examples.

Adjective & adverb form

  • daily
  • early
  • fast
  • hard
  • late
  • straight

There is another group of adverbs which have more than one form or more than one meaning to the adverb.

free/freely

Free means at no cost
Children are admitted free

Freelymeans without restriction or control
People with European passports can travel freely in the EU

hard/hardly

Hard means difficult or make a lot of effort.
I work hard every day
It’s a hard problem to solve

Hardly means very little
I have hardly any money left after my shopping

late/lately

late means not on time
I arrived late

Lately means recently
Have you seen Alice lately?

Comparing adverbs

We commonly use more and most to make the comparative and superlative forms.

Here are some examples

  • easily
  • quickly
  • more easily
  • more quickly
  • most easily
  • most quickly

Finally, we also have a group of adverbs that have different comparative and superlative forms.

 Adverb

Comparative

Superlative

  • well
  • badly
  • little
  • much
  • better
  • worse
  • less
  • more
  • best
  • worst
  • least
  • most