Grammar Tips & Articles »

adverb

This Grammar.com article is about adverb — enjoy your reading!


1:07 min read
14,544 Views
  Ed Good  —  Grammar Tips
Font size:

An adverb is a word or group of words that modifies or describes a verb. Many one-word adverbs end in “-ly,” such as he ran quickly. Others, however, do not, such as he ran fast.

Adverbs also modify or describe adjectives, such as the very tall man. They may also modify other adverbs, such as he ran extremely fast.

Adverbs typically serve to answer what we might call adverbial questions about the verbs they modify. These include:

Where When How Why Under what circumstances

Adverbs come in three states. In the positive state, the adverb ascribes the basic attribute, as in He wrote clearly. To form the comparative state, we usually add the word more, as in He wrote more clearly. To form the superlative state, we usually add the word most, as in He wrote most clearly. These rules apply to the “-ly” adverbs.

Adverbs not ending in “-ly” can form their comparative state by adding “-er” (he ran faster) and their superlative state by adding ‑est (he ran fastest).

You'll find a complete discussion of this problem in the section on Adverbs in Parts of Speech on Grammar.com. Click here for the beginning of that discussion.

See also compound verb about the placement of adverbs in multiword verb forms, such as We have definitely decided to have a party.

Rate this article:

Have a discussion about this article with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this article to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "adverb." Grammar.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.grammar.com/adverb>.

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Check your text and writing for style, spelling and grammar problems everywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Check your text and writing for style, spelling and grammar problems everywhere on the web!

    Browse Grammar.com

    Free Writing Tool:

    Instant
    Grammar Checker

    Improve your grammar, vocabulary, and writing -- and it's FREE!


    Quiz

    Are you a grammar master?

    »
    Choose the sentence with correct use of the indefinite pronoun:
    A Each of the students is presenting his own project.
    B Few have finished the assignment.
    C Everybody should bring their own lunch.
    D Someone is waiting for a bus.

    Improve your writing now:

    Download Grammar eBooks

    It’s now more important than ever to develop a powerful writing style. After all, most communication takes place in reports, emails, and instant messages.