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Parts Of Speech

An Easy Guide on Adverbs: Definition, Use, Types & Examples

12 min read

Published on: Jun 3, 2024

Last updated on: Jun 3, 2024

The Role of Adverbs in the English Language

In English, adverbs are used as words that describe how actions happen. They modify or describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. These parts of speech provide answers to questions like "how," "when," "where," "why," or "to what extent" an action occurs.

Some adverbs are formed by adding "-ly" to an adjective. These typically describe how an action is performed. But, some don’t end with “ly”, such as soon, again, also, just, well, and very.

Let’s take a look at some examples of adverbs in sentences:

She ran quickly to catch the bus.
He spoke softly to avoid waking the baby.
They played happily in the park all afternoon.

Sometimes, adverbs can also be used to modify an entire sentence, such as:

Unfortunately , the concert was canceled due to bad weather.

How Adverbs are Used in Sentences

As we discussed before, adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, and complete sentences. We’ll explore these modifying properties of this part of speech along with examples.

Using Adverbs to Modify Verbs

Adverbs modify verbs by providing additional information about how, when, where, why, or to what extent an action is performed. Here are some examples of adverbs modifying verbs in sentences:

She sings beautifully .
He walked slowly .
They laughed joyously .
The dog barks loudly .
She speaks softly .

All adverbs are bolded in the above examples.

Using Adverbs to Modify Adjectives

Adverbs have the ability to modify adjectives as well. When an adverb modifies an adjective, it typically enhances the intensity or provides additional qualification to the adjective.

The cake is deliciously moist.
He is extremely tall.
The weather is quite cold.
She seems slightly anxious.
The concert was exceptionally good.

Using Adverbs to Modify Other Adverbs

Adverbs can also modify other adverbs, to show how something happens in a sentence. Let's see how you can use adverbs to change the meaning or intensity of other adverbs.

She dances remarkably gracefully.
"remarkably" emphasizes the exceptional quality of her gracefulness.
They argued extremely passionately.
"extremely" intensifies the passion in their argument.
He plays the piano exceptionally skillfully.
"exceptionally" highlights the exceptional level of skill in his piano playing.
The project was completed surprisingly quickly.
"surprisingly" emphasizes the unexpected speed with which the project was completed.
She solved the puzzle incredibly quickly.
“incredibly" intensifies the speed with which she solves the puzzle.

In the above examples, every modifying adverb has been highlighted in red.

Note : Using adverbs to change other adverbs can make sentences too complex and hard to understand. It's best to use this sparingly to keep your writing clear and easy to follow.

Using Adverbs to Modify Sentences

We can also use adverbs to modify complete sentences. Such adverbs are known as sentence adverbs . Rather than focusing on specific details within, sentence adverbs describe the overall feeling or mood of a sentence.

Some common sentence adverbs are:

Interestingly
Regrettably

Let’s see how you can use these adverbs to modify complete sentences.

After days of hard work and determination, I definitely finished the project, and I couldn't be prouder.
The adverb definitely emphasizes the completion of the project with certainty.
Certainly, we'll meet tomorrow at the café near the park, where we always have our weekly catch-up.
The adverb certainly shows confidence that the meeting will happen as planned.
Finally, after hours of waiting in the cold and uncertainty, he arrived with a smile on his face, bringing warmth to our weary hearts.
The adverb finally shows relief or impatience as the awaited event happens.

The next section of this blog will discuss the different types of adverbs.

Types of Adverbs

Adverbs can be categorized into several types based on the role they play in a sentence and the kind of information they provide. Here are the types:

Adverbs of Manner

Adverbs of time, adverbs of place, adverbs of frequency, adverbs of degree.

We’ll help you understand each adverb type one by one.

Adverbs of manner are words that describe how an action is performed or how something happens. They often provide more information about the verb in a sentence. These adverbs typically answer the question “how?” or “in what way?”

Examples include adverbs like quickly, slowly, carefully, happily, etc.

Here are a few examples of adverbs of manner in sentences:

She sings beautifully.
He runs quickly.
They danced gracefully.
The dog barks loudly.

When a verb acts on a direct object, adverbs that describe how the action is done should go before the verb or at the end of the sentence. They should not be placed between the verb and its object.

Let’s understand this with an example :

Incorrect: She placed carefully the vase on the table.

Correct: She placed carefully the vase on the table.

In the incorrect example, the adverb carefully is incorrectly placed between the verb placed and its direct object the vase. Whereas in the correct sentence, the adverb carefully comes before the verb placed as per the rule.

To provide information about the location of an action within the sentence, we use an adverb of place. These often answer the question “Where?” and usually occur after the main verb in a sentence.

Examples include words like here, there, everywhere, nearby, inside, outside, etc.,

Let’s take a glance at some example sentences:

She looked everywhere for her lost keys.
The cat is hiding nearby , waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.
Please come inside where it's warm.
The birds flew high above the treetops.

An adverb of frequency is a word that indicates how often an action occurs. It gives information about the frequency or repetition of an action in relation to time. We can categorize adverbs of frequency into two subtypes. Let’s discuss the types along with adverbs of frequency examples.

Definite Frequency : These specify how often something happens with clear time references like daily, weekly, or once a week.

For instance: She exercises daily to stay fit.

Indefinite Frequency : These express how often something happens without specific time references, such as always, often, or sometimes.

For instance: He often takes walks in the park to relax.

These adverbs are used to describe or inform when something happens or is bound to happen. You can place them at the end of the sentence.

Below are some adverbs of time examples in sentences:

They went to the beach yesterday.
They will leave for their vacation tomorrow.
The flowers bloom annually in spring.

Adverbs of Purpose

Also known as adverbs of reason, these adverbs describe why someone does something or the intention behind an action. They often answer the question "why?" or "for what purpose?".

Some adverbs of purpose function as conjunctive adverbs, while some can also be used in the form of adverbial phrases.

Here are some example sentences:

I woke up early to catch the train.
She studied hard in order to pass the exam.
He studied hard; therefore , he passed the exam

Adverbs of degree are words that make adjectives, adverbs, or verbs stronger or weaker. They show how much or how strongly something happens or exists.

Sure, here are some common adverbs of degree along with example sentences:

She was very happy to see her friends.
The weather is extremely hot today.
It's quite chilly outside, so don't forget your jacket.
He was rather tired after the long hike.

These are the most common types of adverbs used in the English language. Some other types include:

Interrogative Adverbs: are used to ask questions about place, time, reason, or manner. Example: Where did you go yesterday?
Relative Adverbs: introduce relative clauses and describe a place, time, reason, or manner. Example: This is the place where we first met.
Conjunctive Adverbs : are used to connect clauses or sentences and show the relationship between them. Example: He finished his work; however, he still decided to go out.

Let’s now move on to the next part of the blog, where we will compare adverbs and adjectives. You need to understand the differences between them for better communication.

Adverbs vs. Adjectives

We already know that adverbs modify verbs, adverbs, and adjectives. On the other hand, adjectives can only modify nouns or pronouns. Let’s compare both parts of speech.

In the next section, we will look at scenarios where you can or avoid using adverbs in your sentences.

When Should You Avoid Adverbs?

Although adverbs are one of the most important parts of speech, there are circumstances when you should avoid using them. They are:

When writing, avoid using adverbs excessively, especially when they don't add meaning or clarity to your sentence.
You should avoid adverbs when they weaken the impact of your verb or adjective.
If you can replace the adverb with a stronger verb or adjective, you should do so to make your writing more direct and engaging.
When editing your work, pay attention to sentences that rely heavily on adverbs, as they may indicate areas where your writing could be strengthened.
If you find yourself using adverbs repetitively, try rephrasing your sentences to eliminate unnecessary modifiers and make your writing clear.
You should be cautious with adverbs, as they can sometimes obscure your intended meaning or make your writing less effective.

In conclusion, this blog has explored the significance of adverbs in writing. We've discussed different types of adverbs, how they modify words, and when it's best to avoid using them. Understanding these fundamental concepts can help improve your writing skills.

If you ever need some guidance with adverbs, feel free to come back to our guide!

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Caleb S. (Mass Literature and Linguistics, Masters)

Caleb S. is an accomplished author with over five years of experience and a Master's degree from Oxford University. He excels in various writing forms, including articles, press releases, blog posts, and whitepapers. As a valued author at MyEssayWriter.ai, Caleb assists students and professionals by providing practical tips on research, citation, sentence structure, and style enhancement.

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Grammar Guide

Adverbs: Definition, Meaning, Usage and Examples

Adverbs are modifiers. They alter the meaning of words ‒ verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, and even whole sentences. Writers use adverbs to add color and refine meaning.

Examples of Adverbs

Helen walked quickly to her next meeting. “Quickly” modifies the verb “walked.”
She looked very comfortable in her knit dress. “Very” modifies the adjective “comfortable.”
Unfortunately, we can’t make it to your wedding. “Unfortunately” modifies the entire sentence.

Many writers think of adverbs as the -ly words, but there are many without an -ly ending. Here are some common examples:

afterward, already, almost, back, better, best, even, far, fast, hard, here, how, late, long, low, more, near, never, next, now, often, quick, rather, slow, so, soon, still, then, today, tomorrow, too, very, well, where, yesterday

Most (but not all) adverbs end in -ly . Examples include quickly , helpfully , apprehensively , grumpily . The adverb adds more nuanced information to the verb.

He gave her a ride home.
He helpfully gave her a ride home.
He apprehensively gave her a ride home.
He grumpily gave her a ride home.

Each of those sentences paints a different picture because of the adverbs.

What is a Redundant Adverb?

An adverb is redundant if you use it to modify a verb with the same meaning in its definition.

Tom shouted loudly at the taxi as it drove away.

It’s not possible to shout quietly, so the word loudly is redundant.

Anna smiled happily as she ate her ice cream.

Again, if Anna is smiling, we already know that she is happy.

Here are a few more examples of adverbs that repeat the meaning of the verb they’re trying to modify:

On the queen’s death, the throne reverts back to the next male in line.
The spooked horse bolted hastily across the field.
His unfortunate nose protruded out over his upper lip.
Steve whispered quietly to Susie and then tiptoed soundlessly off.

All of those words can be removed without altering the meaning of the sentence.

Trim Your Adverbs

You can teach yourself to minimize adverbs by recognizing the proper times to use them.

First, eliminate redundant adverbs that are unnecessary and repeat what the verb means.

Here's an example: She smiled happily. The verb "smile" implies that she is happy. When someone smiles, they show happiness. If you want to emphasize her joy, try a stronger verb. She grinned. To learn more about using strong verbs in your writing, check out this post .

However, you can use an adverb to good effect if the situation is unusual for the verb, e.g. She smiled sadly. Here the adverb provides vital information: there are two contrasting emotions happening at the same time.

Do a search through your manuscript for all the adverbs. Check each one to make sure you need it in the sentence. Review your verb to think about replacing it with a stronger, more descriptive one; for example, grinned for smiled happily , stomped instead of walked angrily , etc.

A grammar guru, style editor, and writing mentor in one package.

Adverbs in attribution.

The words in the dialogue you write need to evoke the emotion of the character. Keep your attributions (also known as “dialogue tags”) short. Use “said,” “asked,” and “stated.” Keep your reader in the dialogue by minimizing attributions.

Eager writers are tempted to add adverbs to attributions. If you feel you need an adverb, rewrite the dialogue.

“I’ll never, ever talk to him again,” she said angrily.

The dialogue says it all – it's clear that she is angry with him. No need for the adverb.

The Just-Say-No Adverbs List

Certain adverbs have no place in narrative. If you find these adverbs, take them out. Adverbs to eliminate from your manuscript include:

Characters can use them in dialogue, but there’s no place for these adverbs in your narrative.

Adverbs in the Wrong Place

As you check your adverbs, you may decide that some will stay. Make sure those adverbs are in the right place in the sentence.

An adverb in a sentence with two verbs may be placed incorrectly.

He watched as she ran meditatively.

Readers will connect the adverb with the closest verb, so you want to make clear to your reader who is meditating.

Correction:

He watched meditatively as she ran.

One adverb that needs careful attention for placement is only . Use it after the verb and place it as close to the word it modifies as possible.

Grammar Girl uses grammarian James Kilpatrick’s example of how placing only changes the meaning of a sentence.

Only John hit Peter in the nose. John hit only Peter in the nose. John hit Peter only in the nose. John only hit Peter in the nose.

The first sentence means John was the only person who hit Peter in the nose. In the second sentence, Peter is the sole recipient of the blow. In the third, Peter was hit in the nose but received no other blows or actions. And the fourth is open to interpretation. It could mean that John hit Peter in the nose but didn’t take any other actions or John hit Peter in the nose but did nothing else to it like pinch it.

When using only , make sure you know what you want to emphasize, then use the correct placement so that it’s clear to your reader.

When to Use Adverbs

Adverbs aren’t inherently good or bad: it’s all in how you use them. Let’s unpack when you should—and shouldn’t—use adverbs.

Use an adverb when…

1. It adds context or new information. For example, adverbs help you show time and place.

They went early to the nearby cinema to get tickets to the premiere.

The teacher rarely gives an "A" to anyone in her class.

A well-placed adverb can give emphasis to your meaning. Consider how a woman being late to her wedding differs from one who is intentionally late.

2. It can replace clunky phrasing.

CLUNKY: He patted her cheek in a rough manner.

SMOOTHER: He patted her cheek roughly.

3. Other words won’t work. Sometimes an adverb is exactly what you need. As smart as algorithms and machine learning code are, they cannot pick the right word every time. Only a writer or her editor can do that. That’s why writing is an art and not a science. Make sure you use adverbs sparingly and thoughtfully.

Replace an adverb when…

1. It restates part of the word it modifies or is redundant.

She whispered quietly to herself. Whispering is a quiet activity, so this adverb is redundant.

Tom gently caressed Sara’s shoulders. Caressing is always gentle, never rough.

2. It modifies a vague or weak verb.

WEAK: Joshua called loudly for help as the water level rose quickly.

You can easily replace "called loudly" and "rose quickly" with stronger verbs that are more emotive.

STRONGER: Joshua screamed for help as the water gushed in.

3. You use "very" or "really." What does "very" mean? Nothing solid, right? So whenever you feel obliged to drop in a "very" or a "really," find a stronger word than these weak amplifiers.

instead of very large , try humongous or titanic
in place of really small , use minuscule or microscopic
replace very soft with faint or whispered
rather than really loud , replace with piercing or cacophonous

How to Remove Adverbs From Your Writing

Worried that there are too many adverbs in your work? Most grammar checkers will miss adverbs , but ProWritingAid can help.

Common Questions about Adverbs: Definition, Meaning, Usage and Examples

What is a squinting modifier, why should i avoid adverbs in my writing, why shouldn't you use the word "very" in your writing, why should you avoid intensifiers like "absolutely" and "amazingly", why shouldn't you overuse words like "just" and "then", when to use "just" in a sentence, what's the proper way to use adverbs, how to use "of course" in a sentence, what is the correct way to use negatives in a sentence, should i use "a bit of" in a sentence, when can we omit "put simply" in a sentence, should i use words like "accordingly", "additionally", "consequently", "furthermore", or "moreover" in my work, why can we omit "clearly" in a sentence, when can i omit "currently" or "presently" in a sentence, why should you omit "that" in such phrases as "any/so that + pronoun", why should you omit "certainly" in a sentence, should we omit "indeed" in the sentence, adverb/adjective confusion, learn more about grammar:.

Drop us a line or let's stay in touch via :

When to Use Adverbs: A Guide on Using Adverbs Correctly

Know when to use adverbs well and how to avoid over-using them to make your English writing strong.

Adverbs are some of the most confusing modifiers in the English language. Because they can modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs, and even prepositional phrases and the entire sentence, the use of adverbs can be confusing. Here is a closer look at when and how to use adverbs correctly.

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When to Use Adverbs?

English writers use adverbs to modify a verb (ran fast), adjective (very happy), or another adverb (very happily). In some instances, they can also modify prepositional phrases and entire sentences. They often end in -ly.

Adverbial phrases do the same thing but have several words grouped in a phrase. Whether individual words or phrases, this part of speech is one that writers often overuse, so knowing when to use them and when to avoid them is essential.

The 5 Types of Adverbs

To know when to use adverbs, you must first understand the different types of adverbs you can have in a sentence. Here is a closer look at each.

1. Adverbs of Manner

Adverbs of manner answer the question “how.” Often these adverbs end in the suffix -ly and have a position near the word they modify in the sentence. For example:

They ran rapidly to win the race. (Rapidly tells how they ran.)
He deliberately lied to protect his reputation. (Deliberately tells how he lied.)

2. Adverbs of Place

These adverbs answer “where” action takes place. They are different than prepositions, which show a relationship between two words in the sentence. Here are some examples of adverbs of place:

They put the suitcase downstairs. (Downstairs tells where they put it.)
The dog went outside to hide the bone. (Outside tells where the dog went.)

3. Adverbs of Frequency

Frequency adverbs answer “how often.” They include words that involve times but not necessarily time frames. Here are some examples of adverbs of frequency:

He often spells his wife’s name wrong. (Often tells how often he misspells his wife’s name.)
They will sometimes skip school for a family day. (Sometimes tells how often they skip school.)

4. Adverbs of Time

Adverbs of time answer the question “when.” These words often have a time period involved with them. They will show up at the end of a sentence or the beginning in many instances. Here are some examples:

We will go to the fair tomorrow. (Tomorrow tells when they will go.)
Now, take out your math books and turn to page 74. (Now, tells the students when to take out their math books.)

5. Adverbs of Emphasis

Adverbs of emphasis also end in -ly. These tell “to what extent” the action takes place or how intense another modifier is. Superlatives and intensifiers often fall into this category. Here are some examples:

Samantha moved the least elegantly of all the dancers. (Both least and elegantly are adverbs. Least is a superlative describing elegantly, making it an adverb of emphasis. Elegantly tells how she moved.)
Stephen King writes some very intense novels. (Very is an adverb that intensifies the adjective intense.)

Where to Use Adverbs

There are several ways to use adverbs well in your sentences. Here are some examples:

At the Beginning of a Sentence

I the adverb is going to modify the whole sentence, it will show up at the beginning and be set off by a comma. Here are some examples of sentence adverbs:

Clearly, the weather was not conducive to a trip to the amusement park. (Clearly describes the entire sentence.)
Suddenly, nothing else in the world seemed important. (Suddenly describes the rest of the sentence.)

At the End of a Sentence to Modify the Verb

If an adverb is at the end of the sentence, it usually modifies the verb. Here are some examples:

When given the reward of a treat, the children did their chores happily. (Happily describes how they did their chores.)
The teenager woke up groggily. (Groggily describes how the teen woke up.)

In the Middle of a Sentence to Modify the Adjective or Another Adverb

If the adverb modifies another modifier, it usually comes somewhere in the middle of the sentence and before modifying the other word. They will also come after the determiners , including articles a, an, and the. Here are some examples:

The shiny silver necklace caught the infant’s attention. (Shiny modifies the adjective silver.)
The very dirty children had to hose off before coming into the house. (Very is an adverb modifying the adjective dirty.)

As an Adverbial Phrase to Modify Other Parts of the Sentence

An adverbial phrase is a group of words that performs the role of an adverb in a sentence. They typically modify the verb or the entire sentence. These phrases significantly impact the meaning of the sentence. Here are some example sentences:

Early in the morning, you can hear the birds singing outside. (Early in the morning is an adverbial phrase telling when.)
They go out to dinner every other Sunday. (Every other Sunday tells when they go to dinner.)

Between Two Items to Compare Them

The comparative form of an adverb compares two items in the sentence. It usually comes between the two items in the middle of the sentence. Here are some examples:

I think apples taste better than bananas. (Better compares the two items and modify the verb taste.)
The boys lasted longer than the girls on field day. (Longer compares boys to girls and modifies the verb lasted.)

In the Middle of the Sentence or at the End to Compare Three or More Things

The superlative form of an adverb compares groups of three or more things. This often appears in the middle of the sentence or even at the end, but the sentence makes it clear there is a group of things being compared. Here is an example:

She ran the slowest of the group. (Slowest is a superlative adverb modifying ran.)
He is the most loved teacher at the school. (Most is a superlative adverb modifying the adjective loved.)

In Front of a Prepositional Phrase to Modify It

Modifying prepositional phrases is a less common use of an adverb, but it is still used. These adverbs come before the proposition and do not apply to the verb or verb phrase. Here are some examples:

She gets stage fright just before performances. (Just modifies before performances.)
I will go, but only with Mark. (Only modifies the prepositional phrase with Mark.)

Writing Tip: Avoid Too Many Adverbs

Finally, make sure you do not use adverbs too frequently when writing. They must be sprinkled throughout your writing like salt and pepper over a meal, but not overused. It’s far too easy to rely on these modifiers more than you should. For instance, look at this sentence:

They were so very happily going on their way.

You could say the same thing with fewer words:

They were joyously going on their way.

Only use adverbs when necessary or to clarify the meaning of the sentence. Do not use them simply to add more words to the sentence.

Interested in learning more? Check out our guide on “ what are interrogative adjectives? “

Bryan Collins is the owner of Become a Writer Today. He's an author from Ireland who helps writers build authority and earn a living from their creative work. He's also a former Forbes columnist and his work has appeared in publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company.

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Icon of person in wheelchair, tilted back, flames coming from wheel

The desk is made of an especially corrosion-resistant industrial steel.
The power company uses huge generators which are generally turned by steam turbines.
Jaime won the race, because he ran quickly .
This fence was installed sloppily . It needs to be redone.

An adverb may provide information about the manner, place, time, frequency, certainty, or other circumstances of the activity indicated by the verb. Some examples, where again the adverb is in bold and the words modified are in italics:

Suzanne sang loudly ( loudly modifies the verb sang , indicating the manner of singing)
We left it here ( here modifies the verb phrase left it , indicating place)
I worked yesterday ( yesterday modifies the verb worked , indicating time)
You often make mistakes ( often modifies the verb phrase make mistakes , indicating frequency)
He undoubtedly did it ( undoubtedly modifies the verb phrase did it , indicating certainty)

They can also modify noun phrases, prepositional phrases, or whole clauses or sentences, as in the following examples. Once again the adverbs are in bold, while the words they modify are in italics.

I bought only the fruit ( only modifies the noun phrase the fruit )
Roberto drove us almost to the station ( almost modifies the prepositional phrase to the station )
Certainly we need to act ( certainly modifies the sentence as a whole)

Identify the adverbs in these paragraphs:

Mass extinctions are insanely catastrophic—but important—events that punctuate the history of life on Earth. The Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary was originally thought of to represent a mass extinction, but has subsequently been “downgraded” to a minor extinction event based on new discoveries.

However, compared to other important stratigraphic boundaries, like the end-Triassic or the end-Cretaceous, the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary remains really poorly understood.

[reveal-answer q=”138389″]Show Answer[/reveal-answer] [hidden-answer a=”138389″]There are five adverbs in the paragraphs:

insanely; originally; subsequently; really; poorly

Here the adverbs have been bolded:

[/hidden-answer]

Intensifiers and Adverbs of Degree

Adverbs can also be used as modifiers of adjectives, and of other adverbs, often to indicate degree. Here are a few examples:

You are quite right (the adverb quite modifies the adjective right )
Milagros is exceptionally pretty (the adverb exceptionally modifies the adjective pretty )
She sang very loudly (the adverb very modifies another adverb— loudly )
Wow! You ran really quickly! (the adverb really modifies another adverb— quickly )

Other intensifiers include mildly , pretty , slightly , etc.

This video provides more discussion and examples of intensifiers:

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A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: http://pb.libretexts.org/itcc/?p=490

Adverbs may also undergo comparison, taking comparative and superlative forms. This is usually done by adding more and most before the adverb ( more slowly, most slowly ). However, there are a few adverbs that take non-standard forms, such as well , for which better and best are used (i.e., “He did well , she did better , and I did best “).

Relative Adverbs

Relative adverbs are a subclass of adverbs that deal with space, time, and reason. In this video, David gives a quick intro to the three most common relative adverbs: when , where , and why .

As we just learned, we can use these adverbs to connect ideas about where, when, and why things happen.

Read the following questions and turn them into statements using relative adverbs:

Where did Nina last see her keys?
When are the repairmen going to get here?
Why did the desk just collapse?

[practice-area rows=”4″][/practice-area] [reveal-answer q=”526976″]Show Answer[/reveal-answer] [hidden-answer a=”526976″]

I don’t know where Nina last saw her keys.
I don’t know when the repairmen are going to get here.
I don’t know why the desk just collapsed.

Common Mistakes

Have you ever noticed the effect the word only can have on a sentence, especially depending on where it’s placed? Let’s look at a simple sentence:

She loves horses.

Let’s see how only can influence the meaning of this sentence:

No one loves horses but her.
The one thing she does is love horses.
She loves horses and nothing else.

Only modifies the word that directly follows it. Whenever you use the word only make sure you’ve placed it correctly in your sentence.

A linguistic phenomenon is sweeping the nation: people are using literally as an intensifier. How many times have you heard things like “It was literally the worst thing that has ever happened to me,” or “His head literally exploded when I told him I was going to be late again”?

So what’s the problem with this? According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary , the actual definition of literal is as follows:

involving the ordinary or usual meaning of a word
giving the meaning of each individual word
completely true and accurate : not exaggerated [1]

According to this definition, literally should be used only when something actually happened. Our cultural usage may be slowly shifting to allow literally as an intensifier, but it’s best to avoid using literally in any way other than its dictionary definition, especially in formal writing.

Identify and correct any errors in adverb usage in each sentence.

Presilah literally died when she heard the news.
Teddy is literally the best person on the planet.
Daveed often takes things too literally.
A pirate only sails the seas.
In their vows, they promised to love only each other.

[reveal-answer q=”648403″]Show Answer[/reveal-answer] [hidden-answer a=”648403″]

Presilah practically died when she heard the news.
Presilah nearly died when she heard the news.
Teddy is actually the best person on the planet.
Teddy is the best person on the planet.
This sentence is correct.
This sentence is probably not true. It implies that a pirate sails the seas, and does nothing else. It may be an acceptable sentence if you’re exaggerating on purpose, but a more likely sentence would be “A pirate sails only the seas.” (A pirate sails the seas, and nowhere else.)
" Literal ." Merriam-Webster.com . Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 20 June 2016. ↵
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Adverb. Provided by : Wikipedia. Located at : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adverb . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
Intensifiers and adverbs of degree. Authored by : David Rheinstrom. Provided by : Khan Academy. Located at : https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/grammar/partsofspeech/the-modifier/v/intensifiers-and-adverbs-of-degree-modifiers-the-parts-of-speech . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
Relative adverbs. Authored by : David Rheinstrom. Provided by : Khan Academy. Located at : https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/grammar/partsofspeech/the-modifier/v/relative-adverbs . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
Modification of Why I think the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary is super important. Authored by : Jon Tennant. Provided by : European Geosciences Union . Located at : http://blogs.egu.eu/network/palaeoblog/2016/02/26/why-i-think-the-jurassiccretaceous-boundary-is-super-important/ . Project : Green Tea and Velociraptors. License : CC BY: Attribution
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Which adverbs are important in academic writing?

This is the third and final chapter about Adverbs . To complete this reader, read each chapter carefully and then unlock and complete our materials to check your understanding.

– Review the key facts about adverbs

– Determine which adverbs are common in academic English

– Unlock, download and complete Chapter Worksheets to check progress and understanding and improve proficiency

Chapter 1: How do adverbs function in English grammar?

Chapter 2: What are the 3 categories and 16 types of adverb?

Chapter 3: Which adverbs are important in academic writing?

Having now explored adverbs in some depth, discussing their form, function and distribution in Chapter 1 and their sixteen types and three categories in Chapter 2, this third and final chapter deals with their use in academic contexts. By studying this chapter, you’ll review the sixteen adverb types in brief and will learn which adverbs are most common in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and which should be avoided. After completing this reader, don’t forget to unlock and complete our Chapter Worksheets to check your knowledge of adverbs and improve your overall English proficiency.

What are the key facts about adverbs?

As mentioned in Chapter 1 and 2, adverbs are one of most variable of all the word types in that their form, function and distribution is quite varied. This can make adverbs challenging to identify and master. In case you’re a student that’s jumped straight to Chapter 3 to find out about adverbs in academic contexts, let’s summarise what we’ve discussed so far:

many (but not most) adverbs are formed from adjectives using the suffix ‘-ly’
adverbs can modify adjectives, adverbs, verbs, prepositional phrases and sentences
adverbs tend to express how , when , where , how often or to what extent
adverbs are often quite flexible in where they can be placed within a sentence
adverbs can be categorised into adjunctive , conjunctive and disjunctive types, each of which can be divided into a number of subcategories due to their shared meaning or grammar

Which adverbs are common in EAP?

To help students who are writing academic essays or designing academic presentations , we’ve included a list below of almost 100 high-frequency academic adverbs. It might be a good idea to learn the grammar and meaning of these words and incorporate them into your academic language:

above, accordingly, accurately, adequately, also, approximately, basically, clearly, closely, commonly, consequently, considerably, conversely, correctly, directly, effectively, either, equally, especially, essentially, explicitly, extremely, fairly, far, frequently, fully, further, furthermore, generally, greatly, hence, highly, however, increasingly, indeed, independently, indirectly, individually, inevitably, initially, largely, less, mainly, more, moreover, most, namely, necessarily, normally, notably, often, only, originally, over, partially, particularly, potentially, previously, primarily, purely, quite, readily, recently, relatively, secondly, significantly, similarly, simply, socially, solely, somewhat, specifically, strongly, subsequently, successfully, then, there, thereby, therefore, thus, traditionally, typically, ultimately, virtually, voluntarily, wholly, widely

What are the 16 types of adverb?

Among the adjunctive, conjunctive and disjunctive categories of adverb we discussed earlier, there are sixteen types of adverb. That’s a lot to learn! Thankfully, we’ve included each type with an example for you below. However, if you’d like to study these types in more detail, consider returning back to Chapter 2 where more examples are provided.

Adverbs of degree : The student completely forgot about studying for the exam.
Adverbs of frequency : It will take the students forever to get a high score on the test.
Adverbs of manner : The tutor resentfully answered yet another student email.
Adverbs of place : The students who were absent were falling behind .
Adverbs of time : The teacher is too tired and will have to mark the exams later .

Conjunctive

Additive adverbs : Additionally , VOCs significantly impact air quality.
Contrastive adverbs : VOCs are not the primary cause, however .
Listing adverbs : Finally , there are the multitude of greenhouse gases.
Resultative adverbs : Therefore , pulmonary cancer rates are increasing.
Relative adverbs : 4 o’clock is when the exam will finish.
Interrogative adverbs : When will the exam end?

Disjunctive

Adverbs of attitude : Smith (2020) correctly delineates the issue.
Adverbs of certainty : These results are undeniably conclusive.
Adverbs of doubt : Such findings are only theoretically conclusive.
Hedging adverbs : This decrease is possibly due to government policy.
Source adverbs : According to Smith (2020), emissions are increasing.

Which types are common in academic language?

When using English for Academic Purposes (EAP), it’s important to recognise which adverb types are common and which are infrequently used. We’ve therefore summarised their use for you in the following table. Those types with the most ticks (ü) are the most important to study as they are used most frequently:

Downloadables

Once you’ve completed all three chapters in this short reader about Adverbs , you might then wish to download our Chapter Worksheets to check your progress or print for your students. These professional PDF worksheets can be easily accessed for only a few Academic Marks .

Chapter 1 explores the topic: How do adverbs function in English grammar? Our Chapter 1 Worksheet (containing guidance, activities and answer keys) can be accessed here at the click of a button.

Chapter 2 explores the topic: What are the 3 categories and 16 types of adverb? Our Chapter 2 Worksheet (containing guidance, activities and answer keys) can be accessed here at the click of a button.

Chapter 3 explores the topic: Which adverbs are important in academic writing? Our Chapter 3 Worksheet (containing guidance, activities and answer keys) can be accessed here at the click of a button.

To save yourself 2 Marks , click on the button below to gain unlimited access to all of our Adverbs Chapter Worksheets. This All-in-1 Pack includes every chapter, activity and answer key related to this topic in one handy and professional PDF.

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Adverbs in Writing: The Good, The Bad, and The Sometimes

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Adverbs in writing are just the worst! They are evil! Evil, I say!

Eh, well, sort of. Sometimes.

And sometimes not. Let me explain.

Adverbs have a pretty awful rap in the writ ing world. Many a writing teacher will get their red pen in hand at the very mention of an adverb, and actually seeing a rogue adverb running free through a student’s writing will send that red pen into a flurried frenzy of frustration.

“Adverbs are bad! They are weak! They are not to be used by proper writers! I have the red pen, so that makes these statements true!”

Again… well, sort of. Let’s look into this more closely.

1. What is an adverb?

First off, it’s important that we’re all on the same page as to what an adverb is. If you’re like me and hated English grammar class in elementary school, here’s the lowdown:

An adverb is a word that modifies verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. The shorthand many people are told is “they end in -ly”, which can be true but isn’t 100%.

Here’s some quick examples:

Modifying a verb: I ran quickly . [The adverb tells how you ran , and run is a verb/action word.]
Modifying an adjective: The man was extremely tall. [The adverb tells how tall he is, and tall is an adjective/descriptive word]
Modifying another adverb: I ran very quickly. [The adverb tells how quickly you ran, and quickly is an adverb]

2. What’s so horrible about adverbs?

Well, if you look at the examples above, you’ll see that, while there’s nothing wrong with those sentences, they could be stronger. Adverbs, if used too much, can make your writing weaker.

What’s more interesting: “I ran quickly down the hall” or “I sprinted down the hall”? Or “I raced down the hall”? Or “I jogged down the hall”? Or “I bounded down the hall”?

All of those options give more detail and specificity. Running “quickly” is more generic and so a bit less interesting.

How about “The man was extremely tall”? We could use different adjectives that carried more weight, or we could change it from “telling” the reader the man is tall to “showing” the man’s height through his actions.

How about “The man was gigantic” or “He towered over his workmates” or “He had to duck to avoid hitting his head as he stepped through the doorway” or “I had to crane my neck up to look him in the eyes as he approached me.”?

3. So does this mean all adverbs are bad?

Not at all. Personally, I feel that certain adverbs of frequency (Ex: “He never goes outside anymore”) or of place (Ex: “There are squirrels everywhere !”) or of time (Ex: “He came over yesterday “) are perfectly fine and useful at times, though not every writer or writing teacher may agree with me.

However, there’s one major area where I’d argue they’re pretty much necessary or, at the very least, pretty much unavoidable.

People use adverbs constantly.

“That was so amazing!”

“I really don’t like that guy.”

“I will never do that again.”

“Why is he always late?”

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never heard someone say, “Man, that cheesecake was so good! …wait, ‘so’ was an adverb. And ‘good’? That’s a pretty weak adjective. I should do better. Where’s my thesaurus?”

Like it or not, adverbs are incredibly common in speech.

While limiting adverbs in your narrative writing will make you a stronger writer, taking them out of your dialogue can make it sound stilted or awkward. This also is true when you’re writing something that is meant to sound like dialogue or a conversation.

Like, say, I don’t know, an instructional blog post on improving your writing.

4. Final Thoughts

Like so many things in life, “eliminate your adverbs” isn’t an absolute. It’s a good idea a lot of the time, but a good writer will also do their best to learn when this rule – like many other writing rules – can be bent or broken.

Happy Writing!

What are your thoughts on adverbs in writing, or on any other writing-related tips or rules? Please comment below. Also, for more information on writing dialogue, please check out my 3-part post series starting here .

Writing Good Dialogue – What Makes Dialogue Fun to Listen to? (Part 2)
The True Purpose of Dialogue! – Dialogue Writing Tips (Part 3)
Dialogue Writing Tips Part 1 – What Makes Good Dialogue?
“Give them Purple Hair!” – 5 Easy-to-Use Character Writing Tips

2.6 Adjectives and Adverbs

Learning objectives.

Identify adjectives and adverbs.
Use adjectives and adverbs correctly.

Adjectives and adverbs are descriptive words that bring your writing to life.

Adjectives and Adverbs

An adjective is a word that describes a noun or a pronoun. It often answers questions such as which one , what kind , or how many?

1. The green sweater belongs to Iris.

2. She looks beautiful .

In sentence 1, the adjective green describes the noun sweater .
In sentence 2, the adjective beautiful describes the pronoun she .

An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs frequently end in -ly . They answer questions such as how , to what extent , why , when , and where .

3. Bertrand sings horribly . 4. My sociology instructor is extremely wise.

5. He threw the ball very accurately.

In sentence 3, horribly describes the verb sings . How does Bertrand sing? He sings horribly .
In sentence 4, extremely describes the adjective wise . How wise is the instructor? Extremely wise.
In sentence 5, very describes the adverb accurately . How accurately did he throw the ball? Very accurately.

Complete the following sentences by adding the correct adjective or adverb from the list in the previous section. Identify the word as an adjective or an adverb (Adj, Adv).

Frederick ________ choked on the piece of chicken when he saw Margaret walk through the door.
His ________ eyes looked at everyone and everything as if they were specimens in a biology lab.
Despite her pessimistic views on life, Lauren believes that most people have ________ hearts.
Although Stefan took the criticism ________, he remained calm.
The child developed a ________ imagination because he read a lot of books.
Madeleine spoke ________ while she was visiting her grandmother in the hospital.
Hector’s most ________ possession was his father’s bass guitar from the 1970s.
My definition of a ________ afternoon is walking to the park on a beautiful day, spreading out my blanket, and losing myself in a good book.
She ________ eyed her new coworker and wondered if he was single.
At the party, Denise ________ devoured two pieces of pepperoni pizza and a several slices of ripe watermelon.

Comparative versus Superlative

Comparative adjectives and adverbs are used to compare two people or things.

1. Jorge is thin .

2. Steven is thinner than Jorge.

Sentence 1 describes Jorge with the adjective thin .
Sentence 2 compares Jorge to Steven, stating that Steven is thinner . So thinner is the comparative form of thin .

Form comparatives in one of the following two ways:

If the adjective or adverb is a one syllable word, add -er to it to form the comparative. For example, big , fast , and short would become bigger , faster , and shorter in the comparative form.
If the adjective or adverb is a word of two or more syllables, place the word more in front of it to form the comparative. For example, happily , comfortable , and jealous would become more happily , more comfortable , and more jealous in the comparative.

Superlative adjectives and adverbs are used to compare more than two people or two things.

1. Jackie is the loudest cheerleader on the squad.

2. Kenyatta was voted the most confident student by her graduating class.

Sentence 1 shows that Jackie is not just louder than one other person, but she is the loudest of all the cheerleaders on the squad.
Sentence 2 shows that Kenyatta was voted the most confident student of all the students in her class.

Form superlatives in one of the following two ways:

If the adjective or adverb is a one-syllable word, add -est to form the superlative. For example, big , fast , and short would become biggest , fastest , and shortest in the superlative form.
If the adjective or adverb is a word of two or more syllables, place the word most in front of it. For example, happily , comfortable , and jealous would become most happily , most comfortable , and most jealous in the superlative form.

Remember the following exception: If the word has two syllables and ends in -y , change the -y to an -i and add -est . For example, happy would change to happiest in the superlative form; healthy would change to healthiest .

Edit the following paragraph by correcting the errors in comparative and superlative adjectives.

Collaboration

Share and compare your answers with a classmate.

Irregular Words: Good , Well , Bad , and Badly

Good , well , bad , and badly are often used incorrectly. Study the following chart to learn the correct usage of these words and their comparative and superlative forms.

Good versus Well

Good is always an adjective—that is, a word that describes a noun or a pronoun. The second sentence is correct because well is an adverb that tells how something is done.

Incorrect: Cecilia felt that she had never done so good on a test.

Correct: Cecilia felt that she had never done so well on a test.

Well is always an adverb that describes a verb, adverb, or adjective. The second sentence is correct because good is an adjective that describes the noun score .

Incorrect: Cecilia’s team received a well score.

Correct: Cecilia’s team received a good score.

Bad versus Badly

Bad is always an adjective. The second sentence is correct because badly is an adverb that tells how the speaker did on the test.

Incorrect: I did bad on my accounting test because I didn’t study.

Correct: I did badly on my accounting test because I didn’t study.

Badly is always an adverb. The second sentence is correct because bad is an adjective that describes the noun thunderstorm .

Incorrect: The coming thunderstorm looked badly .

Correct: The coming thunderstorm looked bad .

Better and Worse

The following are examples of the use of better and worse :

Tyra likes sprinting better than long distance running.

The traffic is worse in Chicago than in Atlanta.

Best and Worst

The following are examples of the use of best and worst :

Tyra sprints best of all the other competitors.

Peter finished worst of all the runners in the race.

Remember better and worse compare two persons or things. Best and worst compare three or more persons or things.

Write good , well , bad , or badly to complete each sentence. Copy the completed sentence onto your own sheet of paper.

Donna always felt ________ if she did not see the sun in the morning.
The school board president gave a ________ speech for once.
Although my dog, Comet, is mischievous, he always behaves ________ at the dog park.
I thought my back injury was ________ at first, but it turned out to be minor.
Steve was shaking ________ from the extreme cold.
Apple crisp is a very ________ dessert that can be made using whole grains instead of white flour.
The meeting with my son’s math teacher went very ________.
Juan has a ________ appetite, especially when it comes to dessert.
Magritte thought the guests had a ________ time at the party because most people left early.
She ________ wanted to win the writing contest prize, which included a trip to New York.

Write the correct comparative or superlative form of the word in parentheses. Copy the completed sentence onto your own sheet of paper.

This research paper is ________ (good) than my last one.
Tanaya likes country music ________ (well) of all.
My motorcycle rides ________ (bad) than it did last summer.
That is the ________ (bad) joke my father ever told.
The hockey team played ________ (badly) than it did last season.
Tracey plays guitar ________ (well) than she plays the piano.
It will go down as one of the ________ (bad) movies I have ever seen.
The deforestation in the Amazon is ________ (bad) than it was last year.
Movie ticket sales are ________ (good) this year than last.
My husband says mystery novels are the ________ (good) types of books.

Writing at Work

The irregular words good , well , bad , and badly are often misused along with their comparative and superlative forms better , best , worse , and worst . You may not hear the difference between worse and worst , and therefore type it incorrectly. In a formal or business-like tone, use each of these words to write eight separate sentences. Assume these sentences will be seen and judged by your current or future employer.

Key Takeaways

Adjectives describe a noun or a pronoun.
Adverbs describe a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
Most adverbs are formed by adding -ly to an adjective.
Comparative adjectives and adverbs compare two persons or things.
Superlative adjectives or adverbs compare more than two persons or things.
The adjectives good and bad and the adverbs well and badly are unique in their comparative and superlative forms and require special attention.

Writing Application

Using the exercises as a guide, write your own ten-sentence quiz for your classmate(s) using the concepts covered in this section. Try to include two questions from each subsection in your quiz. Exchange papers and see whether you can get a perfect score.

The Ultimate List of Adverbs to Boost Your Writing Skills

By: Author ESLBUZZ

Posted on Last updated: August 4, 2023

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Are you tired of using the same old adverbs in your writing? Do you want to add more variety and depth to your writing? Look no further than our comprehensive list of adverbs! Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced grammar learner, this list is sure to provide you with the tools you need to take your writing to the next level.

From adverbs of time and frequency to adverbs of manner and degree, we’ve got you covered. So why settle for the same old adverbs when you can spice up your writing with our list? Keep reading to find out more!

List of Adverbs

Understanding Adverbs

Adverbs are words that modify or describe verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or even entire sentences. They provide additional information about how, when, where, and to what extent an action is performed. Adverbs can be formed by adding -ly to an adjective, but there are also many adverbs that do not end in -ly.

For example:

She speaks softly .
He drives carefully .
They arrived late .
She is very happy.
He is working hard .

Adverbs serve several functions in a sentence. The most common functions are:

Manner: Adverbs that describe how an action is performed. Example: He sings beautifully .
Degree: Adverbs that indicate the extent to which an action is performed. Example: She is extremely talented.
Time: Adverbs that describe when an action is performed. Example: They arrived early .
Place: Adverbs that describe where an action is performed. Example: She looked everywhere for her keys.
Frequency: Adverbs that describe how often an action is performed. Example: He exercises daily .

Adverbs can be placed in different positions within a sentence, depending on the emphasis and meaning. Generally, adverbs are placed before the verb they modify, but they can also be placed at the beginning or end of a sentence.

Before the verb: She always arrives on time.
At the beginning of the sentence: Finally , he finished his homework.

List of Adverbs of Manner

Adverbs of manner describe how something is done. They tell us about the way or manner in which an action is performed. These adverbs often end in -ly, but not always. Here are some examples:

List of Adverbs of Place

Adverbs of place describe the location or position of an action or thing. They tell us where something is happening. Here are some examples:

List of Adverbs of Time

Adverbs of time tell us when something happens or how often it happens. They describe the time frame of an action. Here are some examples:

List of Adverbs of Degree

Adverbs of degree describe the intensity or degree of an action or thing. They tell us how much or to what extent something happens. Here are some examples:

List of Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of frequency describe how often something happens. They tell us the frequency of an action. Here are some examples:

Position of Adverbs

Adverbs can be placed in different positions within a sentence, depending on the intended emphasis and the adverb type. In this section, we will discuss the three main positions of adverbs in English sentences: beginning, middle, and end.

Beginning of Sentence

When an adverb is placed at the beginning of a sentence, it is in initial position. This placement is often used to emphasize the adverb or to introduce a new idea. Common adverbs used in initial position include:

Unfortunately
Interestingly
Consequently

Here are a few examples of adverbs in initial position:

Suddenly, the phone rang.
Unfortunately, I forgot my keys.
Interestingly, the study found that…
Consequently, the project was delayed.

Middle of Sentence

Adverbs can also be placed in the middle of a sentence, between the subject and verb or after the verb. This placement is used to modify the verb or to provide additional information about the action. Adverbs that are commonly used in the middle of a sentence include:

Here are a few examples of adverbs in middle position:

He usually eats breakfast at 7 am.
I often go to the gym after work.
She sometimes forgets her phone at home.
They rarely travel abroad.

End of Sentence

When an adverb is placed at the end of a sentence, it is in final position. This placement is used to modify the entire sentence or to emphasize the adverb. Adverbs that are commonly used in final position include:

Here are a few examples of adverbs in final position:

The party was ruined completely.
This is not going well, obviously.

Common Mistakes with Adverbs

Adverbs are an essential part of English grammar. They are used to modify verbs, adjectives, clauses, and other adverbs, providing additional details or information about how an action is performed. However, using adverbs incorrectly can lead to confusion and misunderstandings.

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using adverbs:

Using Adjectives Instead of Adverbs

Another common mistake is using adjectives instead of adverbs to modify verbs. Adjectives are used to modify nouns or pronouns, while adverbs are used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. For example:

Incorrect: He runs very fastly.
Correct: He runs very fast.

Overusing Adverbs

While adverbs can add depth and detail to a sentence, overusing them can make your writing sound cluttered and repetitive. Instead, try to use descriptive verbs or adjectives to convey meaning. For example:

Overused: She spoke softly and gently to the children.
Better: She whispered to the children.

Using the Wrong Adverb

Using the wrong adverb can also lead to confusion and misunderstandings. Make sure you choose the right adverb to convey the meaning you intend. For example:

Incorrect: He spoke loudly to the baby.
Correct: He spoke softly to the baby.

In conclusion, using adverbs correctly is essential for clear and effective communication in English. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can improve your writing and speaking skills and convey your message more accurately.

Remember that using adverbs sparingly is key to effective writing. Overuse of adverbs can make your writing appear weak or amateurish. Instead, strive to use adverbs only when they add value to your sentences and help convey your intended meaning.

Additionally, it’s important to note that not all adverbs are created equal. Some adverbs are stronger than others and can convey a more precise meaning. For example, the adverb “quickly” is weaker than “ briskly ” or “hurriedly.” By using stronger adverbs, you can make your writing more engaging and descriptive.

Overall, the key to using adverbs effectively is to strike a balance between using them too often and not using them enough. By incorporating a variety of adverbs into your writing and using them judiciously, you can take your writing to the next level and communicate more effectively with your readers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some common adverbs in English?

There are many common adverbs in English, and they can be used to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Some common adverbs include quickly, slowly, loudly, quietly, beautifully, and carefully. Adverbs can also be formed by adding -ly to an adjective, such as quickly from quick or easily from easy.

Can you provide examples of adverbs?

Sure! Here are some examples of adverbs in sentences:

She sings beautifully.
He runs quickly.
They speak softly.
The car drives smoothly.
She writes neatly.

How do adverbs modify verbs?

Adverbs modify verbs by describing how, when, where, or to what extent an action is done. For example, in the sentence “She sings beautifully,” the adverb beautifully modifies the verb sings by describing how she sings.

What is the correct order of adverbs in a sentence?

The general order of adverbs in a sentence is time, manner, place. For example, “She sings beautifully in the park every afternoon.” However, there are exceptions to this rule, and the order can vary depending on the specific adverbs used in the sentence.

Where can I find a PDF list of adverbs?

There are many resources available online for finding lists of adverbs, including PDFs. A quick search on Google can provide you with many options to choose from.

What are some adverbs that don’t end in -ly?

While many adverbs end in -ly, there are also many that do not. Some examples of adverbs that don’t end in -ly include fast, hard, well, late, and early. These adverbs can be used to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs just like their -ly counterparts.

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Adverbs modify verbs by describing how, when, where, or to what extent an action is done. For example, in the sentence \"She sings beautifully,\" the adverb beautifully modifies the verb sings by describing how she sings.

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The general order of adverbs in a sentence is time, manner, place. For example, \"She sings beautifully in the park every afternoon.\" However, there are exceptions to this rule, and the order can vary depending on the specific adverbs used in the sentence.

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While many adverbs end in -ly, there are also many that do not. Some examples of adverbs that don't end in -ly include fast, hard, well, late, and early. These adverbs can be used to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs just like their -ly counterparts.

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129 Adjectives and Adverbs

[Author removed at request of original publisher]

Learning Objectives

Identify adjectives and adverbs.
Use adjectives and adverbs correctly.

Adjectives and adverbs are descriptive words that bring your writing to life.

Adjectives and Adverbs

An adjective is a word that describes a noun or a pronoun. It often answers questions such as which one , what kind , or how many?

1. The green sweater belongs to Iris.

2. She looks beautiful .

In sentence 1, the adjective green describes the noun sweater .
In sentence 2, the adjective beautiful describes the pronoun she .

An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs frequently end in -ly . They answer questions such as how , to what extent , why , when , and where .

3. Bertrand sings horribly .

4. My sociology instructor is extremely wise.

5. He threw the ball very accurately.

In sentence 3, horribly describes the verb sings . How does Bertrand sing? He sings horribly .
In sentence 4, extremely describes the adjective wise . How wise is the instructor? They are e xtremely wise.
In sentence 5, very describes the adverb accurately . How accurately did he throw the ball? Very accurately.

Complete the following sentences by adding an appropriate adjective or adverb from the sample list in the previous section. Identify the word as an adjective or an adverb (Adj, Adv). Some words can be used more than once if they fit the context.

Frederick ________ choked on the piece of chicken when he saw Margaret walk through the door.
His ________ eyes looked at everyone and everything as if they were specimens in a biology lab.
Despite her pessimistic views on life, Lauren believes that most people have ________ hearts.
Although Stefan took the criticism ________, he was stewing inside.
The child developed a ________ imagination because they read a lot of books.
Madeleine spoke ________ while she was visiting her grandmother in the hospital.
Hector’s most ________ possession was his father’s bass guitar from the 1970s.
My definition of a ________ afternoon is walking to the park on a beautiful day, spreading out my blanket, and losing myself in a good book.
She ________ eyed her new neighbor and wondered if she was single.
At the party, Denise ________ devoured two pieces of pepperoni pizza and several slices of cantaloupe.

Comparative versus Superlative

Comparative adjectives and adverbs are used to compare two people or things.

1. Jorge is thin .

2. Steven is thinner than Jorge.

Sentence 1 describes Jorge with the adjective thin .
Sentence 2 compares Jorge to Steven, stating that Steven is thinner . So thinner is the comparative form of thin .

Form comparatives in one of the following two ways:

If the adjective or adverb is a one syllable word, add -er to it to form the comparative. For example, big , fast , and short would become bigger , faster , and shorter in the comparative form.
If the adjective or adverb is a word of two or more syllables, place the word more in front of it to form the comparative. For example, happily , comfortable , and jealous would become more happily , more comfortable , and more jealous in the comparative.

Superlative adjectives and adverbs are used to compare more than two people or two things.

1. Jackie is the loudest cheerleader on the squad.

2. Kenyatta was voted the most confident student by her graduating class.

Sentence 1 shows that Jackie is not just louder than one other person, but she is the loudest of all the cheerleaders on the squad.
Sentence 2 shows that Kenyatta was voted the most confident student of all the students in her class.

Form superlatives in one of the following two ways:

If the adjective or adverb is a one-syllable word, add -est to form the superlative. For example, big , fast , and short would become biggest , fastest , and shortest in the superlative form.
If the adjective or adverb is a word of two or more syllables, place the word most in front of it. For example, happily , comfortable , and jealous would become most happily , most comfortable , and most jealous in the superlative form.

Edit the following paragraph by correcting the errors in comparative and superlative adjectives.

Our argument started on the most sunny afternoon that I have ever experienced. Max and I were sitting on my front stoop when I started it. I told him that my dog, Jacko, was more smart than his dog, Merlin. I could not help myself. Merlin never came when he was called, and he chased his tail and barked at rocks. I told Max that Merlin was the most dumbest dog on the block. I guess I was angrier about a bad grade that I received, so I decided to pick on poor little Merlin. Even though Max insulted Jacko too, I felt I had been more mean. The next day I apologized to Max and brought Merlin some of Jacko’s treats. When Merlin placed his paw on my knee and licked my hand, I was the most sorry person on the block.

Collaboration

Share and compare your answers with a classmate.

Irregular Words: Good , Well , Bad , and Badly

Good , well , bad , and badly are often used incorrectly. Study the following chart to learn the correct usage of these words and their comparative and superlative forms.

Good versus Well

Good is always an adjective—that is, a word that describes a noun or a pronoun. The second sentence is correct because well is an adverb that tells how something is done.

Incorrect: Cecilia felt that she had never done so good on a test.

Correct: Cecilia felt that she had never done so well on a test.

Well is always an adverb that describes a verb, adverb, or adjective. The second sentence is correct because good is an adjective that describes the noun score .

Incorrect: Cecilia’s team received a well score.

Correct: Cecilia’s team received a good score.

Bad versus Badly

Bad is always an adjective. The second sentence is correct because badly is an adverb that tells how the speaker did on the test.

Incorrect: I did bad on my accounting test because I didn’t study.

Correct: I did badly on my accounting test because I didn’t study.

Badly is always an adverb. The second sentence is correct because bad is an adjective that describes the noun thunderstorm .

Incorrect: The coming thunderstorm looked badly .

Correct: The coming thunderstorm looked bad .

Better and Worse

The following are examples of the use of better and worse :

Tyra likes sprinting better than long distance running.

The traffic is worse in Chicago than in Atlanta.

Best and Worst

The following are examples of the use of best and worst :

Tyra sprints best of all the other competitors.

Peter finished worst of all the runners in the race.

Remember better and worse compare two persons or things. Best and worst compare three or more persons or things.

Write good , well , bad , or badly to complete each sentence. Copy the completed sentence onto your own sheet of paper.

Donna always felt ________ if she did not see the sun in the morning.
The school board president gave a ________ speech for once.
Although my dog, Comet, is mischievous, he always behaves ________ at the dog park.
I thought my back injury was ________ at first, but it turned out to be minor.
Steve was shaking ________ from the extreme cold.
Apple crisp is a very ________ dessert that can be made using whole grains instead of white flour.
The meeting with my son’s math teacher went very ________.
Juan has a ________ appetite, especially when it comes to dessert.
Magritte thought the guests had a ________ time at the party because most people left early.
She ________ wanted to win the writing contest prize, which included a trip to New York.

Write the correct comparative or superlative form of the word in parentheses. Copy the completed sentence onto your own sheet of paper.

This research paper is ________ (good) than my last one.
Tanaya likes country music ________ (well) of all.
My motorcycle rides ________ (bad) than it did last summer.
That is the ________ (bad) joke my father ever told.
The hockey team played ________ (badly) than it did last season.
Tracey plays guitar ________ (well) than she plays the piano.
It will go down as one of the ________ (bad) movies I have ever seen.
The deforestation in the Amazon is ________ (bad) than it was last year.
Movie ticket sales are ________ (good) this year than last.
My husband says mystery novels are the ________ (good) types of books.

Writing at Work

Key Takeaways

Adjectives describe a noun or a pronoun.
Adverbs describe a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
Most adverbs are formed by adding -ly to an adjective.
Comparative adjectives and adverbs compare two persons or things.
Superlative adjectives or adverbs compare more than two persons or things.
The adjectives good and bad and the adverbs well and badly are unique in their comparative and superlative forms and require special attention.

Writing Application

Write What Matters Copyright © 2020 by [Author removed at request of original publisher] is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Adjectives and Adverbs: Definition, Examples, & Exercises

The Albert Team
Last Updated On: March 1, 2022

adjectives and adverbs examples and exercises

Adjectives and adverbs serve a similar purpose in writing, they are both modifiers . They can sometimes be confused for one another, but with a little practice, adjectives and adverbs can quickly be mastered.

In this post we’ll review what adjectives and adverbs are, the types of adjectives and adverbs, and how to use them effectively in a sentence.

After reviewing the information below, test yourself with a post-assessment quiz and practice with our high quality, standards-aligned questions here .

What We Review

The Basics of Adjectives

What is an Adjective?

Adjectives are words or word sets that modify (describe) a noun or pronoun . There are several different types of adjectives.

Return to Table of Contents

Types of Adjectives

Descriptive adjectives.

Descriptive adjectives describe qualities of a noun or pronoun and are the most commonly used type of adjective. There are two main types of descriptive adjectives: Attributive Adjectives and Predicate Adjectives .

Attributive Adjectives

Attributive adjectives are words, clauses, or phrases used directly before or after the noun or pronoun they are modifying and describe a quality of the word being modified.

I bought berry pie when I went to the grocery store.

The word berry is modifying, or describing the type of pie. The word grocery is modifying the type of store.

The snowflakes made my nose cold .

The word cold is modifying the word nose by describing it. In this example, the attributive adjective directly follows the noun being described.

Predicate Adjectives

Predicate adjectives are words, phrases, or clauses that modify the subject of a sentence or clause following a linking verb. They are called predicate adjectives because they are part of the sentence predicate.

That building is gigantic !

The word gigantic is modifying the word building by describing its size following the linking verb is .

Coordinate Adjectives

Coordinate adjectives are two or more adjectives that work together to modify the same noun.

When using coordinate adjectives, commas or the word “and” must be used to separate the adjectives because each adjective is describing the noun.

The energetic, mischievous Luna is our pet Husky.

The words energetic and mischievous are working together to describe Luna. If the comma was replaced with the word and , or the adjectives were reversed, it would not change the meaning of the sentence.

The energetic and mischievous Luna is our pet Husky.
The mischievous, energetic Luna is our pet Husky.

If your sentence doesn’t make sense, or the meaning is changed if you replace the comma with the word “and” or reverse the adjectives, you are probably using cumulative adjectives .

Cumulative Adjectives

Cumulative adjectives are two or more adjectives that have a building effect on the word being described, and the order of the adjectives are important to the overall meaning. Commas and/or the word “and” are not used with cumulative adjectives.

That crazy large crimson Husky is our pet Luna.

In this sentence, the words crazy, large, and crimson are not independent descriptions of the noun. They work as a unit to describe the noun.

In this case, crimson is modifying Husky , large is modifying ‘ crimson Husky ’, and crazy is modifying ‘ large crimson Husky ’.

Limiting Adjectives

Limiting adjectives define nouns or pronouns by restricting them rather than describing them. They can be used to point out a specific object, set a number limit, and more.

There are nine types of limiting adjectives. We will review eight of these types, and the ninth type, Definite and Indefinite Articles , will be covered in another post.

Possessive Adjectives

Possessive Adjectives modify nouns by showing possession or ownership. Some of the most common possessive adjectives are: my, your, his, her, its, our, and their .

I went to my room for some peace and quiet.

In this sentence, the word my is modifying the word room. It is possessive because it is showing ownership over the room.

He went to the store to buy his groceries for the week.

In this sentence, the word his is modifying the word groceries. It is possessive because it is showing ownership over the groceries.

Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative Adjectives are the same four words that make up demonstrative pronouns : this, that, these, and those , but used to modify nouns or noun phrases by indicating the position of the noun. This and that are used for singular nouns, and these and those are used for plural nouns.

This restaurant is my favorite!

In this sentence, the word this is modifying the word restaurant. It is indicating that the singular noun, restaurant, is in close proximity to whomever is making the statement.

Those buildings have a unique style.

In this sentence, the word those is modifying the word buildings. It is indicating that the plural noun, buildings, are at a further proximity to whomever is making the statement.

Indefinite Adjectives

Indefinite Adjectives are similar to indefinite pronouns, except that they modify nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases by describing an amount of them in a non-specific way.

Many tourists visit the ancient ruins when visiting the Yucat á n Peninsula.

Here, the word many is modifying the plural noun tourists. It is indicating that there are a large number of visitors, but it does not indicate a specific number.

You will have a few minutes to complete the assessment.

In this sentence, the word few is modifying the noun minutes. It is indicating that there are only a small number of minutes, but it does not indicate a specific number.

Interrogative Adjectives

Interrogative adjectives are similar to interrogative pronouns, except they modify a noun or noun phrase by asking a question.

These are also known as interrogative determiners . There are three interrogative adjectives : What , Which , and Whose .

Which subject is your favorite?
What cuisine do you enjoy the most?
Whose car is parked in front of the store?

In all of these examples, the interrogative adjective is asking a question about the subject, cuisine, and car.

Cardinal Adjectives

Cardinal Adjectives modify a noun by indicating a specific number of that noun.

I have four books I want to read.
There are nine classrooms down that hallway.

In these examples, the cardinal adjective is indicating a specific number of books and classrooms.

Nouns used as Adjectives

A noun can be used as an adjective when it is describing or specifying another noun.

The game convention was sold out this year.
That news reporter asked great questions.

In these examples, the nouns game and news are being used as adjectives to describe the type of convention and reporter.

Proper Adjectives

Proper Adjectives work the same way as nouns used as adjectives when the noun is a proper noun. Proper adjectives are capitalized just like proper nouns are.

He wrote his play in a Shakespearean style.
I could really go for a Caribbean getaway.

In these examples, the proper nouns Shakespearian and Caribbean are being used as adjectives to describe the type of style and getaway.

The Basics of Adverbs

What is an Adverb?

Adverbs are words or sets of words that modify (describe) verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. There are five main types of adverbs: degree, frequency, manner, place, and time.

Also, an adverb can be used as a conjunction when connecting ideas. These are called conjunctive adverbs, and will be discussed after reviewing the five main types of adverbs.

5 Main Types of Adverbs

Adverbs of degree.

Adverbs of degree tell us about the intensity of a verb, adverb, or adjective in a sentence. They tell us how much , or to what extent an action has been or will be done. When used to modify an adjective, they tell how much about a quality.

Modifying a verb:

They are almost finished with their homework.

For this sentence, the adverb almost is modifying the verb finished .

Modifying an adverb:

The car is moving too quickly for the bicycle to keep up.

Here, the adverb too is modifying the adverb quickly , which are working together to modify the verb moving .

Modifying an adjective :

The pasta was extremely spicy.

In this sentence, the adverb extremely is modifying the adjective spicy , which are working together to modify the noun pasta .

Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of frequency tell us how often a verb is occurring. These adverbs usually appear between the subject and the verb, but they may appear at the beginning or end of the sentence.

Adverbs of frequency may be single words, phrases, general or specific.

Here, we will look at one sentence stem using a variety of adverbs of frequency:

She occasionally volunteers at the animal shelter.
Occasionally , she volunteers at the animal shelter.
She volunteers at the animal shelter occasionally .

Adverbs of Manner

Adverbs of manner tell us how something is done. These are the most common adverbs, which primarily modify verbs, and end with an ‘ly’.

These adverbs are generally located after a verb or at the end of a verb phrase, but can appear before the verb or verb phrase.

She stepped softly on the stairs.
She softly stepped on the stairs.

Adverbs of Place

Adverbs of place tell us more about where a verb is taking place. They generally are located after the main verb or direct object of a sentence and are only used to modify verbs.

I went there to find that popular holiday gift.
On Black Friday, there are desperate parents everywhere !

Adverbs of Time

Adverbs of time tell us when a verb takes place. Adverbs of time are similar to adverbs of frequency, but they more explicitly say when , not how often . They can be located at the beginning or end of a sentence.

I can’t wait to go on vacation tomorrow .
Yesterday , she was able to walk home in the nice weather.

Conjunctive Adverbs

Conjunctive Adverbs connect two independent clauses or sentences with a transition word to show the relationship between one idea and the next.

The relationship between the two independent clauses show transitioning information that is: additional, contrasting, emphasising, resulting, or sequential. Conjunctive adverbs are often confused with coordinating conjunctions .

While coordinating conjunctions join two independent clauses, they require a comma before the conjunction and must be located where the two independent clauses meet.

Conjunctive adverbs are transitions, and they can be used at the beginning, middle, or end of a single independent clause.

A conjunctive adverb can be positioned a number of ways within the two independent clauses where a transition is being shown. Depending on where the transition word is being placed, different punctuation rules apply.

Pay close attention to the punctuation in the following sentences. All examples are correct ways to use coordinating adverbs:

They searched for five hours . However , they could not find the extra set of car keys.
They searched for five hours . They could not , however , find the extra set of car keys.
They searched for five hours . They could not find the extra set of car keys , however .
They searched for five hours ; however , they could not find the extra set of car keys.
They searched for five hours ; they could not , however , find the extra set of car keys.

Pro Tip : Avoid a comma splice! Make sure you are able to identify two independent clauses when combining them with a coordinating adverb .

If you are making one sentence, there must be a semicolon before the coordinate adverb, and a comma after the coordinate adverb.

Incorrect Example : They did not complete their chores today, consequently they could not go to the party.
Correct Example : They did not complete their chores today; consequently, they could not go to the party.

In the incorrect example, the two independent clauses are combined with a coordinate adverb, but there is only a comma before the adverb.

In the correct example, there is a semicolon after the first clause, before the coordinating adverb, and a comma after the adverb.

Refer to Albert’s blog posts on commas and semicolons for more information on the use of commas and semicolons.

3 Tips for Recognizing and Using Adjectives and Adverbs

Tip #1: know how to use the words ‘good’ and ‘well’.

The words good and well are often misused.

Good is an adjective.
Well is an adverb that answers the question how . However , when discussing physical health , well is used as an adjective. When describing someone’s emotional state , use the word good .

Ask yourself what word am I modifying ?

Look at the following examples:

The flowers smell good .

Good is a predicate adjective modifying the noun flowers .

He ran well today.

Well is an adverb modifying the verb ran .

I feel good . — I feel well .

These are the most questioned uses of good and well. Which is correct? The answer is that BOTH can be correct!

If someone asks you, “How do you feel?”, think about the context in which it’s being asked. Have you been sick? If so, you would want to use well in your response to indicate that you are not sick anymore. Have you been down or sad recently? If so, you would want to use good in your response to indicate that you are not sad now.

Tip #2: Know what word you want to modify

The location of a modifier can impact the meaning of the sentence and whether or not the modifier is an adjective or adverb.

The series of sentences below all mean different things depending on where the modifier is located.

Even the dog avoided the meatloaf.
The dog even avoided the meatloaf.
The dog avoided even the meatloaf.

In the first sentence, the word even is modifying ‘the dog’, suggesting that a number of people avoided the meatloaf, including the dog.

In the second sentence, the word even is modifying the verb ‘avoided’, suggesting that the dog is avoiding a number of things, including the meatloaf.

In the third sentence, the word even is modifying ‘the meatloaf’, suggesting that the dog wouldn’t normally avoid the meatloaf, and something might not be right with the dog.

Tip #3: Always pay attention to words ending with ‘ly’

Most adverbs are well known for ending with the letters ‘ly’. Adding ‘ly’ to the end of an adjective very often changes that adjective to adverb.

Note: depending on the ending of the adjective, some other rules will apply when converting the adjective to an ‘ly’ adverb. This is not a foolproof method of identifying an adverb , but it’s a good indicator that you should look at that word more closely.

As always, look closely to see what job the word is doing.

That boy is silly .

In this sentence, the word silly is describing the boy, so this ‘ly’ word is an adjective.

The assembly was held at the end of the day.

In this sentence, the word assembly is an event, so this ‘ly’ word is a noun.

Knowing the job of a word will help you to identify which part of speech it is in a sentence.

Applying the Basics: Adjective and Adverb Review & Practice

Now that you understand what adjectives and adverbs are, and how to use them properly in a sentence, let’s practice identifying them and checking for proper usage.

Remember, adjectives are words that modify nouns and pronouns. They help to describe or tell us more about those nouns and pronouns. Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.

They help to describe or tell us more about those verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.

The Ultimate List of Descriptive Adjectives

*Please note that this list does not include all descriptive adjectives.

The Ultimate List of Limiting Adjectives

*Please note that this list does not include all limiting adjectives.

The Ultimate List of Adverbs

*Please note that this list does not include all adverbs.

Adjectives Exercises & Review

Complete the quick exercise below to assess your mastery of adjectives.

Select the adjective(s) in the sentences below. Remember, an adjective is a word that modifies a noun or pronoun . Adjectives can be descriptive or limiting

1. The ornate yellow house on the corner was the last house built in a Victorian style.

Ornate modifies ‘ yellow house ’
Yellow modifies house
Last modifies house
Victorian modifies style

2. Those younger kids with the soccer ball were slow getting to their homes by curfew.

Those modifies ‘ younger kids ’
Younger modifies kids
Soccer modifies ball
Slow modifies ‘ those younger kids ’
Their modifies homes

3. My childhood home always brings back wonderful memories of good times with my family.

My modifies ‘ childhood home ’
Childhood modifies home
Wonderful modifies memories
Good modifies times
My modifies family

4. The first time they won a basketball game, his team celebrated with a pizza party.

First modifies time
Basketball modifies game
His modifies team
Pizza modifies party

5. Which hotel from our tour of Western Europe was your favorite?

Which modifies hotel
Our modifies tour
Western modifies Europe
Your modifies favorite

For additional practice, check out the Adjective content on Albert.

Adverbs Exercises & Review

Complete the quick exercise below to assess your mastery of adverbs.

Select the adverb(s) in the sentences below. Remember, an adverb is a word that modifies a verb , adjective , or other adverbs .

1. My teacher usually gives too much homework every Friday; consequently, the weekends barely have time for relaxation.

Usually modifies gives
Too modifies much
Every Friday modifies gives
Consequently is a conjunctive adverb transitioning between two independent clauses
Barely modifies have

2. The newly elected mayor wisely adopted a law that fairly punished swimmers at the beach if they littered there.

Newly modifies elected
Wisely modifies adopted
Fairly modifies punished
There modifies littered

3. The young girl always completes her work first; she could usually, therefore, enjoy her evenings.

Always modifies completes
First modifies completes
Usually modifies enjoy
Therefore is a conjunctive adverb transitioning between two independent clauses

4. Yesterday, the group of boys boldly approached the cliff’s edge and sprang fearlessly into the lake below.

Yesterday collectively modifies the verbs in the sentence
Boldly modifies approached
Fearlessly modifies sprang
Below modifies sprang

5. Normally, I struggle frantically to clean my room quickly, and my mom eventually tells me to do it again.

Normally modifies struggle
Frantically modifies struggle
Quickly modifies clean
Eventually modifies tells
Again modifies do

For additional practice, check out the Adverbs & Conjunctive Adverbs content on Albert.

Try for Yourself: Adjective & Adverb Quiz

Feeling confident in your understanding of adjectives and adverbs?

Take this short quiz to see what you’ve learned:

1. Do adjectives or adverbs modify nouns and pronouns?

Answer: Adjectives
Correct Explanation: That’s right! Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns . Adverbs modify verbs , adjectives , and other adverbs .
Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Remember, Adverbs modify verbs , adjectives , and other adverbs . Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns .

2. Should the following sentence use the word good or well ?

I didn’t sleep very (good/well) last night.

Answer: Well
Correct Explanation: That’s right! Since the being modified is a verb, sleep, the modifier needs to be an adverb. Well is an adverb and good is an adjective .
Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Remember, since the word being modified is a verb, sleep, the modifier needs to be an adverb. Well is an adverb and good is an adjective .

3. Which of the following sentences is accurately punctuated for the conjunctive adverb?

A. You must complete your dinner, otherwise; you won’t get desert.

B. You must complete your dinner; you won’t get desert, otherwise.

Correct Explanation: That’s right! When using a conjunctive adverb , a semicolon must separate the two independent clauses , and the conjunctive adverb must be offset with a comma .
Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Remember, a conjunctive adverb can be placed in various locations after the first independent clause , but you still must use a semicolon at the end of the first independent clause , and the conjunctive adverb must be offset with a comma .

4. Does the underlined section of the sentence below use cumulative adjectives or coordinate adjectives?

The wooden roller coaster was the first big ride at the theme park.

Answer: Cumulative Adjectives
Correct Explanation: That’s right! Cumulative adjectives build off one another. Their placement cannot be changed, and they are not separated by a comma.
Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Remember, coordinate adjectives equally modify a noun. They must be separated by a comma or the word ‘and’. Cumulative adjectives build off one another. Their placement cannot be changed, and they are not separated by a comma.

5. Does the following sentence use a descriptive or limiting adjective?

Most students ride the bus to school.

Answer: Limiting Adjective
Correct Explanation: That’s right! The adjective ‘ Most ’ is an indefinite adjective describing an amount in a non-specific way. Indefinite adjectives are limiting adjectives .
Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Descriptive adjectives describe a ‘quality’ of a noun or pronoun. ‘ Most ’ is an indefinite adjective describing an amount in a non-specific way. Indefinite adjectives are limiting adjectives .

6. Which answer is the best choice to make the underlined portion of the following sentence accurate?

The kids responded excited when they were told about the field trip.

A. respond excited

B. responded excitedly

Correct Explanation: That’s right! The word excited is meant to be an adverb modifying the verb responded. Changing excited to excitedly makes the sentence accurate.
Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Changing the tense of ‘responded’ to ‘respond’ makes the sentence further incorrect, as the rest of the sentence uses the past tense. For this sentence, the word excited is meant to be an adverb modifying the verb responded. Changing excited to excitedly makes the sentence accurate.

For additional practice with adjectives and adverbs, check out our practice on Albert.io: Adjectives , Adverbs , and Conjunctive Adverbs

Teacher’s Corner for Adjectives and Adverbs

While it’s true that adjectives and adverbs are a foundational grammar skill, the Common Core English Language Progressive Skills Chart shows that even elementary-level skills “require continued attention in higher grades as they are applied to increasingly sophisticated writing and speaking.”

For specific standards addressing adjectives and adverbs, check out the Common Core State Standards site!

Albert’s adjectives , adverbs , and conjunctive adverbs practice can be used for much more than homework!

Our assessments can be used as pre-and post-tests to measure student progress. Our pre-made quizzes can be used as bell-ringers, exit tickets, and more!

In addition to our pre-made assessments, you can also use our assignments feature to create your own quizzes and assessments.

Summary on Adjectives and Adverbs

An Adjective is a word that modifies a noun or pronoun. The two main types of adjectives are Descriptive Adjectives and Limiting Adjectives .

An Adverb is a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb. There are five main types of adverbs: Degree, Frequency, Manner, Place, and Time . Additionally, Conjunctive Adverbs are used to connect two independent clauses with a transitioning word.

Adjectives and adverbs are words we often see and use in our writing. Make sure you check your work carefully and know what the job these modifiers are doing when deciding what adjectives and adverbs to use.

Practice makes perfect! Use our Adjectives , Adverbs , and Conjunctive Adverbs practice on Albert’s grammar course !

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Starting a Sentence with an Adverb

One technique you can use so as to avoid beginning a sentence with the subject is to use an adverb. An adverb is a word that describes a verb, adjective, or other adverb and often ends in -ly . Examples of adverbs include quickly, softly, quietly, angrily , and timidly . Read the following sentences:

She slowly turned the corner and peered into the murky basement.

Slowly, she turned the corner and peered into the murky basement.

In the second sentence, the adverb slowly is placed at the beginning of the sentence. If you read the two sentences aloud, you will notice that moving the adverb changes the rhythm of the sentence and slightly alters its meaning. The second sentence emphasizes how the subject moves—slowly—creating a buildup of tension. This technique is effective in fictional writing.

Note that an adverb used at the beginning of a sentence is usually followed by a comma. A comma indicates that the reader should pause briefly, which creates a useful rhetorical device. Read the following sentences aloud and consider the effect of pausing after the adverb:

Cautiously, he unlocked the kennel and waited for the dog’s reaction. Solemnly, the policeman approached the mayor and placed him under arrest. Suddenly, he slammed the door shut and sprinted across the street.

In an academic essay, moving an adverb to the beginning of a sentence serves to vary the rhythm of a paragraph and increase sentence variety.

Naomi has used two adverbs in her essay that could be moved to the beginning of their respective sentences. Notice how the following revised version creates a more varied paragraph:

Adverbs of time—adverbs that indicate when an action takes place—do not always require a comma when used at the beginning of a sentence. Adverbs of time include words such as yesterday , today , later , sometimes , often , and now .

Exercise 7.2
126945 reads
Front Matter
Components of a Sentence
Compound Subjects
Exercise 2.1
Action Verbs
Linking Verbs
Helping Verbs
Exercise 2.2
Sentence Patterns
Exercise 2.3
Common Sentence Errors
Run-on Sentences
Punctuation
Coordinating Conjunctions Tip
Exercise 2.4
Key Takeaways KEY TAKEAWAYS
Writing Application
Exercise 2.5
Exercise 2.6
Compound Subjects Tip
Separation of Subjects and Verbs
Collective Nouns
The Subject Follows the Verb
Questions Tip
Exercise 2.7
Exercise 2.1 Writing at Work
Exercise1 Exercise 2.1
Exercise 2.8
Exercise 2.9
Exercise 2.2 Writing at Work
Exercise 2.10 Tip
Exercise 2.11
Exercise 2.12 Writing at Work
Exercise 2.13
Indefinite Pronouns and Agreement
Exercise 2.14
Exercise 2.15
Exercise 2.16
Exercise 2.17
Exercise 2.18
Good versus Well
Bad versus Badly
Better and Worse
Exercise 2.19
Exercise 2.20 Writing at Work
Exercise 2.21
Exercise 2.22
Exercise 2.23
Key Takeaways
Exercise 2.24
Exercise 3.1
Commas in a List of Items
Exercise 3.2
Exercise 3.3
Exercise 3.4
Exercise 3.5
Exercise 3.6
Semicolons to Join Two Independent Clauses
Exercise 3.7
Colons to Introduce a List
Colons to Introduce a Quote Tip
Exercise 3.8
Direct Quotations Writing at Work
Punctuating Direct Quotations
Quotations within Quotations
Exercise 3.9
Exercise 3.10
Exercise 3.1 KEY TAKEAWAYS
Exercise 3.11
Hyphens between Two Adjectives That Work as One
Hyphens When a Word Breaks at the End of a Line
Exercise 3.12
Commonly Confused Words
Exercise 4.1
Exercise 4.2
Exercise 4.1 Tip Tip
Exercise 4.3
Exercise 4.2 Writing at Work
Using a Dictionary and Thesaurus
Exercise 4.4
Exercise 4.5
Exercise 4.6
Exercise 4.7
Exercise 4.8
Exercise 4.9
Exercise 4.10
Exercise 4.11
Exercise 4.12
Brief Definition or Restatement
Exercise 4.13
Exercise 4.4 Tip Writing at Work
Working with Words: End-of-Chapter Exercises Learning Objectives
Exercise 5.1 Tip Tip
Exercise 5.2
Exercise 5.3
Exercise 5.4
Exercise 5.5
Exercise 5.6
Exercise 5.1 Tip
Exercise 5.7
Exercise 5.8
Exercise 5.9
Exercise 5.10
Exercise 5.11
Exercise 5.12
Exercise 5.13
Exercise 5.14
Exercise 5.15
Exercise 5.16
Exercise 5.17
Exercise 5.18
Perfect Verb Tenses
Exercise 5.19
Exercise 5.20
Exercise 5.21
Exercise 5.22
Exercise 5.23
Exercise 5.3 Tip
Exercise 5.24
Help for English Language Learners: End-of-Chapter Exercises Learning Objectives
Identifying Common Academic Purposes
Summary Paragraphs
Analysis Paragraphs
Synthesis Paragraphs
Exercise 6.1 Writing at Work
Exercise 6.1
Exercise 6.2
Exercise 6.3
Developing a Topic Sentence Tip
Exercise 6.4
Exercise 6.5
Exercise 6.4 Writing at Work
Developing Paragraphs That Use Topic Sentences, Supporting Ideas, and Transitions Effectively
Identifying Parts of a Paragraph
Exercise 6.6
Supporting Sentences Tip
Exercise 6.7
Exercise 6.5 Writing at Work KEY TAKEAWAYS
Exercise 6.8
Exercise 7.1
Using Sentence Variety at the Beginning of Sentences
Starting a Sentence with a Prepositional Phrase Writing at Work
Exercise 7.3
Connecting Ideas to Increase Sentence Variety
Joining Ideas Using an -ing Modifier
Dangling Modifiers
Joining Ideas Using an -Modifier
Joining Ideas Using a Relative Clause Tip
Exercise 7.1 Writing at Work
Coordination
Exercise 7.2 Writing at Work
Subordination Tip
Exercise 7.4
Exercise 7.5
Using Parallelism Tip
Exercise 7.6
Exercise 7.7
Exercise 7.8
Exercise 7.9
Exercise 7.10
Choosing a Topic
Using Experience and Observations Tip
Reading Tip
Exercise 8.1
Exercise 8.2 Tip
More Prewriting Techniques
Narrowing the Focus
Brainstorming Writing at Work
Idea Mapping
Exercise 8.2
Topic Checklist
Organizing Ideas
Methods of Organizing Writing
Exercise 8.3 Tip
Writing an Outline Tip Tip Tip
Constructing Topic Outlines
Exercise 8.4
Exercise 8.5
Getting Started: Strategies For Drafting
Exercise 8.3
Setting Goals for Your First Draft Writing at Work Tip
Discovering the Basic Elements of a First Draft
The Role of Topic Sentences Tip Tip
Exercise 8.6
Writing a Title
Writing Your Own First Draft
Understanding the Purpose of Revising and Editing Tip
Creating Unity and Coherence Tip
Exercise 8.6 Tip Writing at Work
Exercise 8.7
Being Clear and Concise
Exercise 8.8
Exercise 8.9
Exercise 8.10
Using Feedback Objectively
Editing Your Draft Tip
Checklist Tip Tip
Exercise 8.11
Exercise 8.12
Elements of a Thesis Statement
Exercise 9.1
Examples of Appropriate Thesis Statements Tip
Exercise 9.1 Writing at Work
Thesis Statement Revision Tip
Exercise 9.2 Writing at Work
Select Primary Support for Your Thesis Tip
Identify the Characteristics of Good Primary Support
Exercise 9.2
Exercise 9.3 Writing at Work Tip
Exercise 9.4
Exercise 9.5 Tip Tip
Exercise 9.6 Tip
Exercise 9.3
Exercise 9.5
Exercise 9.7 Tip Tip Writing at Work
Exercise 9.6
Writing a Conclusion
Exercise 9.8 Tip Writing at Work
Writing Essays: End-of-Chapter Exercises
Constructive Criticism and Targeted Practice
Critical Thinking
Exercise 10.2
More Qualities of Good Writing
Rhetorical Elements and Cognate Strategies
Exercise 10.3
Exercise 10.4
Words Are Inherently Abstract
Words Are Governed by Rules
Words Shape Our Reality
Words and Your Legal Responsibility
Exercise 10.5
Do Sweat the Small Stuff
Get the Target Meaning
Consider the Nonverbal Aspects of Your Message
Review, Reflect, and Revise
Exercise 10.6
Additional Resources
Thinking Critically
Overcoming Fear of Writing
Exercise 11.1
Determining Your Purpose
Credibility, Timing, and Audience
Communication Channels
Exercise 11.2
Narrowing Your Topic
Focus on Key Points
Planning Your Investigation for Information
Staying Organized
Exercise 11.3
Business Ethics
Giving Credit to Your Sources
Challenges of Online Research
Evaluating Your Sources
Exercise 11.4
Managing Your Time
Compiling Your Information
Exercise 11.5
Exercise 11.6
General Purpose and Thesis Statements
Organizing Principles
Effective Sentences
Transitions
Exercise 12.1
Formal versus Informal
Introductions: Direct and Indirect
Adding Emphasis
Active versus Passive Voice
Making Errors at the Speed of Light
Exercise 12.2
Effective Argumentation Strategies: GASCAP/T
Appealing to Emotions
Recognizing Fallacies
Ethical Considerations in Persuasion
Exercise 12.3
Exercise 12.4
Evaluate Content
Evaluate Organization
Evaluate Style
Evaluate Readability
Apostrophes
Subject-Verb Agreement
Split Infinitive
Double Negative
Irregular Verbs
Commas in a Series
Faulty Comparisons
Misplaced Modifiers
Exercise 13.1
Break Up Long Sentences
Revise Big Words and Long Phrases
Evaluate Long Prepositional Phrases
Delete Repetitious Words
Eliminate Archaic Expressions or References
Avoid Fillers
Eliminate Slang
Evaluate Clichés
Emphasize Precise Words
Evaluate Parallel Construction
Obscured Verbs
The “Is It Professional?” Test
Five Steps in Evalution
Delivering the Evaluation
Exercise 13.2
Proofreading
Design Evaluation
Visual Aids
Designing Interactive Documents
Exercise 13.3
Tips for Effective Business Texting
Tips for Effective Business E-mails
Virginia Shea’s Rules of Netiquette
Exercises 14.1
Memo Purpose
Memo Format
Audience Orientation
Professional, Formal Tone
Subject Emphasis
Direct Format
Objectivity
Strategies for Effective Letters
Exercise 14.1
Traditional Categories
Ethos, Pathos, and Logos
Professional
Unsolicited
Sample Business Proposal
Exercise 14.2
What Is a Report?
Types of Reports
Informational or Analytical Report?
How Are Reports Organized?
Exercise 14.3
Main Parts of a Résumé
Contact Information
Work Experience
Use Key Words
Follow Directions
Insert a Key Word Section
Make It Easy to Read
Printing, Packaging and Delivery
Exercise 14.4
Format for a Common Sales Message
Getting Attention
Sales Message Strategies for Success
Exercise 14.5
General Formatting Guidelines
Exercise 15.1 Tip
Exercise 15.1
Exercise 15.2
In-Text Citations Writing at Work
References List Tip
Formatting Cited Material: The Basics
Formatting Brief Quotations
Formatting Paraphrased and Summarized Material Tip
Exercise 15.3 Tip
Exercise 15.4 Writing at Work
Formatting In-Text Citations for Other Source Types
A Work by One Author
Two or More Works by the Same Author Tip
Works by Authors with the Same Last Name
A Work by Two Authors
A Work by Three to Five Authors
A Work by Six or More Authors
A Work with No Listed Author
A Work Cited within Another Work
Two or More Works Cited in One Reference
A Famous Text Published in Multiple Editions
An Introduction, Foreword, Preface, or Afterword
Electronic Sources
Online Sources without Page Numbers
Exercise 15.5
Formatting the References Section: The Basics
Formatting the References Section
Exercise 15.3
Formatting Reference Entries for Different Source Types
A Book by Two or More Authors
An Edited Book with No Author
An Edited Book with an Author Tip
A Translated Book
A Book Published in Multiple Editions
A Chapter in an Edited Book
A Work That Appears in an Anthology
An Article in a Reference Book
Two or More Books by the Same Author
Books by Different Authors with the Same Last Name
A Book Authored by an Organization
A Book-Length Report
Exercise 15.6
An Article in a Scholarly Journal
An Article in a Journal Paginated by Volume
An Abstract of a Scholarly Article
A Journal Article with Two to Seven Authors
A Journal Article with More Than Seven Authors Writing at Work
A Magazine Article
A Newspaper Article
Exercise 15.7
Citing Articles from Online Periodicals: URLs and Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs)
An Article from an Online Periodical with a DOI
An Article from an Online Periodical with No DOI
An Article Accessed through a Database Tip
An Abstract of an Article
A Nonperiodical Web Document
Graphic Data
An Online Interview (Audio File or Transcript)
An Electronic Book
A Chapter from an Online Book or a Chapter or Section of a Web Document
A Dissertation or Thesis from a Database
Computer Software
A Post on a Blog or Video Blog Writing at Work
A Television or Radio Broadcast
A Television or Radio Series or Episode
A Motion Picture
A Recording
Exercise 15.8
Title Block Format
Paragraphs and Indentation
Tables and Illustrations
Parenthetical Citations
Exercise 15.4
Useful Sources of Examples of MLA Style
Back Matter

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Writing Tips: Abolish the Adverbs

by Melissa Donovan | Apr 28, 2022 | Writing Tips | 82 comments

Avoid adverbs: Are they running slowly or are they jogging?

“The road to hell is paved with adverbs.” ~ Stephen King

In the writing world, adverbs have a bad reputation for being weak and causing unnecessary clutter. But sometimes adverbs are necessary, and other times, they liven up a sentence or strengthen a description.

Today we’re going to explore adverbs and take a look at why they can be problematic and when they are essential.

Let’s start with a basic overview:

Adjectives and adverbs are modifiers. Adjectives modify nouns whereas adverbs modify verbs, other adverbs, adjectives, phrases, and clauses. In fact, an adverb can modify an entire sentence. This gives adverbs a rather large playing field; maybe that explains why they are overused.

For example, car is a noun and red is an adjective. Put them together and you get a red car . The word run is a verb and the word quickly is an adverb. Put them together and you get run quickly .

But run quickly is better stated as sprint .

There are plenty of adverb-verb combinations that are best expressed with a single, more meaningful verb. For example, “driving fast” becomes “speeding.”

Why Adverbs Are Weak and How They Weaken Your Writing

Here’s a massive list of adverbs . The vast majority of them end in -ly , and these are among the most worthless adverbs, although they are often cited as examples to demonstrate how adverbs work. Ask someone how to identify an adverb and they’ll either tell you it modifies a verb or it’s one of those words that ends in -ly .

Why are adverbs that end in -ly so awful? I’m glad you asked. Let’s take a look at an example sentence:

“Why don’t you come over here and sit by me?” she asked flirtatiously.

It’s a horrid sentence. The adverb flirtatiously tells the reader how she asked the question, when instead it should show how she asked:

“Why don’t you come over here and sit by me?” she asked, batting her eyelashes.

It may not be the greatest sentence ever written, but showing the character batting her eyelashes is a lot better than telling readers she asked a question flirtatiously . Visual cues show readers what’s happening; adverbs tell them. And we want to show what’s happening whenever possible to make our writing more vivid and easier to visualize.

Most adverbs either tell us what we already know or use too many words to communicate an image or idea. Let’s look at an adverb that modifies an adjective:

It’s a very warm day.

Once we write that a day is warm, does it being very warm change the day in the reader’s mind? The word very does nothing other than intensify the word that follows it, and it does so poorly. Often, the word very and the word it modifies can both be eliminated and replaced with a single word that is more precise:

It’s a hot day.

In this sentence, we don’t need the word very or the word warm . The word hot does the job. It’s clearer and more concise, which is the mark of strong writing.

How to Avoid Adverbs or Use Them Wisely

“Adverbs are the tool of the lazy writer.” ~ Mark Twain

I’m always on the lookout for unnecessary words in my own writing. I find that seeking out adverbs is a good way to find words I can cut to tighten my prose. I may not catch them all, but I sure try. Here are some guidelines I apply when dealing with adverbs:

Don’t be lazy. Choosing the right word is never a waste of time.
Stay away from adverbs that state the obvious. One does not scream loudly because by definition, screaming is done loudly.
If a sentence is too short, don’t add a bunch of adverbs (or adjectives) to make it longer.
Train your eye to catch adverbs when you’re editing and proofreading.
When you spot an adverb, ask whether it’s the best word choice.
Use an adverb if it’s necessary and you can’t convey the same meaning without it.
Avoid vague or non-descriptive adverbs. Ask whether the adverb tells the reader something that you can show through imagery and description.
Don’t use an adverb as a crutch for a verb (or any other word). Look for a better verb. If necessary, write a better sentence.
Sometimes when you eliminate a single adverb, you need to replace it with several words. It took three words ( batting her eyelashes ) to replace one adverb ( flirtatiously ), but the sentence became clearer and more vivid.
Don’t be redundant. One does not stealthily creep because to creep is “to move with stealth.”
When you do use adverbs, use them intentionally and with purpose.
Make it a goal to never use the words very or really .

Are You Overusing Adverbs?

Here’s an exercise you can do to avoid adverbs in your writing:

Dig through your writing and find a final draft that has been edited and proofread. Go through and highlight every adverb. Ask a friend to check it and see if you missed any. How many adverbs did you find? How many adverbs were there per 100 words? Per 1000? Remove each adverb and ask whether doing so changes the meaning of the sentence. If it does change the meaning, then rewrite the sentence without the adverb. Now compare the original sentences with the adverbs intact to the new sentences that don’t include any adverbs. Which ones are better?

Using Adverbs

When is it okay to use an adverb? When you must. Here are some examples of sentences that use adverbs well (the adverbs are italicized):

Congress recently passed a new law. She entered the room silently . He drives a dark green sedan.

As you can see, sometimes we need adverbs. We just need to use them sparingly.

Are you attuned to how you use adverbs in your writing? Have you ever visited an old piece of writing and found it littered with unnecessary words? Do you have any writing tips to help other writers avoid adverbs or use adverbs wisely? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment, and keep writing.

82 Comments

In the example “dark green sedan” is “dark” not an adjective?

In the example, green is an adjective because it modifies the noun sedan . Since the word dark modifies the adjective green , it is an adverb (adverbs modify adjectives). Adjectives modify nouns and noun phrases; they cannot modify other adjectives.

Hi Melissa I want to buy a beautiful, new, blue, European car. Which ones are adverbs? “Dark” doesn’t appear in any of my dictionaries as an adverb, only noun and adjective.. Cheers Bill

In your example sentence, the following words are adjectives: beautiful, new, blue, European. Every one of these words modifies the noun “car.” The verb phrase in your sentence is “want to buy” and there are no words that modify it. There are also no words that modify any of the adjectives in your sentence. Therefore, there are no adverbs in the sentence.

Adjectives modify nouns and noun phrases. There are no exceptions where an adjective modifies a verb or another adjective. One could argue that in the phrase “dark green sedan,” dark and green modify the noun sedan and are therefore both adjectives. It’s just as feasible to argue that “dark green” is a phrase comprised of the adjective “green” and its modifier/adverb “dark.”

Basically, if dark modifies green , then it must be an adverb because only an adverb can modify an adjective. My own dictionary says dark is an adjective in the phrase “dark brown” but in the context it provides, brown is a noun, not an adjective (“a dark brown”).

This one’s probably an argument for the ages. I would say both arguments are valid.

The word “dark” in the context of, “the leaves are dark green,” is still an adjective to my understanding but, combined with “dark”, functions as a compound modifier (specifically a compound adjective) whose combination modify “leaves”.

If we want an adverb to modify “dark”, the correct word is “darkly”: “The leaves are darkly green.” Here, “darkly” is an adverb modifying “green” rather than combining together with “green” to modify “leaves”.

Thesaurus.com describes a compound adjective as “made up of multiple individual words. Usually, the words are connected by a hyphen or hyphens when used as an adjective. Words like absent-minded and happy-go-lucky are examples of compound adjectives.” Merriam-Webster defines adverb as “modifier of a verb, an adjective , another adverb, a preposition, a phrase, a clause, or a sentence…”

In the phrase “dark green leaves,” there is no hyphen. The word dark is modifying green. Notice the difference between a compound adjective such as “absent-minded” and an adverb modifying an adjective such as “dark green leaves.”

There may be some room for dispute here. The rules of grammar are not always hard and fast. Here, I’m using credible definitions to classify these terms.

A way to understand the difference between adverbs and compound adjectives is to test the difference in a broader syntactical sense. For example, adverbs can uniformly modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs, while adjectives cannot.

He dark dressed. [Incorrect, “dark” is never an adverb] He darkly dressed. [Correct, “darkly” is an adverb].

He wore dark green clothing. [Correct, “dark” modifies “clothing” as a compound adjective, as in “dark and green clothing”.]

He wore dark-green clothing. [Correct, “green clothing” becomes a compound noun and “dark” modifies “green clothing” as an adjective].

Jake, what are your credentials? What is your expertise in grammar and writing? Nobody is going to say “He darkly dressed.” That sounds awkward and unnatural. Examples should always be clear, simple, and realistic.

We also don’t hyphenate a construct like “dark-green.”

It’s perfectly fair to describe dark green as a compound adjective, as I said last week.

Dark is an adjective.

Hi Katy. While dark is usually an adjective, it can also be an adverb. Adverbs are words that usually modify verbs, but they are also words that modify adjectives. If green is an adjective and dark modifies it, then in that context, dark is an adverb.

Dark as an adjective: It’s a dark night. [ Dark is an adjective that modifies the noun night .]

Dark as an adverb: The leaves are dark green. [ Dark is an adverb that modifies the adjective green .]

Hope that helps.

I try really hard not to use adverbs very often, but I frequently find myself repeatedly using them in nearly everything I write. It’s difficult to break the habit, but I’m doing my best. Conciseness is, to me, the hardest part of writing. I do tend to pontificate. Thanks for reminding me that I should trim it down a little.

It takes some practice and discipline, but it can be done! Good luck to you, Bob.

You didst cause me to snort in my coffee. Thank you for that comment.

This information is golden. I discovered I am an “adverb addict” and tend to use the words so often I could cut half the time out of my papers by getting straight to the point, just in eliminating adverbs.

I think most of us have words that we use too frequently. Every so often, I notice some filler word that I use and I have to make a concentrated effort to edit it out and break the habit.

Firstly, please forgive my poor writing. English isn’t my main language.

Wow! I’m editing and rewriting my Nanowrimo’s draft at the moment and I can say that your post is what I needed. A lot of my sentences sounded weird or weak and I didn’t knew how to fixed them. After reading your post, I realized what I had to do. So a thousand time thank you!

I would add that the advice in this post can be applied to all words, not just adverbs. It’s always a good idea to go through and delete any words that are unnecessary.

I have often thought that the best writing advice is the header to Strunk and White’s Element #13, “Omit needless words.”

Every adverb is fine to use if it’s necessary. Very few of them are.

Well said, Gregory!

I have been doing the same with my NaNoWriMo editing. Cutting out words is quickly making my 50,000 words about 30,000! Thanks for the article. I needed to read this.

Cutting words is hard, but it feels good to see the prose become tighter and more concise.

Great article! Confession: until recently I had no idea how hated adverbs are. Once I realized it though, it was one of those “ah ha” moments where things began to make sense. Great lesson.

I don’t know if they’re hated. I think people might cringe at them a little. I would liken them to clutter.

I have a theory that perhaps we use adverbs so much because we were saying (or writing) the sentences before we finished gathering all our thoughts. For example, she ran quickly. The first idea that came to mind was that it was a she. And then she was running. And then we decided that the way she ran was quick, so she ran quickly. If I had said “she quickly ran”, I was probably thinking that she had to be moving quickly, and to accomplish the task of moving quickly, what she had to do is run.

I agree. Our thoughts and speech are littered with excess words (verbiage), which leak into our writing. And that is what editing is for!

I for one am not afraid of the English language or using adverbs to help describe things or move things along. If I want to use an adverb, I’ll use it. Same with nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and so on.

I’m not afraid. And I simply don’t care what the “experts” think or say. They aren’t the ones writing my books. I am.

So I’ll use whatever gets the job done. And if there’s a ton of adverbs, verbs, adjectives, and whatnot in it…?

My books. My rules. Get used to it.

Alrighty then. Good luck with that.

She entered the room silently. :: “She crept into the room without making a sound.” See? Even that sentence could be rewritten without the adverb. 🙂

I had the rule pounded into my brain so much that as soon as my fingers type “ly” they move to the “backspace” key. An adverb will remain if I can think of no other way to convey the action to the reader. Or, of course, it’s being used in dialogue because I want my character’s speech to come across as natural as possible.

Hi Paul. You did indeed rewrite the sentence without the adverb, but it’s been replaced with an adverbial phrase (which is really just a long adverb). In the interest of concise writing, I would probably opt for a single adverb over an adverbial phrase, but there would be times when the phrase would preferable, especially if it includes a simile or metaphor that evokes an image. Having said that, I love how attuned you are to adverbs and trying to weed them out!

Umm… “She crept into the room.”? 😉

I would say that her silence is implied in that sentence.

Great article! Made so much sense to me. Thanks Melissa!

Thanks, Duane.

I have just written a 250,000-word 1st draft epic fantasy trilogy and am now into editing as a 2nd draft.

I used Scrivener to write it and now ProWritingAid to edit. Will repeat this process a few times.

I don’t really have much formal education so writing is instinctive for me and tends toward poetry.

With the help of ProWritingAid, I am beginning, that education. It jumped all over me for excessive use of adverbs in my 1st draft which I didn’t understand, so I looked it up and found your blog.

It has helped a great deal.

Before this knowledge, I operated on instinct to feel my way through writing. Now I will see problems much quicker. Seeing them in a hard editorial light is good.

I hope I don’t lose that feel as I learn the rules though; it is a big part of my creativity.

I have little knowledge of Gramma yet I recognise the rules (gramma) as patterns in my understanding of words. Almost like music. I hope to make them work together.

Thank you very much.

I believe you meant grammar, and you’re right–they are rules and can be likened to patterns. I don’t think I’ve ever come across this idea that grammar could be akin to music, but I think it has some merit…something to think about. Keep writing!

The cadence of the words is like the rhythm in music.

Thanks Melissa. Whenever I read old-fashioned girls school stories – I still love them – I find myself noticing how nobody ever just says something, it’s always impatiently, crossly, furiously, bitterly, hesitantly etc. I think I liked it as a child, but it definitely sounds strange to the modern reader!

To the modern lazy reader, perhaps. Enid Blyton is as popular as ever with children, who enjoy those extra descriptors;

I’ve become much better at omitting adverb as I continue my learning curve as a writer. And with the help of Grammarly and Hemmingway. I noe am (usually) within their limits. Thank you for this post, and your replies to your other commentors. I am now clearer on adverbial phrases, and adverbs that modify adjectives, which I didn’t know before.

I’m afraid I always take up the cudgels in favour of adverbs, Even the ‘-ly’ ones add, to my mind, to the general effectiveness of sentences and the pictures they present. It becomes cumbersome if they are always replaced by a description of the action indicating how it was carried out. If they are simply omitted, one might as well aim for leaving out adjectives as well, for the full ‘fast food’ effect in writing. Admittedly, ‘very’ is a dangerous deathtrap, but even that has its uses when applied sparingly.

Stephen King is a fine writer but he id advising on how to write like him. English is about style as well as content and short, sharp sentences are not always appropriate. They are apt if describing fast action, but if the story is about a lazy sunny day then adverbs, adjectives, metaphors are appropriate. There is no one style any more than there is only one genre.

Hi Barb, and thanks for sharing your thoughts. Stephen King isn’t advising on how to write like he writes; he is advising on how to write well, and his quote should be taken as hyperbole. I don’t think he meant to suggest that adverbs should (literally) never be used. Rather, he’s issuing a reminder that they should be used judiciously because adverbs are often weak or unnecessary. There are certainly times when we need to use them, but sloppy verbiage is often peppered with unnecessary modifiers, and adverbs are foremost among them.

“Live fearless.” That is a recommendation I hear frequently over a news station in the area where I live. The “ly” has been cut from the word “fearless.” Somehow this grammatical revision sounds wrong to me. What is your opinion?

It should be “live fearlessly” or “fearless life.” However, I think when we’re dealing with slogans, mottos, tag lines, and slang, people play with language and bend or break the rules. It’s also possible that whoever is using this phrase simply doesn’t know that it’s technically incorrect.

I’m also with the pro-adverb crowd. Adverbs are a tool, and like any tool, they can be used to great effect or used very badly. Omitting them from dialogue is always a bad choice, since people don’t talk that way, and it makes it sound unnatural. But by the same token, I feel that omitting them from writing can sometimes make the prose sound equally stilted.

The idea behind “adverbs are bad” comes from the broader advice to “show, don’t tell”, but even that advice is often oversimplified. I think better advice would be to control your pacing and descriptiveness, and make sure they’re accomplishing what you want them to accomplish. You can spend ten pages “showing” what someone ate for dinner, but if dinner isn’t your focus, then maybe you should just “tell” the reader that “Joe ate dinner quickly” and move on. Sure, you could rewrite that without an adverb, perhaps using something as simple as “Joe ate a quick dinner”, but then you run into adjective confusion. Did the dinner get up off the plate and run away? Ultimately, you’re saying the same thing either way, but avoiding an adverb there is pointless. There are other ways you could word it as well, but those add unimportant details. Who cares, for example, if he ate dinner in “five minutes”? Why are we timing his dinner eating? It’s not relevant. If you need more body or flavour text there, then by all means, add detail as appropriate, but don’t do so if it would detract from your focus. Longer or more vivid is not always better (all the more so in short-story writing).

So, in the end, I utterly reject the advice to “avoid adverbs”. Instead, I advise saying what you want to say in the way that makes the most sense for the style and pacing of what you’re writing. The rest will flow from that naturally without needing to fall back on pithy advice that doesn’t really capture the larger context, and discourages the art/craft of writing. To me, telling a writer to “avoid adverbs” is like telling a painter to “avoid red”.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. As with most writing advice, the idea that “adverbs are bad” is somewhat hyperbolic, not meant to be taken literally. The post above explains that adverbs aren’t inherently bad, but many accomplished writers agree that as a method for strengthening a piece of writing, hunting for adverbs and replacing them with richer language is often a useful technique during edits. If you don’t mind, I’ll use your example sentence to demonstrate what I mean.

You’ve said not only that adverbs are fine but also that there are times we should tell rather than show. I agree — adverbs are fine when they are the best option for conveying a particular idea, and there are times, particularly during exposition, when we tell rather than show. But with something like “Joe ate dinner quickly,” I think there are a few problems. First, sentences tend to flow better when adverbs are placed as close as possible to the verbs they modify: “Joe quickly ate dinner.”

Now, of course, the way the sentence strikes a reader will be subjective. Some readers will prefer the original; others will prefer the revision. But let’s see if we can pack more punch into this sentence. We usually opt for showing over telling because showing paints a picture in the reader’s mind, and when they visualize what’s happening, the text holds their attention and is more memorable. We don’t have to turn Joe’s dinner into an entire scene or even an entire paragraph. We can often replace an adverb and its corresponding verb with a single word that has more meaning and is more vivid:

Joe devoured dinner.

We can go even further with showing (vs. telling): Joe devoured a pizza. (Of course, pizza can be replaced with any meal).

Now, this is all subjective. So any reader might personally prefer “Joe ate dinner quickly” to “Joe devoured a pizza.”

The best thing about all of this is that each writer gets to make their own determination about which bits of writing guidance they want to use in their own work. The goal here at Writing Forward is only to make ideas available. You are free to embrace or reject them as you see fit. I only ask that you consider them with an open mind.

Fair enough. I think my main problem with the advice is that many of the examples of “stronger” writing are subjective. Writing is only strong, in my mind, if it actually helps you accomplish your goal. If your goal is to move past Joe eating dinner to move onto something else, then providing additional information like devouring pizza adds unnecessary information. (I’m also not a fan of “devour” in this context, as it reads as a bit over the top, but that might just be me.)

I’d read the article below before, but had forgotten it until just today. While it comes from a slightly different place than my own argument (which boils down to “prescriptive advice kills artistry”), I think it does a fairly good job of deconstructing the argument that adverbs are bad.

https://slate.com/human-interest/2016/06/abolish-the-adverb-you-seriously-must-be-joking.html

As you say, though, everyone will have their own opinions and is free to follow or reject whatever advice makes the most sense to them. Thank you for your reply!

Much of what we discuss in the world of writing advice is subjective, especially when we’re evaluating a piece of writing. For example, while I respect your use of “strong writing” to describe writing that accomplishes a goal, I would describe such writing as effective or perhaps successful .

Most advice that calls for decreased use of adverbs lays out, in detail, reasons why adverbs are often (but not always) less effective than other word choices. I have yet to find such a piece that doesn’t also stress that there are absolutely times when adverbs are required.

There are hundreds of articles online about the value (or lack thereof) of adverbs. Before writing this article, I researched this topic, weighed the arguments, and even ran some tests of my own (finding or creating sentences that used adverbs and then challenging myself to rewrite those sentences without the adverbs to make them better). I came to the conclusion that adverbs are often not the best choice ( best being subjective, obviously), but it seems that in your exploration of this topic, you came to a different conclusion, and that’s perfectly fine.

It seems like a subject that resonates with you, so we clearly share an interest in it, even if we come down on different sides of how often adverbs should be used.

Whether you use adverbs prolifically or not, my main hope is that you simply keep thinking about this and other writing-related issues, and of course, keep writing.

Wow, I disagree with this article. This is some serious adverb bashing. I’m a short-story writer and I try to tell a gripping, comprehensive story using as little words as possible. Using, “he crept into the room, aware that the slightest noise could wake the occupants,” when I could say, “He crept into the room silently,” is ridiculous for a short story writer. I DO agree with this for a novelist, which is why I’m very surprised (and not surprised) that Steven King would make such a comment. I’m not surprised because his books are VERY LONG.

But using them sparingly is a good goal for any writer. I am not fond of the “all adverbs are lazy writing” mantra we are creating.

Both Stephen King and the article above were very clear in saying that adverbs are sometimes useful or necessary, but they ore often overused or used unnecessarily. Notice that “He crept into the room” and “He crept into the room silently” have the same meaning and implications, so “silently” is unnecessary excess. I’m not aware of anyone, anywhere saying that “all adverbs are lazy writing.”

I also disagree with the article, and agree with Mr. Frisson. And I’ll point to the last 70 years of Pulitzer-winning fiction. I’ve run many of those books through an automated grammar-check app, and none that I’ve tested meet the “standard” for use of adverbs, i.e., they all have too many to satisfy the automated grammar checker. Admittedly, that could simply be pointing out the inadequacies of automated grammar checkers, but I think not in this case; it’s just counting words. So, who should I believe: the English professors and “experts” who push to minimize adverbs? Or the people who in effect set the standard for quality fiction?

You start your comment by saying that you disagree with this article, but then you fail to support your position by arguing with anything from the article itself. Instead, your comment offers anecdotal remarks about grammar checkers and prize winners. The premise of this article is that many writers make poor word choices with adverbs. For example, “she sprinted” is better than “she ran quickly.” Plenty of people argue with the general premise that adverbs should be abolished (from a piece of writing) but few bother to argue with the actual points made in the article, let alone the examples provided, which demonstrate why many (not all — but many) adverbs are weak.

it’s really good to see someone who understands my pain so clearly. (yes I just used an adverb QwQ) the problem is, I already knew about the adverb problem even as a novice author because I read Chinese fantasy stories which tend to over exaggerate a lot using adverbs but I still don’t know how to actually stop using them myself. it’s just that… shorter sentences make the work sound really plain (imo) and I tend to use adverbs to make them longer. so yeah, I dunno which one is considered more of a lazy writing, short sentences or an abundance of adverbs, giving me a huge writing bottleneck I can’t get over. this is where eastern and western writing styles come into conflict QwQ

It’s usually not beneficial to pack a sentence with unnecessary words to make it longer. Having said that, rhythm and flow are important, and sentences should vary in length. I can’t speak to the differences or similarities in eastern and western writing, but leaning anything takes time and practice. Eventually, it will become second nature.

I feel like I’ve learned so much reading this article and the comments and replies below it. I’m able to pick out adverbs in my writing that I wouldn’t have given a second thought before, and I take the time to determine whether or not they’re crucial to getting my point across or if a sentence would be better served by a stronger verb. I’ve found that my writing has a more consistent tone and is more fun to read! Thank you (to both the author and everyone who commented)!

You’re welcome. I’m so glad you learned something from this article. Keep writing!

I find it simple checking and abolishing adverbs ending in ly. They are now in my mindset and I can stop them in their tracks before they leave my fingers. What persists as a difficulty is the removal of the other, less obvious devils.

I also endeavour to eliminate duplicated words, or ensure a repeated word is distant in the text from its predecessor (unless I chose to be repetitive, for impact), but some words have few alternatives. Sometimes I want to say “sometimes”, because I had used “on occasion” on an occasion nearby (ouch!)

Your piece is reassuring. If it is concise and to the point, instead of taking it out, like a literary sniper, let it be, it has said its bit, but my biggest bugbear is “Not”, it is the adverb I use the most. I wind myself up in knots trying to eradicate my not’s, I find them impossible to destroy.

Should I even try to?

Hi Nigel. Thanks for sharing your experiences with adverbs and editing. Adverbs are necessary parts of speech, and we do need to use them. The message of this article is that adverbs tend to get overused, and it’s a good practice to look for adverbs that can be eliminated. That doesn’t mean every instance of not should be cut from a piece of writing. Some adverbs need to stay! Good luck, and keep writing.

Thanks – I needed that reassurance. I can be my own worst enemy!

I agree why adverbs ending “ly” are considered lazy writing. Their presence indicates a paragraph needs re-working and the result of their omission is more effective.

Well, not all adverbs that end in -ly are bad or lazy writing. However, -ly can be a red flag, something you watch out for and double check. Many of them can be removed or replaced with better language. Keep writing!

Do novel editors check your manuscript for adverbs? If so, does an occasional adverb or two make them think twice?

This article does not argue against all use of adverbs. It points out that there are many weak adverbs that can be replaced with more accurate and vivid word choices. It also notes that sometimes we should use adverbs. It’s really about making the best possible word choices. Some editors will check for word choice. It depends on what kind of editing they are doing.

In your phrase “It’s clearer and more concise“, isn’t ‘more’ an unnecessary adverb? Or am I making a mistake in trying to recognise adverbs?

The article does not say that all adverbs should be eliminated; it says to use them thoughtfully. “Conciser” is not a word, so we have to use an adverb to communicate the concept that is being conveyed. I suppose “more clear and concise” would be an option, but that can sound odd to the ear, because “clearer” is more concise than “more clear.”

I want to be a writer. How do i start writing?

Pick up a pen and a notebook, or open a new blank document on your computer. If you’re not sure what to write, look for writing prompts . Find one that interests you, and start writing. If you can’t find one that interests you, select one at random and write about it as if it’s an assignment. Until you have started writing, you cannot know that you want to be a writer. Give it a try and see how you like it.

I have a slightly different take on adverbs. I see them as phrases rather than words.

For example, in the sentence “Eliza placed her pen emphatically on the desk as soon as she had completed the last question on the exam paper to show the invigilator that she had finished.” has four adverbs:

‘emphatically’ ‘on the desk’ ‘as soon as she had completed the last question on the exam paper’ and ‘to show the invigilator that she had finished’.

All four phrases modify the verb ‘placed’ by telling how, where, when, and why the action was done.

The ‘rule’ against adverbs is actually a rule against redundancy, and my rule of thumb when editing is that, if an adverbial phrase can be left out without the loss of relevant information, it should be left out. In the above sentence, none of the adverbs is redundant – they all add something to the meaning of the sentence – therefore I wouldn’t eliminate any of them.

I would, however, replace ‘emphatically’ with either a stronger verb or with a stronger adverb… or both. For example, I might write instead “Eliza slapped her pen down on the desk like a final full stop as soon as she had completed the last question on the exam paper to show the invigilator that she had finished.” ‘Emphatically’ is a weak adverb because it tells rather than shows how the action was done. ‘Slapped… like a final full stop’ is stronger than ‘placed emphatically’ because it presents a stronger image of the manner in which Eliza put down her pen.

Hi Andrew, and thanks for commenting on this post. The phrase “on the desk” is not an adverb (if it were, it would be called an adverbial phrase ). It is actually a prepositional phrase. Like adverbs and adjectives, prepositional phrases are modifiers. They consist of a preposition (on) and its object (the desk). I’m not sure how deep you want to go into this, but here’s the difference between an adverb and a prepositional phrase: an adverb modifies a verb (or adjective), and a prepositional phrase describes a relationship between two things.

There is no rule against adverbs. It’s just a loose guideline that is often expressed in hyperbole, which (as hyperbole tends to do) causes a lot of confusion when people take statements like Mr. King’s literally.

For fun, here’s how I’d rewrite the sentence:

Eliza slammed her pen on the desk to let the investigator know she was finished.

No adverbs 🙂

“Full stop” is UK usage, while “period” is US.

I’m going to have to come back and read your responses as there looks to be as much information addressing doubts as in your article.

Many people are attached to the idea of using adverbs liberally. Others tend to drop comments before reading the full text of an article. If you note the actual arguments against overuse of adverbs in my article, you’ll see that none of the comments actually provide a counter argument, and many fail to acknowledge that my article says that sometimes adverbs are great and necessary!

Thank you so much also for this lesson, Great and very useful information. Have a beautiful weekend! xx Michael

You’re welcome!

Hi Melissa, I must say you are exceptional with your responses. I also noticed you do know this subject to the teeth. I am impressed.

“Sadly” as you can see, I am addicted to adverbs. Tried to cut them out without much success.

In maths, we can learn tricks to get through difficult mathematical processes. Is there a simple way you can teach me to get rid of this habit.?

Thank you for your kind words. If you’re already in the habit of proofreading everything you write, then you can add checking your work for adverbs into your edits. You might want to set aside one full pass at anything you write just to check for adverbs. Over time, you’ll start catching unnecessary words while you’re writing, and they will diminish over time. Unnecessary adjectives and adverbs are one of the top things I check for during editing! I always find plenty that can be removed. And yes, I even do it with my blog comments, lol.

“Hopefully” and “arguably” are sentence adverbs, sometimes known as disjuncts. They are editorial, in that they show that the writer wants us to think in a particular way- and so they are lazy and sloppy. “-ly” is simply Anglo-Saxon/ Old English for “like.”

In some cases, “hopefully” and “arguably” can be weak or ineffective, but these are not by default “lazy” and “sloppy” word choices.

1. Yes, sometimes writers want their readers to think in a certain way. There’s nothing wrong with using language choices that will help a writer achieve their goal.

2. If our character’s loved one is in the hospital and another character says, “Hopefully they’ll be coming home tomorrow,” it would be foolish if the editorial feedback was that “the word ‘hopefully’ is lazy and sloppy.”

Adverbs should be carefully considered, but I would caution against making universal, sweeping statements about them.

A difficulty I find is with respect to specificity. Taking your example of replacing “very warm” with “hot”, there appears to be a nuanced change in meaning.

“Warm” isn’t merely a description of temperature but carries the implication of how we feel about it; it implies a temperature on the higher side that we find comfortable. So “very warm” can imply a very comfortably high temperature, while “hot” just means a very high temperature (and typically implies some degree of discomfort).

Perhaps this is making too big a fuss over nuance, and we might simply be better off adding more clauses for clarification. Yet I doubt anyone who writes “very warm” actually meant to say “hot”, as it almost certainly evokes very different sensations for the reader.

Jake, I think you missed the point. To the reader, there is little difference between “very warm” and “warm.” There is a huge selection of words to describe temperature: ice-cold, cold, chilly, cool, moderate, lukewarm, warm, hot, and scorching, just to name a few. Using very when all these words are available is a lazy word choice made worse because removing it doesn’t change the meaning for the reader.

Keep in mind that your idea of lukewarm/warm/hot might be different from the readers, which only makes very even less meaningful.

In the example given, “very warm” modified “day.” We are talking about the weather, not how we feel about it.

I frequently find myself insert the word very only to review what I’ve written and realize that the meaning of the sentence does not change in the slightest if I remove it.

The general point I can see, but I would contest the idea that “very warm” would be interpreted the same way as “hot” to a general reader, as in the case of “very warm fireplace” vs. “hot fireplace”.

“Cozy” might achieve the intended effect in this case, or “cozy hot fireplace” if want to empathize the notion that it’s both comfortable and high in temperature at the same time.

“Ran quickly” and “sprinted” are also radically different, although there this might be specialized knowledge of the dictionary definitions that general readers don’t have being a former sprinter. Sprinting is to run at max effort, and something even Olympians typically cannot do for more than 30 secs or 300 meters. Runners who participate in races spanning 400m or beyond don’t “sprint” but instead “run very quickly.”

Hi Jake. I never said “very warm” would be interpreted the same as “hot.” I said that “very warm” and “warm” aren’t different to the average reader.

The fireplace is warm. The fireplace is very warm.

In a narrative, this use of very is unnecessary and doesn’t change the overall meaning of the sentence.

Let’s look at another example:

She ran quickly across the street. She ran across the street.

In a narrative, these are essentially the same. The word quickly is unnecessary. If the writer wants to emphasize speed, then sprint is a good option:

She sprinted across the street.

Are you intentionally changing what I’ve said here, or are you misreading my statements? I would suggest you read what I’ve written more carefully before you respond, as you have misstated my examples multiple times now.

* emphasize, sorry!

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The Dynamic Duo of Writing: Adjectives and Adverbs

Imagine a world without color or a painting lacking depth. That's what writing would be without adjectives and adverbs. They bring vibrancy and clarity to our sentences, helping us communicate more effectively and with greater emotional impact. But, despite their significance, they're often misunderstood and even misused.

In this article, we'll explore the dynamic roles of adjectives and adverbs, how they can make or break your prose, and the ways to harness their full potential in your writing. Whether you're a budding writer, a non-native English speaker, or just looking to polish your grammar, this journey through the descriptive world of adjectives and adverbs will equip you with the tools to express yourself with precision and flair.

The Role of Adjectives in English Language

Understanding adjectives.

Adjectives are like the spices in a dish – they give flavor to the nouns and pronouns, allowing us to taste the difference between a 'bitter quarrel' and a 'friendly banter'. But what exactly are adjectives? Simply put, adjectives are words that describe or modify another person or thing in the sentence. They can provide a multitude of details, including size, color, shape, and more.

Types of Adjectives

Navigating through the world of adjectives, we find several types that each serve a unique purpose. Descriptive adjectives give us details about a noun’s characteristics, while demonstrative adjectives like 'this' and 'that' point out specific items. Quantitative adjectives tell us 'how many', and possessive adjectives like 'my' or 'your' denote ownership.

How Adjectives Enhance Writing

When used judiciously, adjectives inject life into our writing. They help us paint a picture in the reader's mind and convey our messages more powerfully. 'The massive, ancient oak tree' isn't just any tree – it's a living entity with size and history that the reader can almost feel.

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Adverbs: The Unsung Heroes of Sentences

Defining adverbs.

Now, let’s shine the spotlight on adverbs – the often-overlooked tools that modify not just verbs but also adjectives and other adverbs. An adverb can sneak in to tell us 'how', 'when', 'where', and 'to what extent' an action is performed. For instance, 'She sang beautifully,' where 'beautifully' modifies the verb 'sang'.

Varieties of Adverbs

Adverbs come in many forms. There are manner adverbs ('quickly'), place adverbs ('here'), time adverbs ('yesterday'), and degree adverbs ('very'). Each type slots into the sentence to add a new layer of meaning, providing the reader with a clearer understanding of the situation.

The Impact of Adverbs on Sentence Construction

The inclusion of adverbs can dramatically alter the tone and rhythm of a sentence. They have the power to turn a simple statement like 'He spoke' into a more informative 'He spoke loudly and clearly,' instantly giving us insight into how he communicated.

Let's pause here, and I will continue with the next sections in the following continuation of the article.

Continue writing please

The Interplay Between Adjectives and Adverbs

How adjectives and adverbs work together.

Adjectives and adverbs are the dynamic duo of the English language, often working in tandem to provide a full sensory experience. Consider the sentence, "The singer performed incredibly well." Here, 'incredibly' is an adverb that intensifies the adjective 'well', giving us a stronger impression of the singer's performance.

Examples of Adjective and Adverb Use in Sentences

To illustrate their collaborative nature, let's look at some examples:

"She drove her shiny, red car slowly to savor the journey." The adjectives 'shiny' and 'red' give us visual details about the car, while the adverb 'slowly' describes the manner of driving.
"The absolutely stunning view took his breath away." 'Absolutely' is an adverb that strengthens the adjective 'stunning', amplifying the impact of the view.

Common Mistakes with Adjectives and Adverbs

Overuse and misuse.

While adjectives and adverbs enhance writing, overusing them can lead to clutter and reduce the impact of your message. For instance, the sentence "She really very quickly ran extremely fast to the absolutely beautiful, huge, old house" is overkill. A more effective construction would be, "She sprinted to the majestic house," allowing the most important details to stand out.

Adjective-Adverb Confusion

Confusing adjectives and adverbs is a common error. Remember, adjectives modify nouns, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. For example, 'fast' can be an adjective in "He is a fast runner" (describing the noun 'runner'), and an adverb in "He runs fast" (modifying the verb 'runs').

Tips for Using Adjectives and Adverbs Effectively

When to use and when to avoid.

The key to using adjectives and adverbs is balance. Use them when they add important information or clarity. Avoid them if the sentence is already clear and concise without them. For example, "She whispered softly" is redundant because 'whispered' implies a soft tone.

Enhancing Your Writing Style with Adjectives and Adverbs

To truly enhance your writing, employ adjectives and adverbs that contribute to the mood, tone, and pacing. "The thunderous applause energized the exhausted actor" uses adjectives and adverbs to convey the atmosphere and the actor's state, adding depth to the narrative.

The Comparative and Superlative Forms

Creating comparisons with adjectives and adverbs.

Comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs enable us to compare actions and characteristics. We use comparatives, typically formed by adding '-er' or using 'more', for one-on-one comparisons, and superlatives, formed by adding '-est' or using 'most', when comparing one to many. For example, "She is the fastest among her peers" and "He ran faster than his competitor."

When to Use Comparative and Superlative Forms

These forms are best used when you want to express differences in quality, quantity, or degree among two or more subjects. They should be chosen carefully to maintain logical comparison, ensuring that the comparison is clear and grammatically correct.

Adjectives and Adverbs in Different English Variants

American vs. british usage.

Adjectives and adverbs can vary not only in form but also in usage across different variants of English. For instance, in British English, one might say, "She writes brilliantly," while an American might shorten it to "She writes great," using 'great' as an adverb, which is more informal and less common in British usage.

Adapting to Your Audience

Understanding the preferences and nuances of your audience's language can make your writing more effective and relatable. If you're writing for a British audience, you might opt for 'fortnight' over 'two weeks', and 'whilst' instead of 'while', alongside more traditional adverbial forms.

The Role of Adjectives and Adverbs in SEO Content

Keywords as adjectives and adverbs.

In SEO, adjectives and adverbs play a crucial role as they often form part of the long-tail keywords that people search for. An article titled "How to write engaging content" might miss those searching for "How to write incredibly engaging content", where 'incredibly' acts as an important modifier.

Balancing SEO Needs with Good Writing Practices

While SEO is important, it's vital to balance keyword usage with readability. Stuffing content with adjectives and adverbs for the sake of SEO can hurt more than help, making the text awkward and stilted. Instead, use them judiciously to enhance the user's experience and keep them engaged.

Editing for Adjective and Adverb Use

Tools and techniques.

Various tools are available to help refine the use of adjectives and adverbs in your writing. Grammar checkers can spot overuse and suggest alternatives, while reading aloud can help you catch redundancies and awkward phrasing.

Professional Editing Practices

Professional editors often look for adjective and adverb use when reviewing a piece. They suggest cutting unnecessary modifiers and replacing them with strong, specific nouns and verbs. The mantra 'less is more' often applies, particularly in professional or academic writing.

Learning Resources for Mastering Adjectives and Adverbs

Books and websites.

Many resources can help you master the use of adjectives and adverbs. Books like "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Lynne Truss provide guidance on punctuation and grammar, while websites like Purdue OWL offer exercises and explanations on proper usage.

Practice Exercises and Quizzes

Regular practice through exercises and quizzes can improve your understanding and usage of adjectives and adverbs. Many educational websites offer free resources to test your knowledge and provide feedback on your skills.

The Psychological Effect of Adjectives and Adverbs in Marketing

Emotional appeals.

In marketing, the right adjective or adverb can evoke strong emotions, persuading potential customers to take action. Words like 'effortless', 'breathtaking', or 'instantly' can have a significant impact on consumer behavior by creating a vivid, appealing image of a product or service.

Crafting Persuasive Messages

To craft a message that sells, marketers often use adjectives and adverbs strategically to highlight benefits and appeal to the senses or emotions of their target audience. It's an art that balances informative content with persuasive language.

Teaching Adjectives and Adverbs to Non-Native Speakers

Challenges and strategies.

For non-native speakers, adjectives and adverbs can be challenging because of their nuances and exceptions. Educators often use visual aids, storytelling, and interactive exercises to teach these parts of speech in a way that is both engaging and memorable.

Classroom Activities and Games

Games like 'adjective-noun match up' or 'adverb charades' can make learning fun and reinforce the use of descriptive language in a supportive, interactive environment.

The Evolution of Adjectives and Adverbs in English

Historical perspective.

Over time, the English language has evolved, and with it, the use of adjectives and adverbs. Old English used inflections to convey meaning that modern English conveys with word order and a broader range of modifiers.

The Future of Adjectives and Adverbs in English

As language continues to evolve with cultural and technological changes, so too will the use of adjectives and adverbs. They will likely become more streamlined and possibly more informal, reflecting the rapid pace of modern communication.

Adjectives and adverbs are not just grammatical flourishes; they are essential elements that add depth, clarity, and emotion to our communication. Like any powerful tool, when used with intention and care, they can elevate our writing and speaking to new heights. As language evolves, so will the way we use these descriptors, but their ability to paint vivid pictures and convey nuanced meanings will remain indispensable. Whether you're crafting a novel, a marketing pitch, or simply aiming to make your everyday communication more effective, a masterful use of adjectives and adverbs is a skill worth honing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between adjectives and adverbs.

Adjectives describe nouns, providing details about objects, people, and places, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, and sometimes entire sentences, often describing how, when, where, and to what extent an action is performed.

Can adjectives and adverbs be used interchangeably?

No, adjectives and adverbs serve different grammatical functions and cannot be used interchangeably without altering the sentence's meaning or grammatical correctness.

How can overusing adjectives and adverbs affect writing?

Overusing adjectives and adverbs can make writing seem cluttered, overly complex, and can detract from the message's clarity and impact. It's essential to use them judiciously to maintain the quality of your writing.

Are there any tools to help identify the proper use of adjectives and adverbs?

Yes, there are many grammar checking tools available online, such as Grammarly or the Hemingway Editor, that can help identify and correct the usage of adjectives and adverbs.

How can I improve my use of adjectives and adverbs?

Improvement can come from reading widely, which exposes you to good usage examples, practicing writing, and getting feedback from more experienced writers or using educational resources such as grammar books and interactive websites.

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Conjunctive adverbs - graduate writing center.

Citations / Avoiding Plagiarism
Critical Thinking
Discipline-Specific Resources
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Parts of speech
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Capitalization
Conjunctive adverbs
Coordinating conjunctions
Dangling modifiers
Phrases and clauses
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Sentence subjects
Subject–verb agreement
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iThenticate FAQ
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Conjunctive Adverbs

We swear that, despite their name, conjunctive adverbs are in no way related to tropical diseases.

Instead, they are very useful when writing, and there are many more of them than we often remember.

Conjunctive adverbs connect one thing to another in a descriptive way. For example: Everyone was raving about the puppy video; consequently, it went viral by the end of the day.

While "however" and "therefore" are perfectly useful, knowing alternative conjunctive adverbs comes in handy. We recommend you save the list somewhere or print it!

Conjunctive Adverbs Lin ks

Printable (one-page) list: " Conjunctive Adverbs ," WriteatHome
Handout with a list: " Conjunctive Adverbs ," California State University Long Beach

Writing Topics A–Z

This index makes findings topics easy and links to the most relevant page for each item. Please email us at [email protected] if we're missing something!

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Strengthen Your Creative Writing with Extraordinary Adverbs

Writing styles ebb and flow and come and go. Currently, there is an all-out assault on adverbs.

Somehow, they’ve become a sign of unsophisticated writing. But the truth is, when you use them properly, they can crank up the quality of your work. Therefore, our team at Next Chapters thought it was essential to address the misconceptions around adverbs by answering some of your most frequently asked questions.

What is an Adverb?

Adverbs are words or phrases that modify or qualify an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word group. In general, they express a relation of:

There are also conjunctive/linking adverbs that connect one clause to another. By doing so, they can show specific relationships between clauses, such as sequence, contrast, and cause and effect.

What Are Some Examples of Adverbs?

Let’s highlight a few adverb examples in sentences.

We’ve bolded the adverbs in the sentences below:

No matter how many times I listen to “Let It Be,” I’ll always love it.
She’s the only one who knows the password to the safe.
I gently placed the old vase back on the shelf.
I hid a note between two books in the library.
Dinner will be ready soon .
Naturally , John thought he was great at everything.

How can Adverbs Help to Foster Your Unique Writing Style?

Adverbs provide a great way to emphasize a particular point, emphasis certain verbs or adjectives, and add an extra layer of meaning and flair to your work. You can also use adverbs to create a sense of rhythm in your writing and evoke an emotion or atmosphere. By using adverbs in your writing, you can create a distinctive and memorable style that your readers will recognize.

What Are the Three Main Adverb Positions?

Depending on the adverb, you can include them at the beginning (front), middle (mid), or end of a sentence. People refer to these spots in the clause as “positions.”

Suddenly I felt a hunger pang like a lightning bolt.
Therefore , the real problem is plastic water bottles.
Homemade cooking always tastes better than fast food.
She quietly hummed a tune to herself.
I’ll be home soon .
You have to stop coming in so late .

While there are numerous exceptions to the following positions, this chart will give you a general sense of where each kind of adverb goes in a sentence.

How Can I Use Adverbs to Create Powerful Imagery?

Adverbs can help you paint a picture in the reader’s mind. They add detail to a sentence that shows the scene, character, or action more clearly.

For example: She ran quickly across the field.

The adverb “quickly” conveys the speed of her movements better than “She ran across the field.”

You can also use adverbs to express the intensity or mood of the action.

For example: “He shouted angrily.”

Through the use of this adverb, the reader knows the mood of the character. By combining adverbs with other descriptive language, writers can create more vivid and evocative images.

What Are Some Creative Ways To Use Adverbs In A Narrative?

Adverbs can be a great way to add color and detail to any narrative. Here are some creative ways to use adverbs:

Use adverbs to describe the actions of your characters. For example, instead of saying, “he walked,” you could say, “he slowly sauntered” or “he eagerly scurried.” Using adverbs can help create vivid images in your readers’ minds and bring your story to life.
Use adverbs to describe the setting. Instead of simply describing a place as “dark,” you could say “ominously dark” or “hauntingly dark.” Doing so will help create an atmosphere and mood for your narrative.
Use adverbs to describe the emotions of your characters. For example, you could say, “She angrily slammed the door” or “She sadly sighed.” Adverbs can help your readers connect with the characters.

What Are The Differences Between Adjectives And Adverbs In Creative Writing?

Adjectives and adverbs are essential parts of creative writing but have different functions. Adjectives describe nouns, helping readers better understand the people, places, and things in the story.

Adverbs, on the other hand, describe verbs and are used to add more detail to the action in a scene. They can also provide context for the readers and give them insight into the feelings or emotions of the characters.

#1 Best Practice: Use Adverbs Sparingly

You’ll frequently hear authors, teachers, and other writing experts say that people only use adverbs when they haven’t found a strong enough verb. While in some instances, this expert advice is correct. But sometimes, it’s the detail of the adverb that truly sets the scene and immerses the reader.

That being said, the overall goal should be to use adverbs sparingly. Find and use strong verbs, and when there isn’t one that you think works in your writing, try adding an adverb for additional context.

Any Other Pointers?

Adverbs can be powerful tools for adding detail and texture to creative writing. Here are some tips for effectively incorporating adverbs into your writing:

Vary the types of adverbs you use: There are many different categories of adverbs. Make sure you’re taking advantage of this variety to ensure your work doesn’t feel repetitive.
Look for opportunities to use an action verb instead of an adverb: Action verbs can often convey the same meaning as an adverb and are often more evocative. For example, instead of saying, “I quickly ran upstairs,” you could say, “I sprinted upstairs.”
Place adverbs strategically in your writing: Consider where you place adverbs in a sentence. Placing them at the end of a sentence or clause can add emphasis and draw attention to the adverb.
Use them in dialogue: We speak much differently than we write. It’s one of the reasons it’s so hard to write good dialogue. Adverbs can add a certain level of “realness” to your dialogue, as we use them regularly in everyday speech.

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2.6 Adjectives and Adverbs

Learning objectives.

Identify adjectives and adverbs.
Use adjectives and adverbs correctly.

Adjectives and adverbs are descriptive words that bring your writing to life.

Adjectives and Adverbs

An adjective is a word that describes a noun or a pronoun. It often answers questions such as which one , what kind , or how many?

1. The green sweater belongs to Iris.

2. She looks beautiful .

In sentence 1, the adjective green describes the noun sweater .
In sentence 2, the adjective beautiful describes the pronoun she .

An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs frequently end in -ly . They answer questions such as how , to what extent , why , when , and where .

3. Bertrand sings horribly . 4. My sociology instructor is extremely wise.

5. He threw the ball very accurately.

In sentence 3, horribly describes the verb sings . How does Bertrand sing? He sings horribly .
In sentence 4, extremely describes the adjective wise . How wise is the instructor? Extremely wise.
In sentence 5, very describes the adverb accurately . How accurately did he throw the ball? Very accurately.

Complete the following sentences by adding the correct adjective or adverb from the list in the previous section. Identify the word as an adjective or an adverb (Adj, Adv).

Frederick ________ choked on the piece of chicken when he saw Margaret walk through the door.
His ________ eyes looked at everyone and everything as if they were specimens in a biology lab.
Despite her pessimistic views on life, Lauren believes that most people have ________ hearts.
Although Stefan took the criticism ________, he remained calm.
The child developed a ________ imagination because he read a lot of books.
Madeleine spoke ________ while she was visiting her grandmother in the hospital.
Hector’s most ________ possession was his father’s bass guitar from the 1970s.
My definition of a ________ afternoon is walking to the park on a beautiful day, spreading out my blanket, and losing myself in a good book.
She ________ eyed her new coworker and wondered if he was single.
At the party, Denise ________ devoured two pieces of pepperoni pizza and a several slices of ripe watermelon.

Comparative versus Superlative

Comparative adjectives and adverbs are used to compare two people or things.

1. Jorge is thin .

2. Steven is thinner than Jorge.

Sentence 1 describes Jorge with the adjective thin .
Sentence 2 compares Jorge to Steven, stating that Steven is thinner . So thinner is the comparative form of thin .

Form comparatives in one of the following two ways:

If the adjective or adverb is a one syllable word, add -er to it to form the comparative. For example, big , fast , and short would become bigger , faster , and shorter in the comparative form.
If the adjective or adverb is a word of two or more syllables, place the word more in front of it to form the comparative. For example, happily , comfortable , and jealous would become more happily , more comfortable , and more jealous in the comparative.

Superlative adjectives and adverbs are used to compare more than two people or two things.

1. Jackie is the loudest cheerleader on the squad.

2. Kenyatta was voted the most confident student by her graduating class.

Sentence 1 shows that Jackie is not just louder than one other person, but she is the loudest of all the cheerleaders on the squad.
Sentence 2 shows that Kenyatta was voted the most confident student of all the students in her class.

Form superlatives in one of the following two ways:

If the adjective or adverb is a one-syllable word, add -est to form the superlative. For example, big , fast , and short would become biggest , fastest , and shortest in the superlative form.
If the adjective or adverb is a word of two or more syllables, place the word most in front of it. For example, happily , comfortable , and jealous would become most happily , most comfortable , and most jealous in the superlative form.

Edit the following paragraph by correcting the errors in comparative and superlative adjectives.

Collaboration

Share and compare your answers with a classmate.

Irregular Words: Good , Well , Bad , and Badly

Good , well , bad , and badly are often used incorrectly. Study the following chart to learn the correct usage of these words and their comparative and superlative forms.

Good versus Well

Good is always an adjective—that is, a word that describes a noun or a pronoun. The second sentence is correct because well is an adverb that tells how something is done.

Incorrect: Cecilia felt that she had never done so good on a test.

Correct: Cecilia felt that she had never done so well on a test.

Well is always an adverb that describes a verb, adverb, or adjective. The second sentence is correct because good is an adjective that describes the noun score .

Incorrect: Cecilia’s team received a well score.

Correct: Cecilia’s team received a good score.

Bad versus Badly

Bad is always an adjective. The second sentence is correct because badly is an adverb that tells how the speaker did on the test.

Incorrect: I did bad on my accounting test because I didn’t study.

Correct: I did badly on my accounting test because I didn’t study.

Badly is always an adverb. The second sentence is correct because bad is an adjective that describes the noun thunderstorm .

Incorrect: The coming thunderstorm looked badly .

Correct: The coming thunderstorm looked bad .

Better and Worse

The following are examples of the use of better and worse :

Tyra likes sprinting better than long distance running.

The traffic is worse in Chicago than in Atlanta.

Best and Worst

The following are examples of the use of best and worst :

Tyra sprints best of all the other competitors.

Peter finished worst of all the runners in the race.

Remember better and worse compare two persons or things. Best and worst compare three or more persons or things.

Write good , well , bad , or badly to complete each sentence. Copy the completed sentence onto your own sheet of paper.

Donna always felt ________ if she did not see the sun in the morning.
The school board president gave a ________ speech for once.
Although my dog, Comet, is mischievous, he always behaves ________ at the dog park.
I thought my back injury was ________ at first, but it turned out to be minor.
Steve was shaking ________ from the extreme cold.
Apple crisp is a very ________ dessert that can be made using whole grains instead of white flour.
The meeting with my son’s math teacher went very ________.
Juan has a ________ appetite, especially when it comes to dessert.
Magritte thought the guests had a ________ time at the party because most people left early.
She ________ wanted to win the writing contest prize, which included a trip to New York.

Write the correct comparative or superlative form of the word in parentheses. Copy the completed sentence onto your own sheet of paper.

This research paper is ________ (good) than my last one.
Tanaya likes country music ________ (well) of all.
My motorcycle rides ________ (bad) than it did last summer.
That is the ________ (bad) joke my father ever told.
The hockey team played ________ (badly) than it did last season.
Tracey plays guitar ________ (well) than she plays the piano.
It will go down as one of the ________ (bad) movies I have ever seen.
The deforestation in the Amazon is ________ (bad) than it was last year.
Movie ticket sales are ________ (good) this year than last.
My husband says mystery novels are the ________ (good) types of books.

Writing at Work

Key Takeaways

Adjectives describe a noun or a pronoun.
Adverbs describe a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
Most adverbs are formed by adding -ly to an adjective.
Comparative adjectives and adverbs compare two persons or things.
Superlative adjectives or adverbs compare more than two persons or things.
The adjectives good and bad and the adverbs well and badly are unique in their comparative and superlative forms and require special attention.

Writing Application

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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What Is an Adverb? Definition, Types & Examples
An adverb is a word that can modify or describe a verb, adjective, another adverb, or entire sentence. Adverbs can be used to show manner (how something happens), degree (to what extent), place (where), and time (when). Adverbs are usually formed by adding -ly to the end of an adjective (e.g., "quick" becomes "quickly"), although there ...
Learn What are Adverbs, their types, & usage with examples
The Role of Adverbs in the English Language. In English, adverbs are used as words that describe how actions happen. They modify or describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. These parts of speech provide answers to questions like "how," "when," "where," "why," or "to what extent" an action occurs. Some adverbs are formed by adding "-ly" to ...
Adverbs: Definition, Meaning, Usage and Examples
As you check your adverbs, you may decide that some will stay. Make sure those adverbs are in the right place in the sentence. An adverb in a sentence with two verbs may be placed incorrectly. Example: He watched as she ran meditatively. Readers will connect the adverb with the closest verb, so you want to make clear to your reader who is ...
List of Adverbs to Strengthen Your Writing
Strong adverbs are an essential part of a writer's toolbox. Find some solid adverbs you may want to use in your own writing within this extensive list!
When To Use Adverbs: A Guide On Using Adverbs Correctly
To know when to use adverbs, you must first understand the different types of adverbs you can have in a sentence. Here is a closer look at each. 1. Adverbs of Manner. Adverbs of manner answer the question "how.". Often these adverbs end in the suffix -ly and have a position near the word they modify in the sentence.
Adverbial Phrases (& Clauses)
An adverbial phrase (or adverb phrase) is a group of words that acts as an adverb to modify the main clause of a sentence. Adverbial phrases can be made up of two adverbs. These are typically formed by adding a qualifier or intensifier (e.g., "incredibly," "rather," "very," "somewhat") before another adverb. Examples: Adverbial ...
8.20: Text: Adverbs
Adverbs can perform a wide range of functions: they can modify verbs, adjectives, and even other adverbs. They can come either before or after the word they modify. In the following examples, adverbs are in bold, while the words they modify are in italics (the quitehandsome man): The desk is made of an especiallycorrosion-resistant industrial ...
Which adverbs are important in academic writing?
Adverbs of degree: The student completely forgot about studying for the exam. Adverbs of frequency: It will take the students forever to get a high score on the test. Adverbs of manner: The tutor resentfully answered yet another student email. Adverbs of place: The students who were absent were falling behind.
Adverbs in Writing: The Good, The Bad, and The Sometimes
And sometimes not. Let me explain. Adverbs have a pretty awful rap in the writ ing world. Many a writing teacher will get their red pen in hand at the very mention of an adverb, and actually seeing a rogue adverb running free through a student's writing will send that red pen into a flurried frenzy of frustration. "Adverbs are bad! They are ...
2.6 Adjectives and Adverbs
Comparative adjectives and adverbs are used to compare two people or things. 1. Jorge is thin. 2. Steven is thinner than Jorge. Sentence 1 describes Jorge with the adjective thin. Sentence 2 compares Jorge to Steven, stating that Steven is thinner. So thinner is the comparative form of thin.
A Comprehensive List of Adverbs to Enhance Your Writing
Adverbs of Manner: These describe how an action is performed and are perhaps the most common adverbs. They often end in "-ly." undefined; Adverbs of Time: These indicate when an action takes place or for how long. undefined; Adverbs of Place: These specify where an action occurs. undefined; Adverbs of Degree: These show the intensity or degree ...
The Ultimate List of Adverbs to Boost Your Writing Skills
Manner: Adverbs that describe how an action is performed. Example: He sings beautifully. Degree: Adverbs that indicate the extent to which an action is performed. Example: She is extremely talented. Time: Adverbs that describe when an action is performed. Example: They arrived early.
Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjectives and Adverbs. An adjective is a word that describes a noun or a pronoun. It often answers questions such as which one, what kind, or how many?. 1. The green sweater belongs to Iris.. 2. She looks beautiful.. In sentence 1, the adjective green describes the noun sweater.; In sentence 2, the adjective beautiful describes the pronoun she.; An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an ...
Adjectives and Adverbs: Definition, Examples, & Exercises
Return to Table of Contents. 3 Tips for Recognizing and Using Adjectives and Adverbs Tip #1: Know how to use the words 'Good' and 'Well' The words good and well are often misused.. Good is an adjective.; Well is an adverb that answers the question how. However, when discussing physical health, well is used as an adjective. When describing someone's emotional state, use the word good.
PDF Adverbs APSU Writing Center
adverbs that tell you when something happens. Example sentence: We are going to the Writing Center tomorrow. Examples adverbs of time: today tomorrow tonight. yesterday soon later. now eventually forever. still yet early. regularly sometimes soon then today. tonight weekly yearly yesterday yet.
Starting a Sentence with an Adverb
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, adjective, or other adverb and often ends in -ly. Examples of adverbs include quickly, softly, quietly, angrily, and timidly. Read the following sentences: She slowly turned the corner and peered into the murky basement. Slowly, she turned the corner and peered into the murky basement.
Writing Tips: Abolish the Adverbs
Use an adverb if it's necessary and you can't convey the same meaning without it. Avoid vague or non-descriptive adverbs. Ask whether the adverb tells the reader something that you can show through imagery and description. Don't use an adverb as a crutch for a verb (or any other word). Look for a better verb.
The Dynamic Duo of Writing: Adjectives and Adverbs
Overusing adjectives and adverbs can make writing seem cluttered, overly complex, and can detract from the message's clarity and impact. It's essential to use them judiciously to maintain the quality of your writing. Yes, there are many grammar checking tools available online, such as Grammarly or the Hemingway Editor, that can help identify ...
Conjunctive adverbs
Conjunctive Adverbs. We swear that, despite their name, conjunctive adverbs are in no way related to tropical diseases. Instead, they are very useful when writing, and there are many more of them than we often remember. Conjunctive adverbs connect one thing to another in a descriptive way. For example: Everyone was raving about the puppy video ...
Strengthen Your Creative Writing with Extraordinary Adverbs
Adverbs are words or phrases that modify or qualify an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word group. In general, they express a relation of: There are also conjunctive/linking adverbs that connect one clause to another. By doing so, they can show specific relationships between clauses, such as sequence, contrast, and cause and effect.
PDF Strategies for Essay Writing
Harvard College Writing Center 5 Asking Analytical Questions When you write an essay for a course you are taking, you are being asked not only to create a product (the essay) but, more importantly, to go through a process of thinking more deeply about a question or problem related to the course. By writing about a
2.6 Adjectives and Adverbs
Comparative versus Superlative. Comparative adjectives and adverbs are used to compare two people or things. 1. Jorge is thin. 2. Steven is thinner than Jorge. Sentence 1 describes Jorge with the adjective thin. Sentence 2 compares Jorge to Steven, stating that Steven is thinner.

An Easy Guide on Adverbs: Definition, Use, Types & Examples

The Role of Adverbs in the English Language

How Adverbs are Used in Sentences

Using Adverbs to Modify Verbs

Using Adverbs to Modify Adjectives

Using Adverbs to Modify Other Adverbs

Using Adverbs to Modify Sentences

Types of Adverbs

Adverbs of Manner

Adverbs of Purpose

Adverbs vs. Adjectives

When Should You Avoid Adverbs?

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Adverbs: Definition, Meaning, Usage and Examples

Examples of Adverbs

What is a Redundant Adverb?

Trim Your Adverbs

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The Just-Say-No Adverbs List

Adverbs in the Wrong Place

When to Use Adverbs

Use an adverb when…

Replace an adverb when…

How to Remove Adverbs From Your Writing

Common Questions about Adverbs: Definition, Meaning, Usage and Examples

When to Use Adverbs: A Guide on Using Adverbs Correctly

When to Use Adverbs?

The 5 Types of Adverbs

1. Adverbs of Manner

2. Adverbs of Place

3. Adverbs of Frequency

4. Adverbs of Time

5. Adverbs of Emphasis

Where to Use Adverbs

At the Beginning of a Sentence

At the End of a Sentence to Modify the Verb

In the Middle of a Sentence to Modify the Adjective or Another Adverb

As an Adverbial Phrase to Modify Other Parts of the Sentence

Between Two Items to Compare Them

In the Middle of the Sentence or at the End to Compare Three or More Things

In Front of a Prepositional Phrase to Modify It

Writing Tip: Avoid Too Many Adverbs

Margin Size

8.20: Text: Adverbs

Intensifiers and Adverbs of Degree

Relative Adverbs

Common Mistakes

Which adverbs are important in academic writing?

Downloadables

Collect Academic Marks

Adverbs in Writing: The Good, The Bad, and The Sometimes

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Adjectives and Adverbs

Comparative versus Superlative

Irregular Words: Good , Well , Bad , and Badly

Good versus Well

Bad versus Badly

Better and Worse

Best and Worst

Writing at Work

Key Takeaways

Writing Application

The Ultimate List of Adverbs to Boost Your Writing Skills

List of Adverbs

Understanding Adverbs

List of Adverbs of Manner

List of Adverbs of Place

List of Adverbs of Time

List of Adverbs of Degree

List of Adverbs of Frequency

Position of Adverbs

Common Mistakes with Adverbs

Frequently Asked Questions

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Learning Objectives

Adjectives and Adverbs

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