Adverbs

An adverb is a word that modifi es (qualifi es or limits) a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

◗ Many adverbs end in - ly .
◗ Adverbs answer any of these four questions: Where? When? How? To what extent?
◗ Adverbs make writing more specifi c and more exact.
◗ Here are some adverbs that do not end in - ly :

again            almost                 alone               already                    also
always          away                   even                  ever                        here
just                later                   never                 not                         now
nowhere         often                perhaps             quite                       rather
seldom           so                sometimes           somewhat               somewhere
soon               then                   there               today                        too
very               yesterday           yet

Adverbs modify verbs:

John ate quickly . ( How did he eat?)
I walk there . ( Where did I walk?)
Ashleigh will eat soon . ( When will Ashleigh eat?)

Adverbs modify adjectives:

Rex is very happy. ( Very modifi es the adjective happy and answers the question, To what
extent?)
The program was too unrealistic. ( Too modifi es the adjective unrealistic and answers the
question, To what extent?)
Adverbs modify other adverbs:
Warren walks too quickly. ( Too modifi es the adverb quickly and answers the question,
How quickly?)
He moved rather recently. ( Rather modifi es the adverb recently and answers the question,
How recently?

Adverbs (Continued)

When is a word an adjective, and when is it an adjective? Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns.
Adverbs do not. Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Adjectives do not. Helen has a yearly membership at the local health club. ( Yearly is an adjective since it modifies the noun membership and tells which membership.)
Helen contributes yearly . ( Yearly is an adverb since it modifies the verb contributes and answers the question, When does Helen contribute ?)
Mike arrived late . ( Late is an adverb since it tells when Mike arrived.)
The late delivery cut down on sales in the supermarket. ( Late is an adjective because it tells
which delivery.

 WRITING TIP

                         Adverbs help readers visualize actions better. Select the precise adverb to help your reader see more clearly. Slowly might not be as accurate as gradually,
leisurely, or unhurriedly. Use a dictionary or thesaurus for help.

 Scrambled Up for You! (Adverbs)

 In each sentence, the letters of the underlined adverb are scrambled. Unscramble the letters,

1. He walks tsaf.
2. Do you want to stop ehre ?
3. He visits his grandmother ywlkee.
4. Do you feel lewl enough to go on the trip?
5. Have you erve been to Mexico City?
6. I wasaly run errands for her.
7. Have I met you foebre ?
8. I would raerht drive to your house tonight.
9. Are you ilslt going to go to summer school?
10. I am tno trying to insult you, Nick.
11. Will you bat frsit tonight?
12. Are you ftneo at this location, Mitch?
13. Let’s start the performance onw.
14. May I aoslassist you, Helene?
15. Thank you nlidyk

 Dressing Up (Adverbs)

On the line next to the sentence number, tell whether the underlined adverb modifi es a verb, an adjective, or another adverb by writing the correct answer’s corresponding letter.

1. Patricia slept peacefully. (b) verb (c) adjective (d) adverb
2. Our teachers are very happy with the results. (t) verb (s) adjective (l) adverb
3. Larry’s unusually good cooking skills came in handy last weekend. (b) verb
    (h) adjective (o) adverb
4. He ran swiftly away from the tackler. (e) verb (a) adjective (i) adverb
5. She danced so gracefully in the competition. (d) verb (m) adjective (p) adverb
6. They sang beautifully during the entire winter concert. (l) verb (n) adjective
    (p) adverb
7. My aunt was extremely hungry after we completed the three-hour hike. (r) verb
    (o) adjective (d) adverb
8. We had met somewhat earlier than you think. (v) verb (n) adjective (a) adverb
9. Are they going away ? (t) verb (e) adjective (r) adverb
10. His rather clever remarks were not appreciated. (g) verb (e) adjective (u) adverb
11. These stories seem strangely familiar to me. (x) verb (s) adjective (o) adverb
12. They will hardly try to win. (n) verb (r) adjective (s) adverb
13. Francine earns high grades quite often. (t) verb (e) adjective (t) adverb
14. Do not walk alone in the forest. (s) verb (u) adjective (f) adverb
15. We met only recently. (g) verb (h) adjective (s) adverb