Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, clauses, or another adverb in order to provide more information. For instance, the adverb beautifully in Mary sang beautifully tells us that Mary’s voice is highly pleasant to the ears. As another example, the adverb very in Matt is a very smart guy tells us that Matt has an exceptional brain.
Different Types of Adverbs
Like the other parts of speech, adverbs can be classified according to the kind of question they answer or the kind of information they provide. Let’s take a look at the six major types of adverbs.
1. Adverbs of Manner
Adverbs of manner tell us how, or in what manner, something was done. They usually modify verbs and are often found immediately before the word they modify or at the end of a clause. Most of the commonly used adverbs—the ones that end in -ly—belong to this category.
For example:
She smiled winningly.
He donated generously to his favorite charities.
Talk softly but carry a big stick.
They were walking quickly toward the subway.
2. Adverbs of Degree
Adverbs of degree describe the intensity of the verb in a sentence. They portray the degree to which (how much) something has happened. Adverbs of degree are generally, but not always, placed immediately before the word they modify.
For example:
The basement gets really stuffy in the summer.
That dress is much too revealing to wear.
She could barely read the small print.
There isn’t nearly enough food for everyone.
3. Adverbs of Frequency
Adverbs of frequency describe how often something occurs. They are usually placed immediately before the main verb in a sentence or at the end of a clause.
For example:
I usually pour ketchup over my fries.
She often gets coffee and pastries for her co-workers.
I make it a point to never drive in a snowstorm.
We must all make compromises sometimes.
4. Adverbs of Place
Adverbs of place provide more information about the place where the action (verb) happened. They are sometimes confused with prepositions (which describe the position of nouns). But while some adverbs can certainly function as prepositions at times, they are considered adverbs when they modify verbs. Another thing to remember in case of confusion is that prepositions are always followed by an object, while adverbs of place are not.
For example:
The explorers went south until they reached the coast.
I dropped the keys somewhere in the garden and now I can’t find them.
She is waiting for you outside by the pool.
They own a beautiful house nearby.
5. Adverbs of Time
Adverbs of time provide information about when the action denoted by the verb occurred. These kinds of adverbs generally appear at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.
For example:
They went to a picnic yesterday.
The toddler isn’t toilet-trained yet.
Recently, Taylor got a long-due promotion.
Eventually, I want to transition to a less stressful role in the company.
6. Conjunctive Adverbs
As seen above, adverbs generally modify other words. Conjunctive adverbs, on the other hand, are similar to coordinating conjunctions in that they modify and join two independent clauses.
Conjunctive adverbs, also known as adverbial conjunctions, use the second clause to modify the first. Such adverbs are usually preceded by a period/semicolon and followed by a comma.
For example:
I went to the bookstore to buy the latest Jeffrey Archer. However, they had already run out of copies by the time I got there.
We need to discuss Jamie’s grades; besides, we need to talk about his behavior.
Willy was grounded for a month; also, his parents took away his phone and computer.
Many animals in the wild compete for food; additionally, they compete for mates and territory.
Adverbs are important because they help readers visualize things, events, and actions with greater clarity and intensity. Through this article, students can gain insight into their many types and learn to use them effectively.
