46e. Adverbs
An adverb is a word used to modify, or qualify, a verb (or verbal), an adjective, or another adverb. It usually answers one of these questions: When? Where? How? Why? Under what conditions? To what degree?
Pull firmly on the emergency handle. [Pull how?]
Read the text first and then complete the exercises. [Read when? Complete when?]
Place the flowers here. [Place where?]
Adverbs modifying adjectives or other adverbs usually intensify or limit the intensity of the word they modify.
The words not and never are classified as adverbs. A word such as cannot contains the helping verb can and the adverb not. The word can’t contains the helping verb can and a contracted form of not (see 36c).
tip: You can find more details about using adverbs in 26b–26d. Multilingual writers can find more about the placement of adverbs in 30f.