Parts of speech: 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?

Example sentence: Pull firmly on the emergency handle. [Pull how?] Explanation: The adverb firmly answers the question Pull how?

Example sentence: Read the text first and then work the exercises. Explanation: The adverb first answers the question Read when? The adverb then answers the question Work when?

Adverbs modifying adjectives or other adverbs usually intensify or limit the intensity of the word they modify.

Example sentence: Be extremely kind, and you will probably have many friends. Explanation: The adverbs are extremely and probably.

The negators not and never are classified as adverbs.

Exercises:

Parts of speech: adverbs 1

Parts of speech: adverbs 2

All parts of speech 1

All parts of speech 2

Related topic:

Adjectives and adverbs