An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb. Adverbs answer how, when, where, or to what extent. They can appear in different positions in sentences. Many adverbs are formed by adding -ly to an adjective. Comparative adverbs end in -er or are formed with "more". Superlative adverbs end in -est or use "most". The document provides examples and exercises to illustrate adverbs.

1. What is an adverb?
• An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, and
adjective, or another adverb.
– Explorers eagerly chase adventure.
• Eagerly is an adverb because it is modifying the verb,
chase.
– Some explorers visit amazingly beautiful places.
• Amazingly is an adverb because it is modifying the
adjective, beautiful.
– Others quite bravely explore the unknown- space.
• Quite is an adverb because it is modifying the
adverb, bravely, which is modifying the verb explore.

2. Adverbs
Adverbs answer the questions how, when,
where, or to what extent.
- How? suddenly, carefully, sadly
- When? now, later, soon, often, usually
- Where? there, up, ahead
- To What Extent? completely, totally, fully

3. Adverbs
 Adverbs can appear in different positions
in sentences.
 The tourists boarded the bus eagerly.
(after the verb)
 The tourists eagerly boarded the bus.
(before the verb)
 Eagerly, the tourists boarded the bus.
(at the beginning)

4. Adverbs
 Adverbs that modify adjectives or other
adverbs usually come directly before the
words they modify.
 They usually answer the question to what
extent.
– Marco Polo told really wonderful tales of China.
• Really modifies the adjective, wonderful.
– People were very eager to hear his stories.
• Very modifies the adjective, eager.
– They nearly always hung on every word.
• Nearly modifies the adverb, always.

5. -LY Adverbs
 Many adverbs are formed by adding the
suffix, -ly to the end of an adjective.
 Sometimes the spelling if the base word
changes when –ly is added.
 Near: add –ly to make it an adverb- nearly
 Gentle: drop the e and add –ly to make it
an adverb- gently
 Easy: change the y to i and add –ly to
make it an adverb- easily

6. Comparative adverbs
He finished sooner than she did.
• Comparative adverbs are similar to
comparative adjectives, but there is a
difference:
• An adverb with one syllable = –er
–rare=rarer
–soon = sooner
• An adverb with two or more syllables = more
–often = more often
–quickly = more quickly *even though it ends in -y

7. Superlative adverbs
He ran the quickest of the three boys.
• An adverb with one syllable = –est
–Rare = the rarest
–soon = the soonest
• An adverb with two or more syllables =
the most
–Often = the most often
–Briskly = the most briskly

8. Superlative Adverbs
 The
comparative and superlative forms of
some adverbs are completely different
words:
Adverb Comparative Superlative
well better the best
badly worse the worst

9. Let’s practice!
Complete the sentences with the correct
forms of the word in parentheses, and say
whether they are adjectives or adverbs.
(slow)
Tom is ___________. He works __________.
Tom is slow. (Adj.)
He works slowly. (Adv.)

10. Let’s practice!
Complete the sentences with the correct
forms of the word in parentheses, and say
whether they are adjectives or adverbs.
(careful)
Sue is a ___________ girl. She __________
climbed up the ladder.
Sue is a careful girl. (Adj.)
She carefully climbed up the ladder. (Adv.)

11. Let’s practice!
Complete the sentences with the correct
forms of the word in parentheses, and say
whether they are adjectives or adverbs.
(awful)
It’s ___________ cold today. The wind is
__________ .
It’s awfully cold today. (Adv.)
The wind is awful. (Adj.)

12. Let’s practice!
Complete the sentences with the correct
forms of the word in parentheses, and say
whether they are adjectives or adverbs.
(easy)
They learn English ___________ . They think
English is __________ language.
They learn English easily. (Adv.)
They think English is an easy language.
(Adj.)

13. Let’s practice!
Complete the sentences with the correct
forms of the word in parentheses, and say
whether they are adjectives or adverbs.
(good)
Max is a ___________ singer. He sings
__________.
Max is a good singer. (Adj.)
He sings well. (Adv.)

14. Let’s practice!
Identify the adverbs in the sentences.
Remember: adverbs answer –who, -when,
-where, and –to what extent.
Paige jumped up and rudely pushed her
sister.
rudely

15. Let’s practice!
Identify the adverbs in the sentences.
Remember: adverbs answer –who, -when,
-where, and –to what extent.
Rarely did Christian go to company
meetings.
rarely

16. Let’s practice!
Identify the adverbs in the sentences.
Remember: adverbs answer –who, -when,
-where, and –to what extent.
The writer became terribly annoyed by her
neighbor’s extremely loud music.
terribly, extremely

17. Let’s practice!
Identify the adverbs in the sentences.
Remember: adverbs answer –who, -when,
-where, and –to what extent.
We will be eating lunch outside so that we
can enjoy the splendid weather.
outside

18. Let’s practice!
Identify the adverbs in the sentences.
Remember: adverbs answer –who, -when,
-where, and –to what extent.
I always brush my teeth before bed.
always

19. Let’s practice!
Identify the adverbs in the sentences.
Remember: adverbs answer –who, -when,
-where, and –to what extent.
Haven’t we met before?
before

20. Let’s practice!
Identify the adverbs in the sentences.
Remember: adverbs answer –who, -when,
-where, and –to what extent.
After the very late show, I dragged myself
wearily to bed.
very, wearily

21. Let’s practice!
Identify the adverbs in the sentences.
Remember: adverbs answer –who, -when,
-where, and –to what extent.
Oh no! I’m really sorry! I didn’t mean to spill
coffee on your new shirt.
really