An adverb modifies verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Adverbs answer how, when, where, or to what extent or degree. They are usually formed by adding -ly to adjectives. Comparative adverbs add -er or more, and superlative adverbs add -est or most. Adverbs are used to modify verbs but adjectives are used after linking verbs. Double negatives should be avoided. Adverb clauses begin with conjunctions like after or because.

1. Adverbs
An adverb answers these questions:
How? In what manner?
patiently, boldly, slowly, softly,
enthusiastically
When?
recently, later, finally, daily, again, formerly
Where?
outside, here, down, forward, up, away
To what extent? To what degree?
extremely, very, too, rarely, completely,
frequently

2. Objectives
• 4a10 - Adverbs (avoiding double negatives; comparative
forms)
• LS 1
• WS 2

3. Adverbs—Modify Verbs
• Place the adverb before or after the verb that
is modified.
When businesses knowingly deceive
customers, they are violating ethical
standards.
Do not illegally copy paper or electronic
documents.

4. Adverbs—Modify Adjectives
• Place the adverb immediately before the adjective.
The courtesy of greeting others within your own firm is
universally acceptable in the United States.
In some countries, greetings are very expressive and
elaborate.
Downsizing is becoming an increasingly popular way
for businesses to lower expenses.

5. Adverbs—Modify Other
Adverbs
• Place the adverb immediately before the
adverb being modified.
We very precisely judged the commute time to
our new client’s office.
Ruby did extremely well on the ethics section
of her real estate exam.

6. Descriptive Adjectives
Before Nouns
• Add ly to an adjective root to form the
majority of adverbs.
Adjective Adverb
cautious cautiously
extreme extremely
perfect perfectly
skillful skillfully

7. Noun Base Used to Form
Adjectives Ending in ly
• Use root words to identify words ending in ly
as adjectives or adverbs.
• Noun Adjective
brother brotherly
neighbor neighborly
earth earthly
world worldly
love lovely

8. Adverbs Formed From
Adjectives Ending in y
• Change the y to i and add ly to an adjective
ending in y to form an adverb.
• Adjective Adverb
busy busily
easy easily
heavy heavily
merry merrily

9. Adverbs Formed From Adjectives Ending in
ible or able
• Drop the final e on adjectives that end in able
or ible before adding the y to form the
adverb.
• Adjective Adverb
forcible forcibly
terrible terribly
possible possibly

10. Adverbs Formed From
Adjectives Ending in ic
• Add ally to adjectives ending in ic to form the
adverb.
• Adjective Adverb
chronic chronically
logic logically
magic magically
scenic scenically

11. Do Not Hyphenate Adverbs
Ending in ly
a carelessly written memo
a richly deserved award
an internationally recognized sign
a highly successful business

12. Verbs—Action Versus Linking
• Use an adverb to modify action verbs.
Tucker intentionally withheld confidential information.
The employee thoughtlessly made an inappropriate comment
to Julie.
• Use an adjective, not an adverb, after a
linking verb to describe the subject.
The manager felt bad about the dependence on temporary
workers.
Karen seems distraught over the missing computer disk.

13. Verbs—Both Linking and
Action
Clarify the intent of the sentence before
making a decision about such verbs as look,
taste, or feel.
Use adverbs when these words are action
words.
Use adjectives when these words function as
linking verbs.

14. One-Syllable Adverbs
¢ Add er to the positive form for its
comparative degree.
¢ Add est to the positive form for its superlative
degree.
Positive Comparative Superlative
fast faster fastest
late later latest
soon sooner soonest

15. Two-Syllable Adverbs
¢ Add er or the word more or the word less
before the positive form for the comparative
degree.
¢ Add est or the word most or the word least
for the superlative degree.
Positive Comparative Superlative
quickly more quickly (quicker) most quickly (quickest)
nearly more nearly most nearly

16. Three-Syllable Adverbs
¢ Add the word more or the word less before the
positive form to form its comparative degree.
¢ Add the word most or the word least before the
positive form to form its superlative degree.
Positive Comparative Superlative
efficiently more efficiently most efficiently
dangerously more dangerously most dangerously
Reliably more reliably most reliably

17. Irregular Adverbs
• Use irregular comparisons for some adverbs.
Positive Comparative Superlative
well better best
badly worse worst

18. Absolute Adverbs
• Some adverbs do not allow for comparisons
no now past basically
there here partly sometimes
too very annually

19. Double Negatives
• Double negatives are two negative words
used in a sentence. This combination gives
the clause a positive meaning rather than the
intended negative meaning.
Incorrect
I have not seen no evidence of employee theft.
Correct
I have seen no evidence of employee theft.
I have not seen any evidence of employee theft.

20. Adverb Clauses
¢ Use subordinating conjunctions such as
after, although, before, because, if,
unless, when, and while to introduce
dependent adverb clauses.
¢ Place the adverb clause as closely as
possible to the words modified.

21. Adverb Clauses
• Use commas after introductory adverb
clauses that precede independent clauses.
Although he broke no laws, his actions were still unethical.
• Do not use commas to set aside adverb
clauses that follow independent clauses.
Plan to arrive 10 minutes before the meeting begins.
We will start the meeting after serving refreshments.