What are adverbs?
Adverbs are words that describe or give more information about a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. They often tell how, when, where, or how much something happens.
- She ran quickly.
- We will eat later.
- The dog stayed outside.
Many adverbs answer questions about actions. Ask yourself: how, when, or where did it happen?
Adverbs that tell how
Some adverbs describe how an action is done. These adverbs often end in -ly.
- The students worked carefully.
- He spoke politely.
- The bird flew quietly.
Not all adverbs end in -ly, but many that tell how do.
Adverbs that tell when
Adverbs can tell when something happens. They help explain the time of an action.
- We will leave soon.
- She finished her homework yesterday.
- They are playing now.
Adverbs that tell when can appear at the beginning or end of a sentence.
Adverbs that tell where
Some adverbs tell where an action happens. They give information about place or direction.
- The children looked outside.
- Please come here.
- The cat jumped upstairs.
If the word answers the question “where?”, it is often an adverb.
Adverbs that tell how much or how often
Adverbs can also tell how much or how often something happens.
- She is very excited.
- We always read before bed.
- He sometimes forgets his lunch.
These adverbs help make sentences clearer by adding details about amount or frequency.
How to identify adverbs in sentences
To identify an adverb, find the verb in the sentence and look for a word that adds more information about it.
- The teacher spoke clearly.
- Spoke is the verb, and clearly tells how.
Adverbs can describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Always check what the word is describing.