Adverbs

Question 1

The Basic Rules: Adverbs

Answer 1

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. (You can recognize adverbs easily because many of them are formed by adding -ly to an adjective, though that is not always the case.) The most common question that adverbs answer is how.

Question 2

Let’s look at verbs first.

Answer 2

“She sang beautifully.” Beautifully is an adverb that modifies sang. It tells us how she sang.
“The cellist played carelessly.” Carelessly is an adverb that modifies played. It tells us how the cellist played.

Question 3

Adverbs also modify adjectives and other adverbs.

Answer 3

“That woman is extremely nice.” Nice is an adjective that modifies the noun woman. Extremely is an adverb that modifies nice; it tells us how nice she is. How nice is she? She’s extremely nice.
“It was a terribly hot afternoon.” Hot is an adjective that modifies the noun afternoon. Terribly is an adverb that modifies the adjective hot. How hot is it? Terribly hot.

Question 4

So, generally speaking, adverbs answer the question how. (They can also answer the questions when, where, and why.)

Answer 4

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