Adverbs

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Adverbs In the previous lesson, you learned that adjectives are used to modify nouns. Like adjectives, writers use adverbs to make their writing more precise and lively. An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. An adverb answers one of these questions: Where? When? In what way? To what extent? For example, Greg reluctantly rewrote his wish list when his dad insisted. Reluctantly answers the question: In what way?

This chart shows examples of adverbs and the questions they answer.

Adverbs answering the question In what way? are called adverbs of manner. Adverbs of manner are easy to recognize because they usually end with -ly.

Read the following sentence from Diary of a Wimpy Kid. "Whenever someone opens a gift, Dad swoops right in." Which of the following words from the sentence are adverbs?

Adverbs are often called modifiers because they modify, or make clearer, the meaning of a word or phrase. As a reminder, adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or another adverb.

What are the adverbs in the following sentences? 1. Susie finished the test quickly. 2. I might never see you again.