##  [adverbs](/writing-tips-plus/adverbs)

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## On this page

- [What is an adverb?](#what-is-an-adverb)
- [How do you recognize an adverb?](#recognize-an-adverb)
- [What are common types of adverbs?](#common-types-of-adverbs)
- [Where can you find an adverb in a sentence?](#where)
- [Additional information](#additional-information)

## What is an adverb?

An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, another adverb or sometimes even an entire sentence. As a modifier, an adverb describes or limits the meaning of the word it refers to.

Example with a verb:

- The tent collapsed slowly.
\[The adverb **slowly** modifies the verb **collapsed**.\]

Example with an adjective:

- Amy grew increasingly bored.
\[The adverb **increasingly** modifies the adjective **bored**.\]

Example with an adverb:

- Jorge played especially well.
\[The adverb **especially** modifies the adverb **well**.\]

Example with a sentence:

- Naturally, I accepted.
\[The adverb **naturally** modifies the sentence **I accepted**.\]

## How do you recognize an adverb?

The majority of adverbs end in **-ly**. The reason is that we form most adverbs by taking an adjective and adding the ending **-ly**: the adjective **quiet** becomes the adverb **quietly**, the adjective **careful** becomes the adverb **carefully**, and so on.

But there are also many adverbs that do not end in **-ly**. Here are some examples: almost, always, down, fast, hard, here, in, long, never, now, often, out, quite, rather, so, then, there, today, too, up, very, well.

## What are common types of adverbs?

Most adverbs fall into five categories.

### Adverbs of manner

Adverbs of manner answer the question **how?**:

- John tiptoed **quietly** past the sleeping guard.
- The cat leaped **gracefully** down from the ledge.

### Adverbs of place

Adverbs of place answer the question **where?**:

- **Inwardly**, Marielle was seething.
- Eric lives **nearby**.

### Adverbs of time

Adverbs of time answer the question **when?**:

- We’ll leave **tomorrow**.
- The rickety barn **immediately** collapsed.

### Adverbs of frequency

Adverbs of frequency answer the question **how often?**:

- Jenna and Kurt visit the East Coast **regularly**.
- My sister **often** has to work late.

### Adverbs of degree

Adverbs of degree answer the question **to what extent?**:

- The fire **completely** destroyed the building.
- I could **barely** hear the sound of the distant waves.
- The soup is **too** hot to eat right now.
- Madeline is **very** excited about her upcoming trip.

**Note:** The adverbs of degree **too** and **very** cannot modify verbs. They are used only to modify adjectives and other adverbs: very happy, too fast.

## Where can you find an adverb in a sentence?

Adverbs that modify an adjective or another adverb can be found in front of the word they modify: too hot, quite loudly.

But an adverb that modifies a verb or a sentence is movable. These adverbs may appear at the beginning or end of the sentence, as well as before or after the verb:

- **Swiftly** the runner leaped over the hurdle.
- The runner **swiftly** leaped over the hurdle.
- The runner leaped **swiftly** over the hurdle.
- The runner leaped over the hurdle **swiftly**.

## Additional information

- [Adverb](/en/hypergrammar-2/what-is-an-adverb) (HyperGrammar 2)
- [Conjunctive adverb](/en/writing-tips-plus/conjunctive-adverb) (Writing Tips Plus)

### Quizzes

- [Are you adept at adverbs?](/en/quiz/are-you-adept-at-adverbs-eng)
- [Agile adverbs](/en/quiz/jeu-quiz-agile-adverbs-eng)
- [Choose the correct adverb!](/en/quiz/choose-the-correct-adverb-eng)

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## Liens connexes

- [Writing Tips Plus](/fr/writing-tips-plus/index-fra) (page d’accueil)
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- [Navigateur linguistique](/fr/navigateur-navigator) (permet de trouver rapidement des conseils linguistiques)
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