Adverb Rules

Adverbs are words that modify:

• a verb
(He drove slowly. — How did he drive?)

• an adjective
(He drove a very fast car. — How fast
was his car?)

• another adverb
(She moved quite slowly down the aisle.
— How slowly did she move?)
 Types of Simple Adverbs:
• Manner
• Place
• Time
• Degree
• Affirmation
• Negation
1. Adverbs of Manner
(answer the question“how”)
(often end in “ly”)
She moved slowly and spoke quietly.

2. Adverbs of Place
(answer the question “where”)
These often look like prepositions without an
object.
Look below to see the flowers.
She still lives there now
3. Adverbs of Time
(answer the question“when” or “how often”)

It's starting to get dark now.

She finished her tea first.
She left early.
She often goes by herself.

4. Adverbs of Degree
(answer questions “how much” or “how little of” )
These often are the adverbs that modify other
modifiers (adj. or adv.)
She sleeps very quietly.
We swim quite often.
5. Adverbs of Negation
(make a verb negative) no, never, not, n’t
We never go to the theme parks.
We did not study for the test.

6. Adverbs of Affirmation
(make a verb more strongly positive. )
Yes, we love that game.
You certainly did well on that test.
Sarah obviously knew the answer to the
question.
You did well indeed.
 Some Tricky Adverbs
• FARTHER denotes physical advancement in distance.
(We walked farther into the dessert.)
• FURTHER denotes advancement to greater degree
(I will look further into my research)

• BAD = Adjective (often an adjective subject compliment)

Susan felt bad after the argument.
That is a bad apple.
• BADLY = Adverb
I performed badly in the play.

• GOOD = adjective That is a good movie.

• WELL = adverb Susan acted well in the movie.
 Stay away from using double
negatives:
• INCORRECT: Susan is not never in the class.
• CORRECT: Susan is not ever in the class.

• INCORRECT: We didn’t ask no one to the

dance.
• CORRECT: We didn’t ask anyone to the dance.

• INCORRECT: The class did not get nothing in

its mailbox.
• CORRECT: The class did not get anything in its
mailbox.
 Adverbs vs. Adjectives:
• Adjectives are used to modify nouns:
The dog is loud.
• Adverbs are used to modify verbs,
adjectives or other adverbs:
The dog barks loudly.
• Adjective -> careful / Adverb -> carefully
• Adjective -> quick / Adverb -> quickly
 Interrogative Adverbs
(ask a question.)
why, where, how, when

• Why did you come to class early?

• When are you arriving?
• Where is the party tonight?
 Relative Adverbs
(The first word in an adjective clause)
where, when, why

• This is the place (where we met.)

• He did not tell me (why he was absent.)
• This is the time (when I like to sleep.)
 The Degree of Adverbs:
• With LY adverbs we usually form the
comparative and superlative forms with
more and most or less or least.
• Never drop “ly” from an adverb when changing its
degree. (Quietly does NOT become quieter.)
Adverb Comparative Adverb Superlative Adverb

quietly more quietly most quietly

carefully less carefully least carefully

happily more happily most happily

 The Degree of Adverbs:
• For some other adverbs, we add “-er” to
form the comparative and “-est” to form
the superlative.

Adverb Comparative Adverb Superlative Adverb

hard harder hardest

fast faster fastest

early earlier earliest

 The Degree of Adverbs:
• Some adverbs are irregular adverbs,
and they change in form.

Adverb Comparative Adverb Superlative Adverb

well better best

badly worse worst

far farther/further farthest/furthest