Language Arts Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or entire sentences. Keep reading for more information, definitions, and examples of adverbs, adverb forms, adverb phrases and clauses, relative adverbs, and more...

Adverbs tell where (here), when (later), order (next), how  (sloppily), how much (almost), and to what extent (fully). This is sometimes expressed as the list: time, place, manner, degree, and reason. Because of the range of words they can modify, adverbs can appear in many different sentence positions. Adverbs are to be distinguished from adjectives, which modify nouns.

Adverb Word Forms

The distinctive adverb form is the word ending in -ly. Though not all words ending in -ly are adverbs, most are. The adjectives lonely and silly are examples of  -ly endings on words that aren't adverbs. Proper names, like Sally, are also not adverbs, of course. But most words ending in -ly are, in fact, adverbs.

Some typical -ly­ adverbs are:

absolutely	jealously	really
beautifully	lately	simply
confidently	lately	skillfully
frequently	lovely	slowly
friendly	quickly

But a number of adverbs do not have one of these endings, for example: well, almost, very, there, today, never, and once.

Positive, Comparative, and Superlative Adverbs

Some adverbs are non-gradable, which means they either describe something or they don't. Examples include today and uniquely. There are no degrees of either of these adverbs. If, for example, the timing of two events is today, neither can be more today than the other. Adverbs that have degrees are called gradable.

The standard adverb comparisons have three forms: positive or absolute, comparative, and superlative. The positive or absolute form is the regular form of the adverb, for example, all the ones mentioned above. The comparative and superlative are usually formed by adding the endings -er and -est or by using the adverbs more and most to show increased degrees. There are also irregular adverbs that do not follow either approach.

	more/most	-er, -est	irregular
Positive:	easily	soon	well
Comparative:	more easily	sooner	better
Superlative:	most easily	soonest	best

Adverb Phrases and Clauses

Unlike the terms verb phrase and noun phrase, the term adverb phrase does not mean a phrase with an adverb in it. Rather, it refers to a prepositional phrase that provides an adverbial function. This means that the prepositional phrase modifies a verb, adjective, adverb, or the entire sentence. Here are some examples:

where: on the airplane's wing

when: after we eat ice cream sundaes

order: in the first place

how: with vigor

how much: for as long as possible

to what extent: to the max

Similarly, an adverb clause is a clause that has an adverbial function of modifying a verb, adjective, adverb, or the entire sentence. Because it modifies, it makes sense that it is a subordinate or dependent clause, rather than an independent, or main, clause.

Relative Adverbs

The adverbs when, where, and why are able to introduce adjectival relative clauses, and for that reason are called relative adverbs. A clause beginning with where is used to modify a place. A clause beginning with when is used to modify a time. And a clause beginning with why is used to modify words like reason. Here are some examples:

Now I remember: that was the time when we found the hidden waterfall.

This is the hamlet where Jack was born.

If you have been puzzling over how an adverb could be used in an adjective clause, look closely at the example sentences: the words modified are both nouns: time and hamlet. Adjectives are, by definition, what we call noun modifiers. In this case, it's important to look at what the words do rather than what type of words are doing it.

Interrogative adverbs

The adverbs how, what, when, where, and why are called interrogative adverbs because they are used to introduce interrogative clauses and sentences. Here are example sentences:

How does that work?

What difference will it make if I do eat the pineapple?

When will Sheila return from the Galapagos Islands/

Where in the world could I have left my leopard-spotted stilettos?

Why are you looking at me as if I were crazy?

And here are example clauses:

Could you please let me know what you intend to do about it?

Luis claimed he wasn't there when someone donned a fake nose and impersonated his uncle.

The devious pair considered how to get into Ms. Esmerelda's apartment in order to secure the sapphire necklace.

Do you know where at the North Pole Santa Claus lives?

Serena will ask Martin why he bought half sour pickles instead of gherkins.