Adverbs Definition with Examples

What are Adverbs?

An adverb, like an adjective, modifies another word in a sentence. An adverb can modify or change the meaning of a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.  

Examples

Archaeologists just rescued the treasures. (modifies verb)

Their discoveries were really important. (modifies adjective)

The treasures were unearthed very carefully. (modifies adverb)

Notice that the use of adverbs in the examples above makes the meaning of the sentences more exact. In a sentence an adverb usually answers one of these questions about the word it modifies: How?  When?  Where?  How often?  To what extent?

How?  They worked fast.	Where? The site is found nearby.
How often? They seldom rested.	To what extent?  The workers have nearly completed the search
When?  The digging began today.

Adverb Modifies Verb, Adjective or Another Adverb

The adverbs in each of the following sentences modifies a verb. An adverb that modifies a verb can come before or after the verb. It can also separate the parts of a verb phrase.

Example

Now we will uncover a section of the ruins.

We will uncover a section of the ruins now.

We will now uncover a section of the ruins.

Notice that an adverb that modifies a verb can be located almost anywhere in a sentence. However, an adverb that modifies an adjective or another adverb usually comes directly before the word it modifies.

Adverb Modifying an Adjective

Many archaeological sites are quite magnificent.

Adverb Modifying Another Adverb

The pyramids in Egypt stand rather majestically.

Adverbs that End in –ly

As you may have noticed, many adverbs end in -ly. However, some adjectives also end in -ly. Some words can be used as either adverbs or adjectives.

Adverb: Scientists work daily.

Adjective: All have daily tasks.

Adverb: They work hard.

Adjective: Their job is hard.

Adverbs that Do not End in -ly

Certain commonly used adverbs are frequently not recognized as adverbs because they do not end in -ly. Four of these adverbs are often used to begin questions: how, when, where, and why. More adverbs that do not end in -ly are shown in the chart below.

Adverbs Examples

We are almost there.	He likes rocks more.
They had already left.	They never decay
I will also look.	I do not agree.
He is always helpful.	They often dissolve.
Do you ever explore?	We seldom disagree.
Will this last forever?	Gems are so rare.
Here is the hill.	It is still early.
I just arrived.	Then we will rest.
We like that least.	We are very tired.
Maybe we will leave.	Are you done yet?

Summary

An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Use adverbs to make your writing more vivid and exact.

Adverb Practice

Name the adverb in each sentence. Tell what question is answered by the adverb.

1. The Roman city of Pompeii completely disappeared in A.D. 79. ___________

2. A volcano, Mount Vesuvius was nearby. _____________

3. Mount Vesuvius erupted swiftly. ______________

4. Ashes, dust, and cinders soon covered the town. ______________

5. Is Pompeii buried today? _____________

A. Write the adverb or adverbs in each sentence.

6. Mount Vesuvius erupted quite suddenly. ___________

7. How did the citizens of Pompeii react? ____________

8. They very quickly fled the city. ___________

9. Pompeii lay quietly buried for centuries. ___________

10. It was later discovered and excavations began. ___________

11. Archaeologists have worked hard on its restoration. ____________

12. Beautifully elaborate buildings were painstakingly restored. ___________

13. A tour of ancient Roman homes is so impressive. ___________

14. Many recovered treasures are always proudly displayed in the National Museum at Naples. ___________
15. When will you visit the ruins of Pompeii? ____________

B. Two words in each sentence end in -ly. One is an adverb. One is an adjective. Decide which word in the sentence is modified by each -ly word. Then write the adverb.

16. The lively city of Pompeii was fairly prosperous. _____________________________________________________________________________

17. Princely houses gracefully lined the streets of the city. _____________________________________________________________________________

18. The unexpected eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried the friendly city entirely.                                                                                         _____________________________________________________________________________

19. The untimely ashes actually preserved the city. _____________________________________________________________________________

20. Daily reports of objects discovered there were made readily available to the outside world. _____________________________________________________________________________

21. Gradually we learned about the everyday habits and customs of these early Romans.  _____________________________________________________________________________

22. The stately sites revealed at Pompeii immediately fostered an interest in Roman history.  _____________________________________________________________________________

23. Lovely wall paintings were remarkably undisturbed by the effects of the volcanic eruption.                                                              _____________________________________________________________________________

24. Fountains and lively statues as well as household goods were slowly unearthed.                                                                          _____________________________________________________________________________

25. Each year orderly crowds of tourists eagerly visit the streets and houses of old Pompeii.                                                        _____________________________________________________________________________

C. Write each underlined adverb. Then write the word or words each adverb modifies. Label the word or words modified as verb, adjective, or adverb.

26. Easter Island is another truly incredible archaeological site. _____________________________________________________________________________

27. This South Pacific island is justly famous for its gigantic statues. _____________________________________________________________________________

28. Many of these statues weigh thirty tons, and some weigh even more. _____________________________________________________________________________

29. They are very tall and measure from twelve to twenty-five feet. _____________________________________________________________________________

30. The islanders skillfully made the statues from the rock of an extinct volcano. _____________________________________________________________________________

31. They quite possibly carved the statues using stone picks. _____________________________________________________________________________

32. Somehow the islanders placed the figures on raised platforms called ahu. _____________________________________________________________________________

33. Erecting such huge statues would present difficulties even today. _____________________________________________________________________________

34. Maybe scientists will unravel all the mysteries of Easter Island eventually. _____________________________________________________________________________

D. Complete each sentence with an adverb from the chart that was given above.

35. Of all possible careers, I have ________ liked the field of archaeology best.

36. Divers _________ use metal detectors to uncover metal objects.

37. Some people have _________ heard about underwater archaeology.

38. Some of the methods used are _________ too different from those of land archaeology.

39. Archaeologists have adapted to work in ________ any environment.

E. Write the groups of words below, using an adverb that answers the question in parentheses to complete each phrase.

40. found objects (how often?) _____________________________________________________________________________

41. (to what extent?) gifted artist _____________________________________________________________________________

42. tossed the ball (where?) _____________________________________________________________________________

43. (how?) greeted a friend _____________________________________________________________________________

44. saw them (how often?) _____________________________________________________________________________

45. (to what extent?) won the race  _____________________________________________________________________________

46. (how?) entered the museum _____________________________________________________________________________

47. was completed (when?) _____________________________________________________________________________

48. returned to work (when?)    _____________________________________________________________________________

49. ran home (how?) _____________________________________________________________________________

50. pencil rolled (where?) _____________________________________________________________________________