English Grammar Understanding the Basics - Evelyn P. Altenberg, Robert M. Vago 2010

Lesson 27: Identifying adverbs
Unit 8: Adverbs
Part I: Kinds of words

We’ve saved adverbs for last because they can be a bit tricky. Adverbs do lots of different things and can be in lots of different places in a sentence. In fact, the chances are, if you don’t know what else a word is, it’s probably an adverb.

The adverbs are underlined in the sentences below:

1. I live here. (information about location)

2. My brother is arriving today. (information about time)

3. She dances gracefully. (information about manner)

4. That child is very sweet. (degree information about an adjective, in this case, about sweet)

5. She works extremely efficiently. (degree information about another adverb, in this case, about efficiently)

Quick tip 27.1

Adverbs generally indicate information about location, time, degree, and manner. They provide extra information about the action in a sentence, about adjectives and about other adverbs.

Quick tip 27.2

If you don’t know what else a word is (and you’ve eliminated the other parts of speech), it’s probably an adverb.

While unfortunately, we can’t give you a simple rule that will help you identify adverbs 100 percent of the time, the tips below will help you correctly identify adverbs in many cases.

Quick tip 27.3

Can the word go in the following slot? Mary slept ... . If so, it’s probably an adverb. For example, Mary slept peacefully. Peacefully is an adverb.

Quick tip 27.4

Can the word go in the following slot? ..., I gave / will give my speech. If so, it’s probably an adverb. For example, Yesterday, I gave my speech. Yesterday is an adverb. Or: Tomorrow, I will give my speech. Tomorrow is an adverb.

Quick tip 27.5

Can the word go in the following slot? He is ... happy. If so, it’s probably an adverb. For example, He is very happy. Very is an adverb.

Quick tip 27.6

Does the word end in the suffix -ly? Is it an adjective? If it ends in -ly and it’s not an adjective, it’s probably an adverb (e.g. hopefully, happily, unusually).

Test yourself 27.1

Underline the adverbs in each of the sentences below.

Sample: They had deliberately been silent when they entered the room.

Getting started (answers on p. 107)

1. She returned the book and quietly left.

2. I’m leaving for Europe tomorrow.

3. That horse is an unusually calm animal.

4. The train came to a stop suddenly.

5. That remark was too shocking.

More practice (answers on the website)

6. Why don’t you call her sometimes?

7. We were told to handle the merchandise carefully.

8. The doctor informed his patient that his prognosis was very good.

9. The Morgans are not leaving today.

10. Unexpectedly, the principal ordered everyone into the auditorium.

Many, though not all, adverbs end in -ly (rapidly, innocently, sweetly, etc.). However, some adjectives also end in -ly, for example lovely, friendly. It’s easy to distinguish them. Just remember that the adjectives can go in the slot the ... boy: the lovely boy, the friendly boy.

While adverbs can go before the adjective, for example the extremely friendly boy (extremely is an adverb), adverbs cannot occupy the slot directly before the noun. That is, one cannot say, *the extremely boy or *the innocently boy, so extremely and innocently are not adjectives; they must be adverbs.

Note that some nouns, for example the flower lily, end in -ly as well. And just to add a little more spice to the recipe, there are some words that can be used either as adverbs or as adjectives:

6a. That is a pretty easy book. (Pretty is similar to the word very here, and is an adverb of degree.)

6b. That is a pretty child. (Pretty is an adjective.)

7a. You drive too fast. (Fast tells us more about the verb drive, so it is an adverb.) 7b. This actor’s delivery was too fast. (Fast tells us more about the noun delivery, so it is an adjective.)

Test yourself 27.2

For each word below, decide if it is an adverb or an adjective. Use the test for adjectives to help you decide: the ... boy.

Sample: rarely adverb

Getting started (answers on p.107)

1. happily

2. ugly

3. clearly

4. gently

5. manly

More practice (answers on the website)

6. predictably

7. nearly

8. proudly

9. barely

10. silly

Test yourself 27.3

Decide whether the underlined word in each sentence is being used as an adjective or an adverb.

Getting started (answers on p.107)

1. He was busily writing a letter when the doorbell rang.

2. That is a very hilly road.

3. They fell hopelessly in love at first sight.

4. I never realized that you have such curly hair.

5. The soprano gave a masterly performance.

More practice (answers on the website)

6. Mr. Sawyer is paid weekly.

7. She undoubtedly deserves top honors.

8. This lady eerily resembles my grandmother.

9. Janet fully concurs with her husband’s decision.

10. Your new house is very lovely.

Test yourself 27.4

Underline the adverbs with a solid line and the adjectives with a squiggly line in the sentences below.

Getting started (answers on p.107)

1. Excitedly, the men dragged the heavy sack to the clearing.

2. I’ve checked on the situation very thoroughly.

3. Adam waited inside.

4. The old fellow left town yesterday.

5. Afterwards, he regretted his actions.

More practice (answers on the website)

6. Your generous gift was completely unnecessary.

7. Let’s agree on this beforehand.

8. This offer is too good to pass up.

9. I often think of you fondly.

10. The mailman left an unopened package at the door.

Test yourself 27.5 - Grand Finale

For each sentence below, write ADV above each adverb, ADJ above each adjective, N above each noun, and V above each verb.

Getting started (answers on p. 107)

1. My roommate usually sleeps very late.

2. Yesterday, the girl accompanied her older sister to the mall.

3. He walked slowly toward the foggy station.

4. The experienced senator quickly evaded their probing questions.

5. Later, we took a leisurely walk down by the beach.

More practice (answers on the website)

6. The once popular guitarist appeared on TV regularly.

7. Successful brokers will surely receive sizeable commissions.

8. We recently had a wonderful time in Spain.

9. I will take a quick dip in the inviting blue waters of the ocean.

10. Obviously, you are not the same person now that you were when I first met you.