What is an adverb?
An adverb is a word that tells more about a verb. Verbs show actions, and adverbs tell us more about those actions.
The turtle walked. → The turtle walked slowly.
We will eat. → We will eat soon.
The kids played. → The kids played outside.
Adverbs add detail and help the reader picture exactly what is happening.
The questions adverbs answer
Adverbs answer four questions about a verb.
How?
She sang loudly. He whispered softly. The cheetah ran fast. The baby slept peacefully.
When?
We will leave now. I saw her yesterday. Later, we ate cake. Come soon!
Where?
The dog ran outside. Please sit here. The bird flew away. Look up!
How often?
These are adverbs of frequency.
I always brush my teeth. We sometimes go fishing. He never eats broccoli. She often reads at night.
The -ly ending
Many adverbs are made by adding -ly to an adjective.
| Adjective (describes a noun) | Adverb (describes a verb) |
|---|---|
| quick | quickly |
| quiet | quietly |
| careful | carefully |
| happy | happily |
| brave | bravely |
| gentle | gently |
Spelling tips:
– If the word ends in y, change it to i: happy → happily, easy → easily.
– If it ends in le, drop the e and add y: gentle → gently.
Not every adverb ends in -ly. Fast, soon, here, very and never are adverbs too. And some -ly words are adjectives, like friendly and lovely.
Adjective or adverb?
An adjective describes a noun. An adverb describes a verb.
- The quiet mouse … (quiet describes the mouse, a noun: adjective)
- The mouse crept quietly. (quietly describes how it crept, a verb: adverb)
A trick: find the word being described. Is it a thing (noun) or an action (verb)?
Good and well
These two are often mixed up.
- Good is an adjective: She is a good singer.
- Well is an adverb: She sings well.
So say I did well on my test, not I did good on my test.
Very, really and too
Some adverbs make other words stronger or weaker. They are called intensifiers.
It is very cold. That was really fun. The soup is too hot. I am almost finished.
These can describe adjectives and other adverbs, not just verbs. She ran very quickly. (Very describes quickly.)
Use them carefully. Instead of very big, you might say enormous. Instead of very tired, try exhausted.
Where to put adverbs
Adverbs can move around in a sentence.
- Slowly, the sun rose.
- The sun slowly rose.
- The sun rose slowly.
Putting an adverb at the start of a sentence can make your writing more interesting. When you do, add a comma after it.
Adverbs in stories
Authors use adverbs to show how characters feel and act. Read these:
- “I’m fine,” she said quietly.
- “I’m fine!” she said angrily.
- “I’m fine,” she said cheerfully.
The words she says are the same, but the adverb changes everything. In the first sentence she might be sad. In the second she is upset. In the third she is happy. When you read, look for adverbs after words like said, asked and shouted. They are clues about feelings.
How to add adverbs to your writing
- Find the verb in your sentence.
- Ask a question: How? When? Where? How often?
- Choose an adverb that answers it.
- Try it in different places in the sentence.
- Read it back. Does it help the reader picture the action?
Let’s try some examples
Example 1: Find the adverb. The horse galloped quickly across the field.
Quickly tells how the horse galloped.
Example 2: What question does it answer? We will go swimming tomorrow.
Tomorrow tells when.
Example 3: Make an adverb. careful → carefully. Carry the eggs carefully.
Example 4: Choose the right word. Tom plays the piano (beautiful / beautifully).
It describes how he plays, a verb, so: beautifully.
Common mistakes
- Using an adjective instead of an adverb. He ran quick → He ran quickly.
- “I did good.” Say I did well.
- Too many adverbs. She very really quickly ran fast is too much. Choose one strong word.
- Using adverbs instead of strong verbs. She walked quickly could become She hurried.
Try it yourself
- Circle the adverb: The puppy barked loudly at the mail carrier.
- Write an adverb that tells where: The kids ran ___.
- Change to adverbs: soft, easy, brave.
- Adjective or adverb? She has a kind heart. She spoke kindly.
- Make it better: The man walked.
Answers: 1. loudly. 2. Some answers: outside, away, upstairs, home. 3. softly, easily, bravely. 4. adjective; adverb. 5. Example: The old man walked slowly down the hill.
Tip for families
Play “Adverb actions”: one person says a verb, and the other acts it out in a certain way: “Walk sleepily!” “Clap quietly!” It’s silly, active and shows how adverbs change an action.
Quick recap
- An adverb describes a verb.
- Adverbs tell how, when, where or how often.
- Many adverbs end in -ly, but not all.
- Adjectives describe nouns; adverbs describe verbs.
- Use good as an adjective and well as an adverb.