In this section you will learn the different types of adverbs. There is a total of 8 types of adverbs.
What are the different types of adverbs?
Adverbs of manner
Adverbs of manner describe how an action is performed and they modify verbs, adjectives or entire sentences.
She always treats her guests kindly (adverb of manner modifying a verb).
Her dress is remarkably stunning (adverb of manner modifying an adjective).
Surprisingly, he didn’t make any mistakes (adverb of manner modifying an entire sentence).
Adverbs of manner: angrily, anxiously, badly, beautifully, calmly, carefully, cheerfully, eagerly, early, easily, enthusiastically, equally, fast, foolishly, greedily, happily, hard, high, justly, late, lazily, loudly, neatly, noisily, obediently, painfully, patiently, perfectly, politely, quickly, quietly, rapidly, recklessly, reluctantly, sadly, secretly, sharply, slowly, softly, terribly, well, kindly, etc.
Position of adverbs of manner
They appear immediately after intransitive verbs.
The children ran recklessly.
The boss spoke confidently during the meeting.
For transitive verbs, they can appear before the verb or after the direct object but not between them.
Clara quickly solved the math problem. (when the adverb appears before the verb, it emphasizes it)
Clara solved the math problem quickly.
They appear after auxiliary verbs and before the main verbs.
They will secretly observe the class.
He has politely apologized for what he did.
When there is a preposition, the adverb comes before the preposition or after the direct object.
The dog jumped obediently over the fence.
The dog jumped over the fence obediently.
They appear at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.
Happily, he received the prize.
Proudly, Alina showed them her drawings.
Adverbs of place
Adverbs of place provide information about where an action takes place, the direction, and movement.
Some adverbs of place: above, abroad, ahead, along, anywhere, apart, around, aside, away, back, backwards, behind, below, down, downstairs, east, elsewhere, far away, far, forth, here, indoors, inside, near, nearby, off, out, outside, over, overseas, right, somewhere, there, towards, under, underground, up, upstairs, etc.
Types of adverbs of place
There are adverbs that end in ‘-where’.
Anywhere
Elsewhere
Everywhere
Nowhere
Somewhere
There are adverbs that end in ‘-ward(s)’.
Backwards
Downwards
Eastwards
Forward
Homewards
Inwards
Onwards
Outwards
Upwards
Westwards
Position of adverbs of place
For intransitive verbs, the adverb appears after the verb (usually at the end of the sentence)
Peter ran outside.
For transitive verbs, the adverb appears after the object.
I hung our picture wedding on the wall.
When there is an auxiliary verb in the sentence, the adverb appears after the verb or after the object.
Peter can’t run outside.
I will hang our picture wedding on the wall.
What are adverbs of place used for?
Direction and movement: abroad, across backwards, down, downwards, east, forwards, north, onwards, outside, past, south, southwards, toward, up, upstairs, upwards, west, etc.
Location or position: above, around, behind, below, beneath, between, in front, inside, next to, on top, outside, over, through, underneath, etc.
Unknown direction and location: anywhere, everywhere, nowhere, somewhere.
Adverbs of place and prepositions
Adverbs of place can function as prepositions; they only have to be followed by a noun to become a preposition.
She was standing behind the door.
Here and there
They are adverbs of place which indicate a specific position relative to the speaker.
Here means closer to the speaker.
You can sit here.
Here she is.
There means away from the speaker.
What’s going on there?
There goes our chance to win.
Adverbs of time
Adverbs of time provide information about when an action happen, how long it happens and how often.
I will meet my friends tomorrow (when).
Valery has lived in Mexico for ten years (how long).
We rarely have fast food for breakfast (how often).
Adverbs of time
When: last night, later, next day/week/month/year, now, that day/month/year, then, today, tomorrow, tonight, yesterday, etc.
How long: for five hours, for six days, for 30 minutes, since Sunday, since last night, since last week, etc.
How often: always, anually, constantly, daily, ever, frequently, generally, hardly ever, hourly, monthly, never, normally, occasionally, often, quarterly, rarely, regularly, seldom, sometimes, usually, weekly, yearly, etc.
Position of adverbs of time
They normally appear at the end of a sentence (when and how long).
I went to the concert yesterday. (when)
She hasn’t seen you since last week. (how long)
Adverbs of ‘when’ and ‘ how long’ also appear at the beginning of a sentence.
Today, we have a special guest.
Since Saturday, we haven’t been in touch.
Adverbs of ‘how often’ appear before the main verb.
I always go for a walk.
Adverbs of ‘how often’ appear after an auxiliary verb, but if the auxiliary is ‘to be’, the adverb goes after the verb.
You should never talk with that person.
My grandmother is frequently tired.
When a sentence contains the three adverbs (when, how long and how often), you follow this structure: how long + how often + when.
I studied English for 30 minutes daily last month.
For 30 minutes = how long
Daily = how often
Last month = when
Exceptions:
Yet (normally used for questions and negative sentences) appears:
1-At the end of a sentence.
2-After an auxiliary verb.
3-After ‘not’ in a negative sentence.
4-Before the main verb in a sentence.
Later can appear at the beginning, before or after the verb, and at the end of a sentence.
Still appears:
1-For questions, before the main verb in a sentence.
2-For negative sentence, before ‘not’.
3-For auxiliary verbs, after the auxiliary.
Adverbs of frequency
Adverbs of frequency provide information about how often an action happens.
Types of adverbs of frequency
Definite adverbs provide the precise frequency of an action; they usually occur at the end of a sentence; although, to give emphasis, they can be used at the beginning of the sentence.
Definite adverbs: daily, every day, every hour, every minute, every second, hourly, monthly, once, twice a day/week/month/year, twice, weekly, yearly.
I take my medicines twice a day.
Every year, we go to Quebec.
Indefinite adverbs provide a general frequency of an action.
Indefinite adverbs: always, usually, constantly, normally, generally, often, frequently, regularly, sometimes, occasionally, seldom, rarely, hardly ever, never.
Position of indefinite adverbs
They usually go before the main verb in a sentence.
My brother and I often go for a run.
When there is an auxiliary verb, the adverb goes between the auxiliary verb and main verb, but if the auxiliary is ‘to be’, the adverb goes after the auxiliary to be.
You must always arrive on time.
I am never bored at school.
Some indefinite adverbs (usually, generally, frequently, sometimes, normally, often and occasionally) can occur at the beginning of a sentence.
Usually, we have dinner at 8 o’clock.
The indefinite adverbs always, never, rarely, seldom, hardly ever can occur at the beginning of a sentence.
Rarely do we travel abroad.
Adverbs of degree
Adverbs of degree provide information about the degree to which an action is carried out; they modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs.
The tea is very hot. (adverb of degree modifying an adjective)
I totally agree with you. (adverb of degree modifying a verb)
She was walking extremely fast. (adverb of degree modifying an adverb)
The adverbs of degree go before the verb, adjective and adverb they modify.
Types of adverbs of degree
1-Intensifiers increase the degree of and adjective or adverb. There are two subtypes of intensifiers:
-Intensifiers with gradable adjectives (have a degree): very, extremely, really, very, quite.
Georgia is very hungry. Correct
Georgia is absolutely hungry. Wrong
-Intensifiers with ungradable adjectives (have a definite degree): absolutely, awfully, completely, excessively, fully, greatly, remarkably, totally, utterly.
Georgia is totally starving. Correct
Georgia is very starving. Wrong
2-Moderators are neutral as they do not intensify or weaken the adjective or adverb: enough, entirely, especially, fairly, particularly, pretty, quite, simply, usually.
Her speech was simply unforgettable.
3-Diminishers weaken the degree of an adjective or adverb: a bit, a little, almost, fairly, just, nearly, pretty, rather, slightly, somewhat.
Your room is slightly messy.
Special cases
–Enough can function as an adverb of degree if it goes after the adjective or adverb that it is modifying.
I wasn’t heard; I didn’t speak loudly enough.
Note: be careful not to confuse ‘enough’ as an adverb of degree with a determiner. ‘Enough’ as a determiner comes before a noun.
–Too can function as an adverb of degree and it goes before the adjective or adverb it modifies.
The cake is too sweet; I can’t eat it.
Adverbs of probability
Adverbs of probability describe the likelihood of an action; how certain we are about something.
Some adverbs of probability: certainly, clearly, definitely, doubtless, for certain, indeed, likely, maybe, merely, not likely, obviously, partly, perhaps, possibly, probably, surely, truly, undoubtedly, very likely.
Position of adverbs of probability
They usually go before the main verb.
I undoubtedly deserved the job.
When there is an auxiliary verb, the adverb goes between the auxiliary and the main verb.
He will definitely buy you the book you asked for.
When there is the auxiliary verb ‘to be’, the adverb goes after it.
She is clearly not here.
Maybe’ and ‘perhaps’ can go at the beginning of a sentence.
Maybe I will be able to join you.
Perhaps they forgot about today’s class.
Adverbs of purpose
Adverbs of purpose or reason indicate why an action happens; they modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs.
The adverbs of purpose are: as a result, because of, because, consequently, due to, for, given, hence, in order that, in order to, owing to, since, so, so as, so that, therefore, thus.
Examples of adverbs of purpose
As a result
I had been working for the company for 5 years. As a result, I was promoted.
I had been working for the company for 5 years; as a result, I was promoted.
Consequently
Few students came to the lecture. Consequently, some didn’t know about the final test.
Few students came to the lecture; consequently, some didn’t know about the final test.
They forgot about their curfew; they were consequently running as fast as they could to get home on time.
Hence
Alex didn’t plan his schedule. Hence, he forgot about the appointments.
Alex didn’t plan his schedule; hence, he forgot about the appointments.
We were shocked to hear the news and hence disappointed.
Therefore
I was in the dark about the party. Therefore, I was surprised when I saw everyone there.
I was in the dark about the party; therefore, I was surprised when I saw everyone there.
I was in the dark about the party. I was therefore surprised when I saw everyone there.
She behaved kindly and therefore polite.
Thus
Logan forgot to buy milk. Thus, he went out to buy some.
Logan forgot to buy milk; thus, he went out to buy some.
I like learning English. I have thus decided to become a teacher.
Because
She is scared because she saw a ghost last night.
Because of
I will be late because of the traffic.
Because of the promotion, I’ll buy you whatever you want.
Due to
He got into the university he applied to due to his hard work.
For
I bought some snacks for the party.
Given
Given the current economic climate, it’s crucial not to invest in big companies.
Owing to
The singer added an extra day to her tour owing to the high demand.
In order to
You need to leave now in order to arrive on time to the meeting.
Since
He has been practising every day since he wants to learn how to dance.
So as
She has been studying all day so as to get a good grade on her final exam.
So (that)
I must finish this document so (that) I can go home early.
Relative adverbs
We use relative adverbs introduce relative clauses, add more detail to the meaning of the sentence in terms of place, time and reason.
Relative adverbs for defining relative clauses
Relative adverb of place
Where is used to provide information about the location of something.
I’m going to the bakery where they sell the most famous chocolate cake.
Relative adverb of time
When is used to provide information about the moment in which something occurred.
I’ll never forget the day when we got married.
Relative adverb of reason
Why is used to provide information about the reason of something happening.
I don’t know the reason why the room is so messy.
Relative adverbs for non-defining relative clauses
For non-defining relative clauses, you need to add commas.
Relative adverb of place
Where
The bakery, where they sell the most famous chocolate cake, is the most expensive in the town.
Relative adverb of time
When
The summer, when you asked me to marry you, is my favourite season of the year.
Note: why is not used with non-defining relative clauses.
Read more about adverbs here.
Read more about comparative and superlative adverbs here.