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What is an Adverb? Position, Usage & 8 Common Types of Adverbs

Adverbs in English, also known as "adverbials," are used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs in a sentence. Let’s explore in detail the concept, position, usage, and some specific exercises at the end of the article with PREP!

I. What is an Adverb?
II. How to Identify Adverbs in English Sentences
III. Common Types of Adverbs in English
IV. The Position of Adverbs in English
1. 1. The Position of Adverbs in a Sentence
2. 2. The Position of Adverbs in English compared with those of others
V. Functions of Adverbs in English
VI. Inversion of the Verb After Adverbs
VII. Exercises on Adverbs in English with Answers
1. 1. Exercise
2. 2. Answer keys

I. What is an Adverb?

An adverb (Adverb) is a word in English that is used to provide additional information about the characteristics, properties, or state of the action of the subject. Adverbs serve to modify other parts of speech, such as adjectives, verbs, clauses, or other adverbs.

We often use adverbs in English to answer various types of questions that begin with interrogative words such as: How, When, Where, Why, or questions about degree such as: How often, How much. Here’s a specific example:

Yesterday, I saw a boy running very slowly.
My family often goes to Singapore in the autumn time.

II. How to Identify Adverbs in English Sentences

How can we easily identify adverbs in an English sentence? Let’s take a look at some identifying signs below with PREP:

Identifying Signs	Example
Most English adverbs end with the suffix -ly, so to form an adverb, we add the suffix -ly to the adjective.	dangerous ➞ dangerously careless ➞ carelessly nice ➞ nicely horrible ➞ horribly
However, there are some exceptions where the forms of the adjective and adverb may be the same or completely different.	Adjective that is the same as the adverb: fast ➞ fast (fast) Adjective that is different from the adverb: good ➞ well (good, delicious, skillful, etc.)
Some English adjectives can give rise to both types of adverbs: those with the -ly ending and irregular adverbs, notably with differing meanings between the two adverbs in English.	hard hard (difficult, hard-working) hardly (barely) high high (tall – indicating height, level, ratio) highly (high – indicating education, skill) late late (latency) lately (recently)
Not every word that ends with -ly is an adverb in English.	Adjectives in English ending in -ly: ugly, silly, friendly, lonely,… Nouns in English ending in -ly: ally, bully, assembly, melancholy,… Verbs in English ending in -ly: rely, apply, supply,…

III. Common Types of Adverbs in English

There are 9 common types of adverbs in English. Refer to the table below to understand these different types of adverbs:

Types of adverbs	Meaning & usage	Example
Adverbs of time	Adverbs of time in English are used to describe or express when an event or action takes place. Adverbs of time are used to answer the question format When? These adverbs are typically placed at the end or at the beginning of a sentence (if you want to emphasize something). Some common adverbs of time in English include: now, yesterday, tomorrow, lately, soon, finally, recently, etc.	My mom wants to do the exercise now! Last Friday, my class took the English final exams.
Adverbs of frequency	Adverbs of frequency in English are used to express how often an action occurs. Adverbs of frequency are used to answer the question format How often? Some common adverbs of frequency in English include: always, rarely, never, sometimes, occasionally, frequently, seldom, etc.	My teammate seldom works hard. My sister-in-law hardly ever helps my mother in the kitchen.
Adverbs of manner	Adverbs of manner in English are used to express how an action is performed. Adverbs of manner are used to answer questions in the format How? Most adverbs of manner are formed by adding the suffix “ly” to the end of adjectives. Additionally, there are some special adverbs mentioned in the section above.	That hidden singer can sing very well. Rabbits run quickly.
Adverbs of place	Adverbs of place in English are used to describe where an action takes place, and they often answer the question Where? Some common adverbs of place in English include: Here, there, out, away, everywhere, somewhere,… Above, below, somewhere, through, along, around, away, back,…	I am standing here. Wildflowers grow around the base of the statue.
Adverbs of degree	Adverbs of degree are used to express the level or extent of an action, indicating how much or to what degree the action takes place. Typically, these adverbs are placed before adjectives or other adverbs. Some common adverbs of degree include: too, absolutely, completely, entirely, greatly, exactly, extremely, perfectly, slightly, quite, rather, etc.	The experience was entirely new to me. I agree with you completely.
Interrogative adverbs (Question words)	Interrogative adverbs in English are used to form questions with question words such as: when, where, why, how, etc. Some adverbs in English can serve as affirmative, negative, or speculative forms: certainly, perhaps, maybe, surely, of course, willingly, etc.	Where is she going to take it? She will certainly win the election.
Relative adverbs	Relative adverbs in English are used to connect two clauses together. Relative adverbs can indicate place (where), time (when), and reason (why).	My husband remembers the day when he met me on the coast. He was shocked when I told him.

IV. The Position of Adverbs in English

Let's explore the position of adverbs in a sentence together below!

1. The Position of Adverbs in a Sentence

The position of adverbs in English sentences depends on the type of adverb. Therefore, it's very important to understand the purpose of the different types of adverbs.

The Position of Adverbs in English	Meaning	Example
At the Beginning of the Sentence	Interrogative adverbs: when, where, why, how, and conjunction adverbs: however, then, next, besides, anyway, etc., often appear at the beginning of a sentence. Time adverbs or adverbial phrases can also be placed at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis.	Where do you live? I worked until 6 PM. Then I went home. Yesterday morning something very strange happened.
In the Middle of the Sentence	Some adverbs such as frequency adverbs, degree adverbs, and manner adverbs can be placed in the middle of the sentence, meaning: Before a main verb, for example: go, come, see, hear, etc. After the verb "to be" and auxiliary verbs: do, can, must, etc. When there are 2 or more auxiliary verbs, the adverb usually comes after the first auxiliary verb. Manner adverbs or adverbs indicating completion, when in the middle of the sentence, usually come after all auxiliary verbs. Note: When wanting to emphasize the verb "to be" or an auxiliary verb, the adverb usually comes before it. An adverb cannot be placed between the verb and the object.	We usually go to Japan in December. She is always punctual for meetings. We can rarely see the stars in the city. She can usually finish her assignments quickly. The truth could completely differ from how I had imagined it.
At the End of the Sentence	Manner adverbs, time adverbs, and place adverbs typically appear at the end of the sentence. Note: When there are multiple adverbs and adverbial phrases at the end of a sentence, single adverbs usually come before the adverbial phrases. Except for necessary complements, adverbs at the end of a sentence generally follow the order: manner – place – frequency – time.	Anna ate her breakfast quickly. I always have lunch here. He walked slowly round the park after dinner.

Note: When multiple adverbs appear in a sentence in English, their order at the end of the sentence will typically follow this priority:

2. The Position of Adverbs in English compared with those of others

The Position of Adverbs in English	Structure	Example
Between Auxiliary Verbs and the Main Verb	have/has + adv + V-ed/V3	My mom has recently cooked dinner.
After "Too"	V + too + adv	My brother drives the motorbike too quickly.
Before "Enough"	V + adv + enough	My math teacher speaks slowly enough for the class to listen.
After "To Be" and Before Adjectives	to be + adv + adj	A new member of my volunteer club is extremely handsome.

V. Functions of Adverbs in English

Let's explore the main functions of adverbs in English!

Functions of Adverbs in English	Example
Adverbs in English are used to provide additional information about an event or phenomenon; they are utilized when there is an adverbial clause in the sentence or when the adverb stands alone.	My best fiend always arrives early. My father drives carefully. She reads whenever she has free time.
Adverbs in English modify verbs; they are used to make the actions in the sentence more specific and clearer.	Emi went to the cinema alone last week My girl simply wants to make a right choice.
Adverbs in English modify other adverbs; they are used to provide additional information and meaning to another adverb, enhancing the expression of the quality or degree of the preceding action in the sentence.	This thief drives really fast.
Adverbs in English modify adjectives.	She is extremely intelligent.
Adverbs in English modify prepositional phrases.	His remarks were not quite to the point.
Adverbs in English modify the entire sentence.	Luckily, he passed the final exam.

VI. Inversion of the Verb After Adverbs

The inversion of adverbs refers to the reversal of the position between an adverb or auxiliary verb and the subject in a sentence. The form of auxiliary inversion is used in the following cases:

A negative adverb or negative phrase is placed at the beginning of the sentence or clause for emphasis. For example: “Nowhere else will you find such a kind man.”
Adverbs such as hardly, seldom, rarely, little, never, and phrases that include "only" are placed at the beginning of the sentence or clause for emphasis. For example: “Not only did we lose our money, but we were nearly killed.”
The structure "So + adv + auxiliary verb + S + V" is placed at the beginning of the sentence. For example: “So beautifully does she sing.”

Some adverbs and adverbial phrases are often followed by an inversion form; specifically, they are:

Hardy…(when)	Only/ only by	Only then/ when/ after/ if
Scarcely…(when)	Neither/ nor	No sooner…than
On no account	Only on this way	Rarely
In/ under no circumstances	Never	Not only…but also
Not till/ until	Seldom	Nowhere (else) So/such…that

Note:

Only after, when, if, not until, and till have an inversion form in the main clause. For example: “Not until you have finished your homework can you go out.”
The inversion of the entire adverb is used when there are adverbial phrases indicating place, direction, or when the adverbs here, there, first, last stand at the beginning of the sentence. For example: “Under the tree was lying one of the biggest men I have ever seen.”

VII. Exercises on Adverbs in English with Answers

Let’s do some exercises on adverbs in English below to master this knowledge in detail!

1. Exercise

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with appropriate adverbs for the sentences:

extensively / broadly / largely / practically / invariably/ widely / considerably / effectively / literally / relatively

The music from the four loudspeakers was __________ deafening.
The factory is now __________ given over to the manufacture of spare parts.
It has been __________ rumoured that Mr. Murwell is about to be arrested.
The weather __________ changes for the worse whenever we go on holiday.
__________ speaking, I would agree with Jane Bowling, though not entirely.
The decorating is __________ finished, and we should have everything ready soon.
The theatre was __________ damaged in the explosion and will have to close.
We thought that this year’s exam paper was __________ easy.
Her career __________ ended after her injury, although she did play again.
The government will be __________ encouraged by these latest figures.

Exercise 2: Transform the adjectives into adverbs.

Bad ➞________
Careful ➞ ________
Cheap ➞________
Dangerous ➞________
Easy ➞________
Fast ➞________
Good ➞________
Hard ➞________
Loud ➞________
Noisy ➞________

2. Answer keys

Exercise 1	Exercise 2
literally largely / effectively / practically widely invariably broadly / relatively practically / largely extensively relatively effectively considerably	badly carefully cheaply dangerously easily fast well hardly loudly noisily

In this article, PREP has compiled the most comprehensive knowledge about adverbs in English for your reference. If you still have any questions or uncertainties, please leave a comment, and PREP will respond as soon as possible!

Master Tu Pham

Founder/CEO at Prep

Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.