What are adverb suffixes? The most common adverb suffixes in English

What are the most common English adverb suffixes? What is the most appropriate way to use adverb suffixes in English? Let's find out the answer in the article below!

I. What are adverb suffixes?

What are adverb suffixes? Adverb suffixes are a group of letters added to the end of a word to turn it into an adverb. The majority of English adverbs have the suffix "-ly", except for hard, fast, etc. For example:

• The adjective “beautiful” when added with the suffix "-ly" becomes the adverb “beautifully”.
• The adjective “careful” when added with the suffix "-ly" becomes the adverb “carefully”.

For more information, please refer to the following articles:

• What are adjective suffixes? 15 common adjective suffixes in English
• What are noun suffixes? A summary of common noun suffixes in English

II. Adverb formation in English

Below are three ways to form adverbs in English. Let's learn more details with PREP!

1. Adjectives add the suffix “-ly”

Formula: Adjective + suffix "-ly" = adverb. For example:

2. Adjectives ending in “-ic” add the suffix “-ally”

Normally, we merely need to add the suffix "-ly" to adjectives to make them into adverbs. However, adjectives ending in "-ic" need to add the suffix "ally". For example:

3. Cardinal number with the suffix “-fold”

Formula:

cardinal number + -fold = adverb.

For example:

• Prices have risen threefold. 
• The sport saw its popularity increase twofold. 

III. Exercises on adverb suffixes with answers

Let’s learn more about adverb suffixes through the exercises below!

1. Exercises

Exercise 1: Choose the correct answer

1. Fiona completed the assignment_______.
   1. quickly
   2. quick
   3. quickness
2. The artist_______painted each detail of the masterpiece.
   1. carefulness
   2. carefully
   3. careless
3. The loud noise made everyone in the room look up_______.
   1. sudden
   2. suddenness
   3. suddenly
4. With years of practice, she could play the piano_______.
   1. effortlessly
   2. Effortless
   3. effortful
5. The children laughed and played_______in the park.
   1. joyfully
   2. joy
   3. joyless
6. The students answered the question _______.
   1. correctly
   2. correct
   3. correctness
7. The chef prepared the meal _______.
   1. beautiful
   2. beautifully
   3. beauty
8. The team won the game _______.
   1. convince 
   2. convincing
   3. convincingly
9. The baby slept _______ through the night.
   1. peacefully
   2. peaceful
   3. peace
10. The detective solved the mystery _______.
    1. skillful
    2. skillfully
    3. skill
11. The flowers bloomed _______ in the garden.
    1. brightness
    2. bright
    3. brightly
12. The car drove _______ on the highway.
    1. smoothly
    2. smooth
    3. smoothness
13. The sun set _______ over the horizon.
    1. beautiful
    2. beautifully
    3. beauty
14. The book was written _______ by the author.
    1. passion
    2. passionate
    3. passionately
15. The rain fell _______ during the storm.
    1. heavily
    2. heavy
    3. heaviness

Exercise 2: Find mistakes and correct the adverb suffixes below

1. The door opened automaticly as he approached.
2. Our goal in this work has been sencondfold.
3. The actor delivered the line dramaticly, capturing the audience's attention.
4. The bus arrives at the station frequent.
5. The purpose of the current study was thirdfold.
6. My friend dances beauty on the stage.
7. We can approach the problem intelligent.
8. The job will take approximately three weeks, and cost approximation £1,000.
9. Some teenagers carefully disregard the basic rules for wearing contact lenses.
10. She shut the jewel-case and took out the key. "You haven't locked it," Layla said helpful.

Exercise 3: Complete the sentence by using the correct word form in brackets below

1. She finished her homework_______so that she could go out with her friends. (quick)
2. The artist _______ selected each color, ensuring that the painting captured the essence of the landscape. (care)
3.  The music played _______, filling the room with energy and excitement. (loud)
4. The cat purred _______ as it curled up on the cozy blanket. (soft)
5. Despite the cold weather, they walked _______to keep warm. (brisk)
6.  She waited _______for the exam results, hoping for a positive outcome. (anxiety)
7. The children _______opened their presents on Christmas morning. (eager)
8. With thorough preparation, she entered the interview room _______. (confident)
9. He handled the fragile glassware _______, resulting in a few pieces breaking. (care)
10. The old man walked _______across the park, enjoying the peaceful surroundings. (slow)

2. Answer

Exercise 1:

Exercise 2:

1. automaticly ➞ automatically
2. sencondfold ➞ twofold
3. dramaticly ➞ dramatically
4. frequent ➞ frequently
5. thirdfold ➞ threefold
6. beauty ➞ beautifully
7. intelligent ➞ intelligently
8. approximation ➞ approximately
9. carefully ➞ carelessly
10. helpful ➞ helpfully

Exercise 3:

1. Quickly
2. Carefully
3. Loudly
4. Softly
5. Briskly
6. Anxiously
7. Eagerly
8. Confidently
9. Carelessly
10. Slowly

Through this article, PREP hopes you now understand how to form English adverb suffixes. By mastering the skill of adding suffixes to adjectives, you can effortlessly transform them into adverbs and enhance your language proficiency. Remember to diligently practice the aforementioned exercises to internalize these patterns and quickly memorize them. With consistent effort and practice, you'll soon be able to apply adverb suffixes naturally in your spoken and written English.