Adverb Functions in Sentences

An adverb is a part of speech that modifies another word in the sentence. Adverbs add additional information about verbs, adjectives and other adverbs to help the reader understand more about your writing.

While many adverbs end in -ly, there are several adverbs that have different endings.​

Different types of adverbs can modify verbs to give more detail about why, how, where, when, how often, and to what extent an action is performed​. Adverbs can come before or after the verbs they modify,

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• My grandfather types slowly. (How does he type?)

• We leave tomorrow. (When do we leave?)

• Please go away. (Where should I go?)

• Our teacher speaks informally. (How does he speak?)

• Our family never eats meat. (How often do you eat meat?)

When Adverbs Modify Verbs

Adverbs can also modify adjectives. While adjectives describe nouns and pronouns, adverbs can enhance or clarify the adjectives to make them even more clear and exact. Adverbs that are functioning as intensifiers always come before the adjectives that they modify.

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• The dog was very loud. (How loud was it?)

• The essay is the least important part of the exam. (How important is it?)

• Sean is the most interesting person I've ever met. (How interesting is Sean?)

• This soup is quite hot. (How hot is it?)

• My recently divorced neighbor asked me out. (When was she divorced?)

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When Adverbs Modify Adjectives

Adverbs can also modify other adverbs. They can work as intensifiers or provide more information. This is called an adverbial phrase. These phrases are helpful in making your word choice specific and descriptive.

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• The young violinist plays rather well. (How well does she play?)

• If you eat ice cream too quickly, you'll get a headache. (How quickly should I eat it?)

• Your description is quite horribly accurate. (How horribly accurate is it?)

• My plate was almost completely full. (How completely full was it?)

• Frederick is sometimes very pleasant to be around. (How often is it very pleasant?)

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When Adverbs Modify Other Adverbs

In some cases, adverbs can modify the entire sentence that follows them.

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• Unfortunately, he lost his bike and had to walk to work.

• Generally, students who do well on the SAT get good grades in college.

• Interestingly, the cow raised the flock of chickens as her own.

• Actually, we didn't go to the party.

• Thankfully, the car's brakes functioned as they should.

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In each of these cases, the adverb at the beginning of the sentence modifies all of the actions that follow. In the first sentence, for example, it's not only unfortunate that he lost his bike, but also that he had to walk to work.

Sentence Adverbs