Grammar For Beginners: All About Adverbs

We continue our parts of speech series by writing all about adverbs.

What are parts of speech?

Language is made up of different words with different functions. These words are are known as parts of speech.

“In the English language, words can be considered as the smallest elements that have distinctive meanings. Based on their use and functions, words are categorised into several types or parts of speech.” (From Parts of Speech) A part of speech is also sometimes known as a word class.

These categories are:

[Top Tip: If you need practical help with your grammar, buy The Complete Grammar Workbook.]

Today I will discuss adverbs.

All About Adverbs

Adverbs are descriptive words used to qualify (mostly) verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

Example:

The exhausted builder screamed loudly (how did he scream?) as his boss walked slowly (how did he walk?) off the site.

Adverbs of manner are most common and usually end in ‘–ly’. They tell you how something happened. Other adverbs describe adjectives or other adverbs, or add information about place, time, degree and frequency.

Examples:

I refuse to go there (place) without money.
After all, I bought a washing machine yesterday (time).
She looks extremely (degree) beautiful in it, which is seldom (frequency) the case with orange clothing.
I always (frequency) prefer to have a laptop with me.

Nine Types Of Adverbs

Time	When something happened
Place	Where something happened
Manner	How something happened
Degree	Extent to which something occurs
Frequency	How often something occurs
Probability	The chance something will occur
Duration	How long something lasts
Emphasis	Accentuates an action
Interrogative	Asks questions

Writing Tip: Great writing relies on verbs and nouns, not adverbs, for strength and colour. Too many adverbs create clumsy writing and detract from the impact of a good verb.