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Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or even entire clauses. Depending on what they modify (and how), adverbs can appear anywhere in the sentence. Adverbs are commonly formed from adjectives by adding “-ly” to the end, as in slowly, quickly, widely, beautifully, or commonly.

An adverb is any word that modifies verbs, adjectives (including numbers), clauses, sentences and other adverbs, except for nouns; modifiers of nouns are primarily called as determiners and adjectives.

Adverbs typically answer questions such as how?" (or "in what way?), when?, where?, why? and to what extent?. They often end in -ly.

 

In the following examples, each of the highlighted words is an adverb:

• The seamstress quickly made the mourning clothes.

In this sentence, the adverb "quickly" modifies the verb "made" and indicates in what manner (or how fast) the clothing was constructed.

• The midwives waited patiently through a long labour.

Similarly, in this sentence, the adverb "patiently" modifies the verb "waited" and describes the

manner in which the midwives waited.

• The boldly spoken words would return to haunt the rebel.

In this sentence the adverb "boldly" modifies the adjective "spoken."

• We urged him to dial the number more expeditiously.

Here the adverb "more" modifies the adverb "expeditiously."

• Unfortunately, the bank closed at three today.

In this example, the adverb "unfortunately" modifies the entire sentence.

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