English Grammar: The Parts of Speech

Parts of Speech — Adverbs

Another interesting group of words that serve as modifiers are adverbs. The prefix ad in the word adverb means to, toward, or in addition to. An adverb is a word that you add to a verb to modify or expand the meaning of the verb. Adverbs may also modify adjectives or other adverbs. In this unit we shall consider the adverb as a modifier of the verb. A later unit will give you the other uses of an adverb.

Adverbs are easy to identify because they usually answer the questions when, where, how, in what manner, or to what extent or degree. The following illustrations will make this clear:

You must set up the copy now. (Now tells when to set it up.)

We put the desk there. (There tells where to put it.)

Mary walks gracefully. (Gracefully tells how she walks.)

The old man traveled far. (Far tells the extent of traveling.)

When we say, The paper is issued weekly, the adverb weekly introduces an additional idea of time. The adverb weekly makes the meaning explicit because we know how often or when the paper is issued. When we say, Dandelions grow everywhere, we have introduced the idea of place, or we tell where the dandelions grow. In the sentence, We walked farther into the forest, we have added the idea of extent or the degree to which. The adverbs in the preceding sentences are called adverbs of time, place, manner, or degree.

An adverb is a word used to modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

POSITION OF THE ADVERB

Although an adverb often modifies the verb in the sentence, it is not always placed directly after the verb. Sometimes the adverb introduces the sentence. In this position it gives more emphasis. At times the adverb is placed between the parts of the verb phrase. Study the following sentences carefully. Note the position of the adverb.

Sometimes I take a walk in the woods.

Jack always leaves the house at seven.

We added a room to our house recently.

Tom studies diligently.

I have always admired him.

In the first sentence, the adverb sometimes introduces the sentence. It modifies the verb take.

In the second sentence, the adverb always modifies the verb leaves. Instead of following the verb, it is placed before the verb. This is done for emphasis.

In the third sentence, the adverb recently appears at the end of the sentence. It modifies the verb added.

In the fourth sentence, the adverb diligently follows the verb studies, which it modifies. In the last sentence, the adverb always comes between the parts of the verb phrase have admired.