What Is An Adverb?

What is an adverb?

Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

Adverbs are describing words. Let's look at some examples of them describing verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.

We will eat there.

There is an adverb describing the verb will eat.

Your face is extremely red.

Extremely is an adverb describing the adjective red.

The baby crawled very slowly.

Very is an adverb describing the adverb slowly.

Here is a sentence diagram and a tiny monkey.

You'll learn more about sentence diagrams in a little bit!

This monkey is very tiny.

To see more examples of adverbs, click here.

The Adverb Questions

Now that you know the answer to the question, What is an adverb?, there are a few questions that you should memorize.

Knowing these questions will help you know for certain whether any word is acting as an adverb.

Adverbs answer one of these adverb questions.

1. How? (happily, really, quite, peacefully)

2. When? (tomorrow, now, yesterday, never)

3. Where? (here, there, everywhere)

4. Why? (because he wanted soup) Adverbs that answer this question are typically adverbs that are made up of more than one word, such as an adverb clause.

The Adverb Questions At Work

What is an adverb? Do you know the answer now?

Remember that adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.

Let's look at some examples of how the adverb questions work.

Look at this lovely little bird here.

First, let's look at some examples of adverbs modifying the verb flew.

1. The bird flew crazily. (How?)

2. Yesterday, the bird flew. (When?)

3. The bird flew here. (Where?)

4. The bird flew because it needed food. (Why?)

Here is an adverb modifying the adjective green.

1. The bird is dark green. (How green?)

Here is an adverb modifying the adverb quietly.

1. The bird flew very quietly. (How quietly?)

Diagramming Adverbs

Sentence diagramming is a way to show how the parts of a sentence are related.

Sentence diagrams of adverbs show us that adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs because they go on slanted lines underneath the verb, adjective, or adverb that they are modifying!

Check out this sentence diagram.

You can learn more about diagramming adverbs with these exercises, this book, or this awesome course.

Comparatives & Superlatives

Many adverbs can have different degrees.

You may find that your dog can run quickly, your cat can run more quickly, and the mouse that they are chasing can run most quickly.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
quickly	more quickly	most quickly

You've just used the comparative and superlative forms of adverbs to show different degrees.

Use the comparative form when you are comparing two actions or qualities.

Most comparative adverbs end in -er or begin with more (harder, more easily...). But, there are irregular comparatives which do not end in -er (better, worse...).

Use the superlative form when you are comparing three or more things.

Most superlative adverbs end in -est or begin with most. (hardest, most easily...). But, just like comparative adverbs, there are some irregularities (best, worst...).

Regular Comparatives & Superlatives

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
hard	harder	hardest
brightly	more brightly	most brightly
quietly	more quietly	most quietly

Irregular Comparatives & Superlatives

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
well	better	best
much	more	most
badly	worse	worst

If you want to teach or learn grammar the easy way, then follow a step-by-step program that clearly lays everything out for you and allows you to move at your own pace. The Get Smart program is presented in a meaningful sequence, so it's not an overwhelming mishmash of information. Before you know it, you'll be a grammar and sentence diagramming pro!

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Keep learning and have fun!

Elizabeth O'Brien is the creator of the Grammar Revolution step-by-step grammar and sentence diagramming programs. Her programs are guaranteed not only to teach you grammar, but also to give you more confidence in your communication skills.

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