The adverb is the fifth of the eight parts of speech. Just for the record, here are all eight:

noun, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection.

First, let's start with a basic definition:

Adverbs modify verbs. An adverb can also modify adjectives and other adverbs.
 

Adverbs answer these questions:

          WHERE?

                 WHEN?

                 HOW?

                 HOW OFTEN?

                 TO WHAT EXTENT?
 

Commonly used Adverbs:

              Here, there, away, up -- tell WHERE

              Now, then, later, soon, yesterday -- tell WHEN

              Easily, quietly, slowly, quickly -- tell HOW

              Never, always, often, seldom -- tell HOW OFTEN

              Very, almost, too, so, really -- tell TO WHAT EXTENT
 

Examples: 

1. The two dark cats were walking slowly on the fence. 

    Slowly - modifies the verb walking and tells how the cats were walking

2. Now it is time to trim the very long grass in the front yard. 

     Now - modifies the verb is and tells when

     Very - modifies the adjective long and tells to what extent

3. She is never too easily frightened away.

      Never - modifies the verb is and tells how often

      Too - modifies the adverb easily and tells to what extent

      Easily - modifies the adjective frightened and tells how

      Away - modifies the adjective frightened and tells where

Find the adverbs in the following sentences. 

1. Today, Sam suggested that we carefully clean the statue for the class service project. 
                        __________ __________ 

2. The bank book is often there on the desk. 

                        __________ ____________ 

3. Jeanne could always clearly see the mountain through the binoculars Dan gave her.
                        __________ __________ 

4. The teacher never asked the shy boy to give an oral report.

                        __________ 

5. He was too scared to consider a lengthy conversation with the extremely beautiful girl.

                        __________ _______________

6. Do you have a special someone in your life now?

                        _____________ 

7. Her story was printed in the town paper much later.

                        __________ __________ 

(CUTHERE)----------------------------------------------------------
 

              ANSWER KEY:

                     1. today - tells when 
                         carefully - tells how

                     2. often - tells how often 
                         there - tells where

                     3. always - tells how often 
                         clearly - tells how

                     4. never - tells how often 

                     5. too - tells to what extent 
                         extremely - tells to what extent

                     6. now - tells when

                     7. much - tells to what extent 
                         later - tells when
 
 

Submitted by:  © Elaine Ernst Schneider  is a freelance writer and a teacher. She has been writing since high school and has published articles, songs, and children's work. Presently, Elaine is a curriculum author for Group Publishing and also writes the City Songs column for www.newcolonist.com ezine.

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