Examples of Adverbs

An adverb is a modifying part of speech. It describes verbs, other adverbs, adjectives, and phrases. They are used to describe how, where, when, how often and why something happens. Here are a few examples:

Verb- The cat climbed quickly up the tree. (quickly describes how the cat climbed)

Adverb- Mike worked very carefully on his paper. (very shows how carefully he worked) Adjective- She is nearly ready to go. (nearly tells to what extent she is ready)

Consider the following example:

She decided to write her paper. (no adverbs)
She quickly decided to write her paper. (her decision was quick)
She decided to write her paper quickly. (her writing was quick)

I wanted to go upstairs.
She has lived in the city since June. (in the city – prepositional phrase)

An adverb can be added to a verb to modify its meaning. Usually, an adverb tells you when, where, how, in what manner, or to what extent an action is performed.

Many adverbs end in ly — particularly those that are used to express how an action is performed.

Although many adverbs end ly, lots do not, e.g., fast, never, well, very, most, least, more, less, now, far, and there.

Examples:

• Anita placed the vase carefully on the shelf.
(The word carefully is an adverb. It shows how the vase was placed.)

• Tara walks gracefully.
(The word gracefully is an adverb. It modifies the verb to walk.)

• He runs fast.
(The word fast is an adverb. It modifies the verb to run.)

• You can set your watch by him. He always leaves at 5 o'clock.
(The word always is an adverb. It modifies the verb to leave.) 

• The dinner guests arrived early.
(early modifies to arrive)

• She sometimes helps us.
(sometimes modifies to help)

• I am the only person in the world I should like to know thoroughly. (Oscar Wilde)
(thoroughly modifies to know)