ADVERB - Chart

Adverbs of manner
Adverbs of manner tell us how something happens. They are usually placed either after the main verb or after the
object.

Examples

• He swims well.
• He ran quickly.
• She spoke softly.
• James coughed loudly to attract her attention.
• He plays the flute beautifully. (after the direct object)
• He ate the chocolate cake greedily. (after the direct object)

If there is a preposition before the verb's object, you can place the adverb of manner either before the preposition or
after the object.
Examples

• The child ran happily towards his mother.

• The child ran towards his mother happily.

Adverbs of manner should always come immediately after verbs which have no object (intransitive verbs).
Examples

• The town grew quickly after 1997.

• He waited patiently for his mother to arrive.

These common adverbs of manner are almost always placed directly after the verb: well, badly, hard, & fast
Examples

• He swam well despite being tired.

• The rain fell hard during the storm.
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Adverbs of degree
Adverbs of degree tell us about the intensity of something.

Adverb of degree Modifying Example

extremely adjective The water was extremely cold.

quite adjective The movie is quite interesting.

just verb He was just leaving.

almost verb She has almost finished.

very adverb She is running very fast.

too adverb You are walking too slowly.

enough adverb You are running fast enough.

Usage of "enough"
Enough can be used as both an adverb and as a determiner.

Enough as an adverb
Enough as an adverb meaning 'to the necessary degree' goes after the adjective or adverb that it is modifying, and not
before it as other adverbs do. It can be used both in positive and negative sentences.

Examples

• Is your coffee hot enough?

• This box isn't big enough.
• He didn't work hard enough.
• I got here early enough.
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Enough is often followed by "to" + the infinitive.

Examples

• He didn't work hard enough to pass the exam.

• Is your coffee hot enough to drink?
• She's not old enough to get married.
• I got here early enough to sign up.

Enough can also be followed by "for someone" or "for something".

Examples

• The dress was big enough for me.

• She's not experienced enough for this job.
• Is the coffee hot enough for you?
• He didn't work hard enough for a promotion.

Enough as a determiner
Enough as a determiner meaning 'as much/many as necessary' goes before the noun it modifies. It is used with
countable nouns in the plural and with uncountable nouns.

Examples

• We have enough bread.

• You have enough children.
• They don't have enough food.
• I don't have enough apples.

Usage of "too"
"Too" is always an adverb, but it has two distinct meanings, each with its own usage patterns.

Too meaning "also"

Too as an adverb meaning "also" goes at the end of the phrase it modifies.

Examples

• I would like to go swimming too, if you will let me come.

• Can I go to the zoo too?
• Is this gift for me too?
• I'm not going to clean your room too!

Too meaning "excessively"

Too as an adverb meaning "excessively" goes before the adjective or adverb it modifies. It can be used in both
affirmative and negative sentences.

Examples

• This coffee is too hot.

• He works too hard.
• Isn't she too young?
• I am not too short!
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Too is often followed by "to" + the infinitive.

Examples

• The coffee was too hot to drink.

• You're too young to have grandchildren!
• I am not too tired to go out tonight.
• Don't you work too hard to have any free time?

Too can also be followed by "for someone" or "for something".

Examples

• The coffee was too hot for me.

• The dress was too small for her.
• He's not too old for this job.
• Sally's not too slow for our team.

Usage of "very"
Very goes before an adverb or adjective to make it stronger.

Examples

• The girl was very beautiful.

• The house is very expensive.
• He worked very quickly.
• She runs very fast.
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Adverbs of place
Adverbs of place tell us where something happens.

Examples

• John looked around but he couldn't see the monkey.

• I searched everywhere I could think of.
• I'm going back to school.
• Come in!
• They built a house nearby.
• She took the child outside.

Here and there

Here and there are common adverbs of place. They give a location relative to the speaker. With verbs of
movement, here means "towards or with the speaker" and there means "away from, or not with the speaker".

Sentence Meaning

Come here! Come towards me.

The table is in here. Come with me; we will go see it together.

Put it there. Put it in a place away from me.

The table is in there. Go in; you can see it by yourself.

Here and there are combined with prepositions to make many common adverbial phrases.

Examples

• What are you doing up there?

• Come over here and look at what I found!
• The baby is hiding down there under the table.
• I wonder how my driver's license got stuck under here.

Here and there are placed at the beginning of the sentence in exclamations or when emphasis is needed. They are
followed by the verb if the subject is a noun or by a pronoun if the subject is a pronoun.
Examples

• Here comes the bus!

• There goes the bell!
• There it is!
• Here they are!
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Adverbs of place that are also prepositions

Many adverbs of place can also be used as prepositions. When used as prepositions, they must be followed by a noun.

Word Used as an adverb of place, modifying a verb Used as a preposition

around The marble rolled around in my hand. I am wearing a necklace around my neck.

behind Hurry! You are getting behind. Let's hide behind the shed.

down Mary fell down. John made his way carefully down the cliff.

in We decided to drop in on Jake. I dropped the letter in the mailbox.

off Let's get off at the next stop. The wind blew the flowers off the tree.

on We rode on for several more hours. Please put the books on the table.

over He turned over and went back to sleep. I think I will hang the picture over my bed.

Adverbs of place ending in -where

Adverbs of place that end in -where express the idea of location without specifying a specific location or direction.

Examples

• I would like to go somewhere warm for my vacation.

• Is there anywhere I can find a perfect plate of spaghetti around here?
• I have nowhere to go.
• I keep running in to Sally everywhere!

Adverbs of place ending in -wards

Adverbs of place that end in -wards express movement in a particular direction.

Examples

• Cats don't usually walk backwards.

• The ship sailed westwards.
• The balloon drifted upwards.
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• We will keep walking homewards until we arrive.

Be careful: Towards is a preposition, not an adverb, so it is always followed by a noun or a pronoun.

Examples

• He walked towards the car.

• She ran towards me.

Adverbs of place expressing both movement & location

Some adverbs of place express both movement & location at the same time.

Examples

• The child went indoors.

• He lived and worked abroad.
• Water always flows downhill.
• The wind pushed us sideways.
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Adverbs of time
Adverbs of time tell us when an action happened, but also for how long, and how often.

Adverbs that tell us when

Adverbs that tell us when are usually placed at the end of the sentence.

Examples

• Goldilocks went to the Bears' house yesterday.

• I'm going to tidy my room tomorrow.
• I saw Sally today.
• I will call you later.
• I have to leave now.
• I saw that movie last year.

Putting an adverb that tells us when at the end of a sentence is a neutral position, but these adverbs can be put in other
positions to give a different emphasis. All adverbs that tell us when can be placed at the beginning of the sentence to
emphasize the time element. Some can also be put before the main verb in formal writing, while others cannot occupy
that position.
Examples

• Later Goldilocks ate some porridge. (the time is important)

• Goldilocks later ate some porridge. (this is more formal, like a policeman's report)
• Goldilocks ate some porridge later. (this is neutral, no particular emphasis)

Adverbs that tell us for how long

Adverbs that tell us for how long are also usually placed at the end of the sentence.

Examples

• She stayed in the Bears' house all day.

• My mother lived in France for a year.
• I have been going to this school since 1996.

In these adverbial phrases that tell us for how long, for is always followed by an expression of duration, while since is
always followed by an expression of a point in time.
Examples

• I stayed in Switzerland for three days.

• I am going on vacation for a week.
• I have been riding horses for several years.
• The French monarchy lasted for several centuries.
• I have not seen you since Monday.
• Jim has been working here since 1997.
• There has not been a more exciting discovery since last century.
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Adverbs that tell us how often

Adverbs that tell us how often express the frequency of an action. They are usually placed before the main verb but
after auxiliary verbs (such as be, have, may, & must). The only exception is when the main verb is "to be", in which
case the adverb goes after the main verb.

Examples

• I often eat vegetarian food.

• He never drinks milk.
• You must always fasten your seat belt.
• I am seldom late.
• He rarely lies.

Many adverbs that express frequency can also be placed at either the beginning or the end of the sentence, although
some cannot be. When they are placed in these alternate positions, the meaning of the adverb is much stronger.

Adverb that can be used in two Stronger position Weaker position

positions

frequently I visit France frequently. I frequently visit France.

generally Generally, I don't like spicy I generally don't like spicy

foods. foods.

normally I listen to classical I normally listen to classical

music normally. music.

occasionally I go to the opera occasionally. I occasionally go to the opera.

often Often, I jog in the morning. I often jog in the morning.

regularly I come to this I regularly come to this

museum regularly. museum.

sometimes I get up very early sometimes. I sometimes get up very early.

usually I enjoy being with I usually enjoy being with

children usually. children.
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Some other adverbs that tell us how often express the exact number of times an action happens or happened. These
adverbs are usually placed at the end of the sentence.

Examples

• This magazine is published monthly.

• He visits his mother once a week.
• I work five days a week.
• I saw the movie seven times.

Using "yet"
Yet is used in questions and in negative sentences to indicate that something that has not happened or may not have
happened but is expected to happen. It is placed at the end of the sentence or after not.

Examples

• Have you finished your work yet? (= simple request for information)
• No, not yet. (= simple negative answer)
• They haven't met him yet. (= simple negative statement)
• Haven't you finished yet? (= expressing surprise)

Using "still"
Still expresses continuity. In positive sentences it is placed before the main verb and after auxiliary verbs such as be,
have, might, will. If the main verb is to be, then place still after it rather than before. In questions, still goes before the
main verb.

Examples

• She is still waiting for you.

• Jim might still want some.
• Do you still work for the BBC?
• Are you still here?
• I am still hungry.
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Adverbs of certainty
Adverbs of certainty express how certain we feel about an action or event. Adverbs of certainty go before the main
verb unless the main verb is 'to be', in which case the adverb of certainty goes after.

Test your knowledge

Examples

• He definitely left the house this morning.

• He surely won't forget.
• He is probably in the park.
• He is certainly a smart man.

If there is an auxiliary verb, the adverb of certainty goes between the auxiliary and the main verb.
Examples

• He has certainly forgotten the meeting.

• He will probably remember tomorrow.
• He is definitely running late.

Sometimes these adverbs of certainty can be placed at the beginning of the sentence.
Examples

• Undoubtedly, Winston Churchill was a great politician.

• Certainly, I will be there.
• Probably, he has forgotten the meeting.

When the adverb of certainty surely is placed at the beginning of the sentence, it means the speaker thinks something
is true, but is looking for confirmation.
Examples

• Surely you've got a bicycle.

• Surely you're not going to wear that to the party.

Viewpoint and commenting Adverbs

Viewpoint or At the start of a Before the main verb At the end of a sentence
commenting sentence
adverb
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clearly Clearly, he doesn't He clearly doesn't know what he is He doesn't know what he is
know what he is doing. doing, clearly.
doing.

obviously Obviously, you are You are obviously acting silly You are acting
acting silly. silly, obviously.

personally Personally, I'd rather I'd personally rather go by train. I'd rather go by
go by train. train, personally.

presumably Presumably, he didn't He presumably didn't have time to go He didn't have time to go to
have time to go to the to the post office. the post office, presumably.
post office.

seriously Seriously, I can't give I seriously can't give this speech. I can't give this
this speech. speech, seriously.

surely Surely you tried to get You surely tried to get here on time. You tried to get here on
here on time. time, surely.

technically Technically, we We technically cannot fly to Mars We cannot fly to Mars and
cannot fly to Mars and and back. back, technically.
back.

undoubtedly Undoubtedly, he has He undoubtedly has a good reason He has a good reason not to
a good reason not to not to come. come, undoubtedly.
come.

bravely Bravely, I kept on I bravely kept on walking. *I kept on walking, bravely.

walking.

carelessly Carelessly, she threw She carelessly threw her book into the *She threw her book into the
her book into the pond. pond, carelessly.
pond.
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certainly Certainly you should You certainly should be there. / You You should be
be there. should certainly be there. there, certainly.

cleverly Cleverly, Sally hid the Sally cleverly hid the jellybeans. *Sally hid the
jellybeans. jellybeans, cleverly.

definitely *Definitely, you are You defintely are smart. / You *You are smart, definitely.
smart. are definitely smart.

foolishly Foolishly, they cried They foolishly cried out. They cried out, foolishly.
out.

generously Generously, he He generously donated the money. *He donated the

donated the money. money, generously.

stupidly Stupidly, they played They stupidly played in the street. *They played in the
in the street. street, stupidly.

obviously Obviously, we are We are obviously lost. / We are lost, obviously.

lost. *We obviously are lost.

kindly Kindly, she fed the cat She kindly fed the cat first. She fed the cat first, kindly.
first.

luckily Luckily, you got here You luckily got here on time. You got here on
on time. time, luckily.

fortunately Fortunately, we We fortunately found the boat. We found the

found the boat. boat, fortunately.

naturally Naturally, you cannot You naturally cannot be in the circus You cannot be in the circus
be in the circus now. now. now, naturally.

wisely Wisely, she stayed She wisely stayed home to take a nap. She stayed home to take a
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home to take a nap. nap, wisely.

confidentially Confidentially, I I never gave him the

never gave him the envelope, confidentially.
envelope.

theoretically Theoretically, we We could theoretically send We could send astronauts to

could send astronauts astronauts to Mars. / Mars, theoretically.
to Mars. We theoretically could send
astronauts to Mars.

truthfully Truthfully, I don't I truthfully don't like chocolate I don't like chocolate
like chocolate much. much. much, truthfully.

disappointingly Disappointingly, she She disappointingly got fourth place. She got fourth
got fourth place. place, disappointingly.

thoughtfully Thoughtfully, I I thoughtfully turned away. I turned away, thoughtfully.

turned away.

simply *Simply, I don't want I simply don't want to come.

to come.

unbelievably Unbelievably, she She unbelievably showed up late She showed up late
showed up late again. again. again, unbelievably.

unfortunately Unfortunately, there There is unfortunately no more There is no more

is no more room. room. / There unfortunately is no room, unfortunately.
more room.