Lesson
12
Adverbs
ADVERBS 79
If some reporter were to describe the weather for us by saying,
“It snowed,”
we would not be entirely satisfied. We would want to know the answers to certain ques-
tions:
1. How, or to what extent, did it snow?
2. When did it snow?
3. Where did it snow?
Words that tell how, when, or where are adverbs.
If our reporter had answered the above questions by using some adverbs—for exam-
ple, if he or she had said,
“It snowed heavily yesterday upstate,”
we would have had a better idea of the weather.
What Is an Adverb?
An adverb is a word that modifies either
a verb, or
an adjective, or
another adverb.
We now look at these uses of an adverb one at a time.
I. An adverb is a word that modifies a verb.
The Pirates played brilliantly. (Brilliantly is an adverb because it modifies
the verb played.)
V. ADV.
The team performed well. (Well is an adverb because it modifies the
verb performed.)
V. ADV.
The Dodgers did not play. (Not is an adverb because it modifies the
verb did play.)

the V. .
3. The car stopped suddenly. The ADV. modifies
the V. .
4. We are leaving soon. The ADV. modifies
the V. .
5. The locker door sometimes sticks. The ADV. modifies
the V. .
6. Look in the closet. Is your coat The ADV. modifies
there?
the V. .
will be refunded
immediately
80 PARTS OF SPEECH
7. Justine has not completed her test. The ADV. modifies
the V. .
8. Remove the cover carefully. The ADV. modifies
the V. .
9. Did the exchange students stay The ADV. modifies
long?
the V. .
10. Rarely does Jay fall off his The ADV. modifies
skateboard.
the V. .
II. An adverb is a word that modifies an adjective.
A very odd thing happened. (Very is an adverb because it modi-
fies the adjective odd.)
ADV. ADJ.
The cobra is a highly poisonous snake. (Highly is an adverb because it modi-
fies the adjective poisonous.)
ADV. ADJ.

ADV. ADV.
EXERCISE 3.
Find the two adverbs in the sentence, and explain why each is an ad-
verb.
Sample:
Our plants are doing (a) is an adverb because
extremely well.
it modifies the .
(b) is an adverb because
it modifies the .
1. You reported the details quite (a) is an adverb because
accurately.
it modifies the .
(b) is an adverb because
it modifies the .
2. Alex very cleverly kept out (a) is an adverb because
of the argument.
it modifies the .
(b) is an adverb because
it modifies the .
3. Lightning flashed and rain fell (a) is an adverb because
shortly afterward.
it modifies the .
(b) is an adverb because
it modifies the .
4. He swings at the ball too soon. (a) is an adverb because
it modifies the .
(b) is an adverb because
it modifies the .
v. are doing

adv. wiselyVery
v. actedWisely
ADVERBS 83
Forming Adverbs from Adjectives
I. Most adverbs are formed by adding ly to an adjective.
ADJECTIVE ADVERB
skillful + ly = skillfully
brave + ly = bravely
In some cases, however, as in II and III that follow, we must make a change in the
adjective before adding ly.
II. If an adjective ends in ic, add al before adding ly.
basic + al + ly = basically
terrific + al + ly = terrifically
III. If an adjective ends in y, change the y to i and then add ly.
easy ii
k
[easi] + ly = easily
noisy ii
k
[noisi] + ly = noisily
IV. If an adjective ends in le, do not add ly; simply change le to ly.
able ii
k
ably
gentle ii
k
gently
EXERCISE 1.
Change the following adjectives to adverbs.
Samples: