English Grammar 101: Adverbs

Adverbs are used to describe or modify a verb, adjective, clause, or another adverb. Basically, they modify everything except nouns and pronouns (which are modified by adjectives).

Example of an adverb modifying a verb:

He was running fast. (fast modifies running)

Example of an adverb modifying an adjective:

She took a very small piece of the cake. (very modifies small)

Example of an adverb modifying a sentence:

Strangely, the man left the room. (strangely modifies the whole sentence)

Usually adverbs answer to the questions “When?” (adverbs of time), “Where?” (adverbs of place), and “How?” (adverbs of manner).

Adverbs can also be used to connect clauses and sentences (in this case they are called conjunctive adverbs). For example:

It was dark. Therefore, we needed the torch. (therefore connects the two sentences)

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12 Responses to “English Grammar 101: Adverbs”

  1. temp- on February 26th, 2008 1:41 pm

    thanks!

    what about a pasive form lesson? im pretty bad with the have,had,has and all of that

  2. Daniel Scocco on February 26th, 2008 1:43 pm

    We will arrive there :) .

  3. Jay Wagers on February 26th, 2008 2:55 pm

    This is a good, simple article. But, the reason I’m responding is to thank you for jolting my memory for a post I wanted write concerning conjunctive adverbs and the problems I’ve noticed lately with their use. Thanks.

  4. Daniel Scocco on February 26th, 2008 3:12 pm

    My pleasure Jay.

  5. Gary Porter on February 26th, 2008 5:44 pm

    I was taught that conjunctive adverbs - therefore, however, hence, etc - connected two complete sentences that were a continuation of the same thought and separated them with a semi-colon. “It was dark; therefore, we needed the torch.” It almost seems the semi-colon has died.

  6. Maridelia Graner on March 17th, 2008 5:52 pm

    I´d like to know if I can use the connector THEREFORE instead of THUS in the sentence below and if not, why?

    ” Since the book Silent Spring made people see that whatever they did to nature they were also doing to themselves, their blind faith in science and industry was shaken. THUS, our modern era of environmental awareness was launched.

  7. steven Mankina on April 9th, 2008 1:23 am

    Hi Daniel,
    Thank you so much, for the all tips especially for this website. God bless you.

  8. Mickey on May 16th, 2008 8:45 am

    I’m tring to learning Grammar Engligh, now. Could you show me how to learn it better?

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