Adverbs are words that modify, set the tone for, or describe a verb, an adjective, another adverb or an entire sentence. They add more detail to the action or state expressed by the verbs, or to the quality or degree expressed by the adjectives or adverbs. Adverbs can describe how, when, where, why, or to what extent something happens or is done. In the sentence “He opened the door quietly”, the adverb quietly modifies the verb open, indicating how he opened the door.
An adverb can be placed in various positions in a sentence to convey different meanings or emphasis. However, It’s important to note that there are many variations and exceptions to adverb placement depending on the context and the intended meaning of the sentence. Study the examples below.
Examples
A careless driver nearly knocked me over this morning.
I absolutely love spending time with my family.
I usually go to bed around 11 PM.
I definitely need more training before my next competition.
He honestly admitted his mistake and apologised.
She confidently defended her thesis at the University of Cambridge last week.
She intentionally ignored his calls.
I quickly rushed to the hospital as soon as I heard that my friend was involved in a car accident.
Examples
She was very happy to hear the good news.
The food was quite delicious.
The weather was extremely hot.
I am really excited to start my new job.
The test was fairly difficult.
The coffee was slightly bitter.
The experiment went terribly wrong.
That was pretty cool.
The movie was somewhat boring.
The news was utterly shocking.
Examples
The traffic is moving very slowly today
I'm almost always on time for work.
He finished the project rather quickly.
I was able to fix the computer surprisingly easily.
Your hair is so nicely combed.
My phone is almost fully charged.
She did her exam exceptionally well.
Examples
Surprisingly, she finished the marathon in less than three hours.
Regrettably, I won't be able to join you for dinner tonight.
Interestingly, the study found no correlation between diet and cancer risk.
Obviously, the driver didn't see the stop sign.
Eventually, we reached our destination on time.
Honestly, I don't think she is ready for her exam.
She will pass her exam, undoubtedly.
My father won't be at my wedding day, unfortunately.
There are several words in English that can function both as prepositions and adverbs depending on how they are used in a sentence. Study the following examples:
Distinguishing between a preposition and an adverb can sometimes be tricky, but there are some clues to look for in a sentence that can help you identify which one is being used:
Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns or pronouns. They provide details about an object’s characteristics, such as size, shape, age, colour, or origin.
Adverbs, on the other hand, are words that describe or modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They provide information about how, when, where, why, or to what degree something happens.
Some adverbs may belong to multiple types depending on their usage and context. Study the examples below.
It’s not necessary to try to memorise all the adverbs below at once. Here are some tips to help you become familiar with them:
Click each box to see the definition of the adverb and an example sentence.
| Adverbs of time | Definition | Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| Now /naʊ/ |
At the present moment; immediately. | I don’t want to go out now. |
| Today /təˈdeɪ/ |
During the course of the present day; on the present day. | I am meeting with a client later today. |
| Tonight /təˈnaɪt/ |
During the course of this night; on the present night. | I am planning to watch a movie tonight. |
| Yesterday /ˈjɛstədeɪ/ |
The day before today; in the recent past. | I ran across my childhood friend yesterday. |
| Tomorrow /təˈmɒrəʊ/ |
The day after today. | I have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning. |
| Later /ˈleɪtə(r)/ |
At a subsequent time; after a while. | I will respond to your email later today. |
| Early /ˈɜːli/ |
Before the expected or planned time; near the start of a period of time. | I woke up early to go for a run. |
| Earlier /ˈɜːliə(r)/ |
At a time preceding the present time; previously. | We wouldn’t have this problem if we had acted earlier. |
| Late /leɪt/ |
After the expected or usual time; behind schedule. | He arrived late yesterday. |
| Soon /suːn/ |
In the near future; shortly. | I will be traveling to Europe soon. |
| Presently /ˈprɛzntli/ |
At the present time; currently. | She is presently working on a new project. |
| Currently /ˈkʌrəntli/ |
At the present time; right now. | I am currently reading a book. |
| Previously /ˈpriːviəsli/ |
At an earlier time; before the present time. | I had previously worked for a different company. |
| Subsequently /ˈsʌbsɪkwəntli/ |
After a particular event or time; later on. | Lucy lost her job unexpectedly and subsequently struggled to pay her bills for several months. |
| Afterwards /ˈæftəwərdz/ |
At a later time; following an event. | They were enemies before the election but became friends afterwards. |
| Then /ðen/ |
At that time; next in order of time. | First, we will finish this project, then we can move on to the next one. |
| Before /bɪˈfɔːr/ |
At an earlier time; prior to the present time. | I had to finish my homework before I could watch TV. |
| After /ˈɑːftə(r)/ |
Subsequent to a particular event or time. | We went out for lunch after the meeting. |
| During /ˈdjʊərɪŋ/ |
At the same time as; throughout the duration of an event or period. | I listen to music during my commute to work. |
| Meanwhile /ˈmiːnwaɪl/ |
In the meantime; while waiting for a certain event to occur, or during the occurrence of another event. | Lucy is saving money to buy a new car. Meanwhile, she is using public transportation to get around. |
| Since /sɪns/ |
From a particular time in the past until now. | I have been working here since 2010. |
| Already /ɔːlˈrɛdi/ |
Before the present time; previously. | I have already eaten breakfast this morning. |
| Yet /jɛt/ |
At any time up to the present moment; still. | I haven't finished my work yet. |
| Just /dʒʌst/ |
A moment ago; very recently. | I just finished my lunch. |
| Recently /ˈriːsntli/ |
At a recent time; not long ago. | I recently moved to a new city. |
| Lately /ˈleɪtli/ |
In the recent past; recently. | I have been studying a lot lately. |
| Long ago /lɒŋ əˈɡəʊ/ |
At a time far in the past; a considerable time ago. | I visited that city a long time ago. |
| Eventually /ɪˈventʃuəli/ |
At some time in the future; ultimately. | She will eventually break up with him if he doesn’t change his habits. |
| First /fɜːst/ |
Before anything else in order, time, or importance. | He came first in the race. |
| Still /stɪl/ |
Up to and including the present or the time mentioned; yet. | I am still waiting for my friend to arrive. |
| Next /nɛkst/ |
Coming immediately after the present time, order, or position. | Who wants to go next? |
| Finally /ˈfaɪnəli/ |
At the end of a period of time or a series of events. | Finally, we arrived at our destination after a long journey. |
| Adverbs of frequency | Definition | Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| Always /ˈɔːlweɪz/ |
At all times; on all occasions. | I always brush my teeth before going to bed. |
| Usually /ˈjuːʒʊəli/ |
In the way or manner most commonly occurring. | I usually have a cup of coffee in the morning. |
| Often /ˈɒfən/ |
Frequently; many times. | I often go to the gym after work. |
| Frequently /ˈfriːkwəntli/ |
At frequent intervals; often. | I frequently visit my grandmother in the nursing home. |
| Sometimes /ˈsʌmtaɪmz/ |
On certain occasions or in certain circumstances, but not always. | Sometimes I have trouble falling asleep at night. |
| Occasionally /əˈkeɪʒənəli/ |
At infrequent or irregular intervals; from time to time. | I occasionally drink alcohol. |
| Seldom /ˈsɛldəm/ |
Not often; rarely. | I seldom go to the cinema because I prefer reading. |
| Rarely /ˈrɛəli/ |
Not often; seldom. | I rarely eat fast food to stay healthy. |
| Hardly ever /ˌhɑːdli ˈɛvər/ |
Almost never; very rarely. | I hardly ever go out on weekdays because I have to work. |
| Almost never /ˈɔːlməʊst ˈnɛvər/ |
Virtually never; almost not at all. | I almost never drink alcohol. |
| Never /ˈnɛvər/ |
Not at any moment or not on any occasion. | I never skip breakfast because it’s the most important meal of the day. |
| Ever /ˈɛvər/ |
At any time. | Have you ever been to Paris? |
| Daily /ˈdeɪli/ |
Happening every day. | I take a walk in the park daily. |
| Weekly /ˈwiːkli/ |
Happening every week. | I plan to have our first weekly meeting this Thursday. |
| Monthly /ˈmʌnθli/ |
Happening every month. | I pay my rent monthly. |
| Annually /ˈænjuəli/ |
Happening every year. | The company holds an annual party every December. |
| Biannually /baɪˈænjuəli/ |
Happening twice a year. | The newsletter is published biannually in June and December. |
| Hourly /ˈaʊərli/ |
Happening every hour. | The train departs hourly from the station. |
| Regularly /ˈrɛɡjʊlərli/ |
Happening at fixed intervals or with consistency. | I exercise regularly to stay healthy. |
| Consistently /kənˈsɪstəntli/ |
Happening in the same way over time; without variation. | He consistently performs well at his job. |
| Intermittently /ˌɪntərˈmɪtəntli/ |
Happening from time to time; not regularly. | The wifi signal is intermittently weak in this area. |
| Sporadically /spɔːˈrædɪkli/ |
Happening occasionally or in isolated instances. | I only see my old friends sporadically since they live far away. |
| Periodically /ˌpɪəriˈɒdɪkli/ |
Happening at regular intervals. | The car needs to be serviced periodically to maintain its performance. |
| Infrequently /ɪnˈfriːkwəntli/ |
Happening rarely or not very often. | Snow falls infrequently in the southern part of the country. |
| Constantly /ˈkɒnstəntli/ |
Happening without interruption or cessation. | She is constantly checking her phone for messages. |
| Continuously /kənˈtɪnjʊəsli/ |
Happening without interruption or pause. | The rain has been falling continuously for two hours. |
| Habitually /həˈbɪtjʊəli/ |
Doing something by habit or on a regular basis. | He habitually goes for a run every morning before work. |
| Routinely /ruːˈtiːnli/ |
Doing something as part of a regular procedure or habit. | She routinely checks her email first thing in the morning. |
| Once in a while /wʌns ɪn ə waɪl/ |
Happening occasionally; not very often. | I only go to the cinema once in a while. |
| From time to time /frɒm taɪm tə taɪm/ |
Happening occasionally; at intervals. | He visits his hometown from time to time. |
| Adverbs of manner | Definition | Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| abruptly /əˈbrʌptli/ |
In a sudden and unexpected way. | He left the room abruptly without saying goodbye. |
| carefully /ˈkɛr.fʊ.li/ |
With great attention, care, or concern. | She handled the fragile vase carefully to avoid breaking it. |
| cheerfully /ˈtʃɪə.fəl.i/ |
In a cheerful or happy manner. | The children played cheerfully in the park on a sunny day. |
| clearly /ˈklɪə.li/ |
In a clear or distinct manner. | She spoke clearly so that everyone could understand her message. |
| closely /ˈkloʊs.li/ |
In a way that is physically close or with close attention. | The police are watching the suspect closely. |
| deliberately /dɪˈlɪb.ɚ.ət.li/ |
In a careful and intentional way. | He was killed deliberately. |
| eagerly /ˈiː.gɚ.li/ |
In a way that shows enthusiasm or eagerness. | The children eagerly waited for their presents on Christmas morning. |
| elegantly /ˈɛl.ə.ɡənt.li/ |
In a stylish manner; gracefully. | She walked elegantly in her long gown at the ball. |
| enthusiastically /ɪnˌθuː.ziˈæs.tɪ.kli/ |
In a way that shows enthusiasm or excitement. | The crowd cheered enthusiastically as the band took the stage. |
| fiercely /ˈfɪrs.li/ |
In a way that is aggressive or intense. | The lion roared fiercely to protect its territory from intruders. |
| firmly /ˈfɜːrm.li/ |
In a way that is strong, resolute, or unwavering. | She stood firmly by her decision despite the criticism from others. |
| gently /ˈdʒɛntli/ |
In a gentle and careful way. | She stroked the cat gently to avoid startling it. |
| gracefully /ˈɡreɪsfəli/ |
In a smooth, controlled, and attractive way. | The ballerina moved gracefully across the stage. |
| happily /ˈhæp.əl.i/ |
In a happy or joyful manner. | She smiled happily when she saw her friend. |
| hastily /ˈheɪ.stəl.i/ |
In a hurried or rushed manner. | He ate his breakfast hastily before rushing out the door. |
| honestly /ˈɒn.ɪst.li/ |
In a truthful and sincere manner. | She spoke honestly about her feelings. |
| hungrily /ˈhʌŋ.ɡrɪ.li/ |
In a way that shows a strong desire or need for food. | He looked hungrily at the pizza on the table. |
| intensely /ɪnˈtɛns.li/ |
With strong feelings or emotions. | She stared intensely at the painting, trying to understand its meaning. |
| joyfully /ˈdʒɔɪ.fəl.i/ |
In a joyful or happy manner. | The children ran joyfully through the park. |
| kindly /ˈkaɪnd.li/ |
In a kind or friendly manner. | She spoke kindly to the stranger and offered to help. |
| loudly /ˈlaʊd.li/ |
In a loud or noisy manner. | He shouted loudly to get his friend’s attention. |
| lovingly /ˈlʌv.ɪŋ.li/ |
In a loving or affectionate manner. | She hugged her daughter lovingly when she arrived home from school. |
| madly /ˈmæd.li/ |
In a crazy or wild manner. | He drove his car madly down the street, swerving and honking the horn. |
| mechanically /məˈkæn.ɪ.kəl.i/ |
In a mechanical or automatic manner, without emotion or attention. | After 20 years, we mechanically say 'I love you' to one another without feeling the emotion behind the words. |
| nervously /ˈnɜː.vəs.li/ |
In a nervous or anxious manner. | She tapped her foot nervously while waiting for the job interview to start. |
| patiently /ˈpeɪ.ʃənt.li/ |
In a patient or tolerant manner, without getting angry or upset. | She waited patiently for her turn in line. |
| politely /pəˈlaɪtli/ |
In a courteous and respectful way. | He politely declined the offer and thanked them for their consideration. |
| powerfully /ˈpaʊərfli/ |
In a forceful and effective way. | The athlete swung the bat powerfully and hit the ball out of the park. |
| Quickly /ˈkwɪkli/ |
In a fast or speedy way. | She quickly finished her homework and went outside to play. |
| Quietly /ˈkwaɪətli/ |
In a calm and soft way that makes little or no noise. | She quietly closed the door to avoid waking up the baby. |
| Rapidly /ˈræpɪdli/ |
In a fast and quick way, often beyond control or comprehension. | The car rapidly accelerated down the road, leaving a trail of dust behind. |
| Regularly /ˈrɛɡjʊlərli/ |
In a consistent and routine manner. | She regularly exercised every morning to maintain her health. |
| Reluctantly /rɪˈlʌktəntli/ |
In a hesitant or unwilling way. | He reluctantly agreed to go to the party, even though he didn’t feel like it. |
| Roughly /ˈrʌfli/ |
In a harsh or forceful manner, often without care or gentleness; violently. Approximately. | She roughly sketched the design on the paper. |
| Rudely /ˈruːdli/ |
In an impolite and disrespectful way. | He rudely interrupted the speaker and started talking about his own ideas. |
| Safely /ˈseɪfli/ |
In a way that does not cause harm or danger. | He safely stored the documents in a fireproof box. |
| Secretly /ˈsiːkrətli/ |
In a way that is done or kept hidden from others. | The couple secretly planned a surprise party for their friend’s birthday. |
| Seriously /ˈsɪriəsli/ |
1. In a sincere and solemn manner. 2. Severely. | She was seriously injured in the accident and had to stay in the hospital for several weeks. |
| Sharply /ˈʃɑːpli/ |
In a sudden and quick manner, often with a cutting or critical tone. | The boss sharply criticized the employee for not meeting the deadline. |
| Silently /ˈsaɪləntli/ |
In a way that is quiet and without sound. | The cat silently stalked its prey, waiting for the right moment to pounce. |
| Slowly /ˈsloʊ.li/ |
In a slow or leisurely manner. | She walked slowly through the park. |
| Smoothly /ˈsmuð.li/ |
Without difficulty. | The car runs smoothly after the mechanic fixed the engine. |
| Softly /ˈsɑft.li/ |
In a gentle or quiet manner. | She spoke softly to avoid waking up the baby. |
| Solemnly /ˈsɑl.əm.li/ |
In a serious or formal manner. | The judge solemnly declared the court in session. |
| Steadily /ˈstɛd.əl.i/ |
Continuing or developing gradually or without interruption, at an unvarying pace. | Food prices have again risen steadily. |
| Strongly /ˈstrɔŋ.li/ |
In a forceful or powerful manner. | She expressed her opinion strongly during the meeting. |
| Sweetly /ˈswit.li/ |
In a sweet or kind manner. | She smiled sweetly at her little sister. |
| Tensely /ˈtɛns.li/ |
In a nervous or anxious manner. | He waited tensely for the interview results. |
| Tightly /ˈtaɪt.li/ |
In a firm or secure manner. | She held onto the railing tightly to avoid slipping on the icy steps. |
| Violently /ˈvaɪ.ə.lənt.li/ |
In a forceful or aggressive manner. | The storm raged violently throughout the night. |
| Warmly /ˈwɔr.mli/ |
In a friendly or affectionate manner. | She greeted her old friend warmly when they met. |
| Wearily /ˈwɛr.ə.li/ |
In a tired or exhausted manner. | He walked wearily into the house after a long day at work. |
| Willingly /ˈwɪl.ɪŋ.li/ |
In a willing or enthusiastic manner. | She volunteered to help out willingly when asked. |
| Zealously /ˈzɛl.əs.li/ |
In an enthusiastic or passionate manner. | He zealously read every book he could find on the subject. |
Most of the following adverbs can also function as prepositions.
| Adverbs of place | Definition | Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| above /əˈbʌv/ |
At a higher place or position. | The evening was beautiful. The stars shone brightly above. |
| abroad /əˈbrɔːd/ |
In or to a foreign country. | She went abroad to study for a year. |
| across /əˈkrɒs/ |
From one side to the other side of something. | The teacher walked across to greet the new student standing by the classroom door. |
| ahead /əˈhed/ |
In front of or further forward than something else. | He took a step ahead to get a better view of the stage. |
| along /əˈlɒŋ/ |
Running or extending in a specified direction, often beside something else. | The river flowed peacefully along, winding its way through the valley. |
| around /əˈraʊnd/ |
In a circle or in a surrounding area. | She looked around but couldn’t see anybody. |
| away /əˈweɪ/ |
At a distance from a particular place or person. | “Don’t look away,” he instructed. |
| back /bæk/ |
In or to a previous place or condition. | “Step back, there are land mines ahead of us,” said the officer. |
| behind /bɪˈhaɪnd/ |
At or to the far side of something, or in a position further back than something or someone else. | Don’t look behind, somebody is following us. |
| below /bɪˈləʊ/ |
At a lower place or position. | I heard a loud noise coming from the apartment below. |
| beneath /bɪˈniːθ/ |
In a lower position than something; under something. | She was laughing and making jokes with everyone at the party, but I could see that sadness was hidden beneath. |
| between /bɪˈtwiːn/ |
In or along the space separating two objects or regions. | I’ve made two appointments for today; I’ll try to grab lunch in between. |
| beyond /bɪˈjɒnd/ |
At or to the further side of something. | We could see the orchard and the wild meadows beyond. |
| close /kləʊs/ |
At a short distance from something or someone. | Be careful! It’s a venemous snake. If you get too close, it might bite you. |
| downstairs /daʊnˈsteəz/ |
On or to a lower floor of a building. | She went downstairs to get some water. |
| everywhere /ˈevriˌweə/ |
In or to all places. | There were flowers everywhere in the garden. |
| far /fɑː/ |
At, to, or by a great distance in space or time. | How far is it from here to the nearest beach? |
| here /hɪər/ |
In or at this place; where the speaker or writer is. | I’ve worked here for a long time. |
| in /ɪn/ |
At or to a point inside a space or container. | Could you call the children in for dinner, please? |
| inside /ˌɪnˈsaɪd/ |
Within the bounds or limits of something; in the interior. | Please come inside for dinner. |
| near /nɪə/ |
At or to a short distance from something or someone. | We were standing near enough to see the expression on his face. |
| nearby /ˈnɪəbaɪ/ |
At or to a short distance away; close at hand. | There is a coffee shop nearby. |
| off /ɒf/ |
At a distance from a particular place or point. | The thief ran off at high speed when they saw the police. |
| on /ɒn/ |
In a position touching and supported by a surface. | The bus driver started the engine as he was getting on. |
| out /aʊt/ |
Away from the inside or the center of something. | Today is not a good time to go out. |
| outside /ˌaʊtˈsaɪd/ |
On or to the exterior of something or someone; away from the interior. | The children are playing outside. |
| over /ˈəʊvə/ |
Above. | A rainbow appeared over after the rain stopped. |
| past /pæst/ |
Beyond and done with; in the past. | The train left and we watched it go past. |
| round /raʊnd/ |
In a circular direction or position; around. | I turned round and saw her crying. |
| sideways /ˈsaɪdweɪz/ |
To or from a side; sideways. | He fell sideways off the chair. |
| there /ðɛː/ |
In, at, or to that place or position. | Put the books there. |
| throughout /θruːˈaʊt/ |
In every part of; during the whole of. | The child painted the wall throughout. |
| underground /ˈʌndəɡraʊnd/ |
Beneath the surface of the ground. | The underground cave is over 1000 years old. |
| up /ʌp/ |
In a higher position or place. | Let's go up. |
| upstairs /ˌʌpˈsteərz/ |
On or to a higher floor of a building. | The bedrooms are located upstairs. |
| within /wɪðˈɪn/ |
Inside or enclosed by something. | I could hear a voice coming from within. |
