An adverb is a word that can modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Lots of adverbs end "-ly." For example:
She swims quickly.
(Here, the adverb "quickly" modifies the verb "swims.")
She is an extremely quick swimmer.
(The adverb "extremely" modifies the adjective "quick.")
She swims extremelyquickly.
(The adverb "extremely" modifies the adverb "quickly.")
What do adverbs do?
When an adverb modifies a verb, it tells us how, when, where, why, how often, or how much the action is performed. Here are some examples of adverbs modifying verbs:
How: He ran quickly.
When: He ran yesterday.
Where: He ran here.
How often: He ran daily.
How much: He ran fastest.
Not all adverbs are one word.
In the examples above, every adverb is a single word, but an adverb can be made up of more than one word. For example:
How: He ran at 10 miles per hour.
(The bold text is an adverbial phrase.)
When: He ran when the police arrived.
(The bold text is an adverbial clause.)
Where: He ran to the shops.
(adverbial phrase)
Why: He ran to fetch some water.
(This is an adverbial phrase. Look at the list above. There are no single-word adverbs that tell us why.)
When beginners first learn about adverbs, they are often told that adverbs end "-ly" and modify verbs. That is, of course, true, but adverbs do far more than that description suggests. Here are three key points about adverbs:
(Point 1) Adverbs modify verbs, but they can also modify adjectives and other adverbs. For example:
She sang an insanely sad song extremelywell.
(In this example, "insanely" modifies the adjective "sad," "extremely" modifies the adverb "well," and "well" modifies the verb "sang.")
(Point 2) Although many adverbs end "-ly," lots do not. For example:
(Point 3) In real-life sentences, lots of adverbs are phrases or clauses (i.e., not single words). For example:
Single-Word Adverb
Adverbial Phrase
Adverbial Clause
Sell it quickly.
Sell it as soon as possible.
Sell it before the market closes.
A Video Summary
Here is a short video summarizing this lesson on adverbs.
Adverbs Modifying Verbs
An adverb that modifies a verb usually tells you how, when, where, why, how often, or how much the action is performed. (NB: The ones that end "ly" are usually the ones that tell us how the action is performed, e.g., "quickly," "slowly," "carefully," "quietly.")
Here are some examples of adverbs modifying verbs:
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.
(Here, "early" modifies "to arrive.")
She sometimes helps us.
(Here, "sometimes" modifies "to help.")
Will you come quietly, or do I have to use earplugs? (Comedian Spike Milligan)
(Here, "quietly" modifies "to come.")
I am the only person in the world I should like to know thoroughly. (Playwright Oscar Wilde)
(Here, "thoroughly" modifies "to know.")
Adverbs Modifying Adjectives
If you examine the word "adverb," you could be forgiven for thinking adverbs only modify verbs (i.e., "add" to "verbs"), but adverbs can also modify adjectives and other adverbs. Here are some examples of adverbs modifying adjectives:
The horridly grotesque gargoyle was undamaged by the debris.
(The adverb "horridly" modifies the adjective "grotesque.")
Peter had an extremely ashen face.
(The adverb "extremely" modifies the adjective "ashen.")
Badly trained dogs that fail the test will become pets.
(The adverb "badly" modifies the adjective "trained.") (Note: The adjective "trained" is an adjective formed from the verb "to train." It is called a participle.)
She wore a beautifully designed dress.
(The adverb "beautifully" modifies the adjective "designed.")
Adverbs Modifying Adverbs
Here are some examples of adverbs modifying adverbs:
Peter Jackson finished his assignment remarkablyquickly.
(Here, the adverb "quickly" modifies the verb "to finish." The adverb "remarkably" modifies the adverb "quickly.")
We're showing kids a world that is veryscantily populated with women and female characters. They should see female characters taking up half the planet, which we do. (Actress Geena Davis)
(In this example, the adverb "scantily" modifies the adjective "populated." The adverb "very" modifies the adverb "scantily.")
More about Adverbs
Types of Adverb
When an adverb modifies a verb, it can often be categorized as one of the following:
Type
Examples
Adverb of Manner (how)
An adverb of manner tells us how an action occurs.
The lion crawled stealthily.
Will you come quietly, or do I have to use earplugs? (Comedian Spike Milligan)
(NB: Lots of adverbs of manner end "-ly.")
Adverb of Time (when and how often)
An adverb of time tells us when an action occurs or how often.
I tell him daily.
What you plant now, you will harvest later. (Author Og Mandino)
(NB: Adverbs of time that tell us how often something occurs (e.g., "always," "often," "sometimes") are also known as "adverbs of frequency.")
Adverb of Place (where)
An adverb of place tells us where an action occurs.
I did not put it there.
Poetry surrounds us everywhere, but putting it on paper is, alas, not so easy as looking at it. (Artist Vincent Van Gogh)
Adverb of Degree (aka Adverb of Comparison) (how much)
An adverb of degree tells us to what degree an action occurs.
He works smarter.
Doubters make me work harder to prove them wrong. (Businessman Derek Jeter)
These are the main four categories. We'll discuss the others shortly. Don't forget that adverbs can also modify adjectives and other adverbs.
To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect. (Playwright Oscar Wilde)
(The adverb "thoroughly" modifies the adjective "modern.")
If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing veryslowly. (Burlesque entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee)
(The adverb "very" modifies the adverb "slowly.")
Even More about Adverbs
Adverbial Phrases and Clauses
In all the examples above, the adverbs have been single words, but multi-word adverbs are common too. Adverbs commonly come as phrases (i.e., two or more words) or clauses (i.e., two or more words containing a subject and a verb). Below are some examples of multi-word adverbs. This list also includes adverbs of condition, adverbs of concession, and adverbs of reason.
Type
Examples
Adverb of Manner
An adverb of manner often starts with a preposition (e.g., "in," "with") or one of the following: "as," "like," or "the way." (These are called subordinating conjunctions.)
Money speaks, but it speaks with a male voice. (Author Andrea Dworkin)
(This is called a prepositional phrase. It's also an adverbial phrase.)
People who say they sleep like a baby does usually don't have one. (Psychologist Leo J. Burke)
Adverb of Time
An adverb of time often starts with a preposition or one of the following subordinating conjunctions: "after," "as," "as long as," "as soon as," "before," "no sooner than," "since," "until," "when," or "while."
A company like Gucci can lose millions in a second. (Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri)
After the game has finished, the king and pawn go into the same box. (Italian proverb)
Adverb of Place
An adverb of place often starts with a preposition or one of the following subordinating conjunctions: "anywhere," "everywhere," "where," or "wherever."
Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back and, instead of bleeding, he sings. (Ed Gardner)
Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go. (Playwright Oscar Wilde)
Adverb of Degree (aka Adverb of Comparison)
An adverb of degree often starts with one of the following subordinating conjunctions: "than," "as...as," "so...as," or "the...the."
Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm. (Poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge)
Be what you are. This is the first step toward becoming better than you are. (Writer Julius Charles Hare)
An adverb of condition tells us the condition needed before the main idea comes into effect. An adverb of condition often starts with "if" or "unless."
If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts. (Theoretical physicist Albert Einstein)
Age doesn't matter, unless you're a cheese. (Filmmaker Luis Bunuel)
Adverbs of Concession
An adverb of concession contrasts with the main idea. An adverb of concession often starts with a subordinating conjunction like "though," "although," "even though," "while," "whereas," or "even if."
Although golf was originally restricted to wealthy, overweight Protestants, today it's open to anybody who owns hideous clothing. (Comedian Dave Barry)
A loud voice cannot compete with a clear voice, even if it's a whisper. (Writer Barry Neil Kaufman)
Adverbs of Reason
An adverb of reason gives a reason for the main idea. An adverb of reason usually starts with a subordinating conjunction like "as," "because," "given," or "since."
I don't have a bank account because I don't know my mother's maiden name. (Comedian Paula Poundstone)
Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality. (Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis)
Why Should I Care about Adverbs?
Here are the six most common writing issues related to adverbs.
(Issue 1) Use adverbs ending "-ly" sparingly.
Professional writers (particularly fiction writers) don't like adverbs that end "-ly." They consider them unnecessary clutter. If you were to attend a fiction-writing course, you would be taught to craft words that render "-ly" adverbs redundant. On that course, you would undoubtedly be shown this quote:
The road to hell is paved with adverbs. (Author Stephen King)
As Stephen King advocates, if you choose the right verb or the right dialogue, you don't need an adverb. Compare these two examples:
Extremely annoyed, she stared menacingly at her rival.
(Critics on that course would trash this.)
Infuriated, she glared at her rival.
(This is far sharper.)
Here are the three good reasons to kill a "-ly" adverb:
(1) The adverb is a tautology (i.e., needless repetition of an idea).
She smiled happily.
(2) The adverb is "spoon feeding" the reader.
She smiled disappointedly.
(By the time your readers reach this sentence, they should know from context that it's a disappointed smile. The trick is to show them, not literally tell them, that she's disappointed. It's far more engaging. Less is more.)
Spoon-feeding with an adverb happens most commonly with verbs like said, stated, and shouted (known as verbs of attribution).
"Ow, pack that in," Rachel shrieked angrily.
(You can scrap the adverb if it's implicit from the dialogue or context.)
(3) The adverb is only there because of a badly chosen verb.
Sitting dejectedly in its cage, the parrot looked utterly unhappy.
(This would cause a click-fest as those critics armed their red pens.)
Looking miserable, the parrot lay on the floor of its cage.
(This is sharper. Your readers will know that parrots don't ordinarily lie on the floor.)
Avoiding adverbs is a self-imposed restraint that many writers follow. It's like a game. Upon completing their work, professional writers will often do a text search for "ly " (note the space) to find adverbs and to re-justify their use before submission. Remember though that if your adverb is part of the story, keep it.
Your son is surprisingly handsome.
(Issue 2) Delete "very" and "extremely."
Professional writers hate adverbs such as "extremely," "really," and "very" (called intensifiers). For them, using an intensifier demonstrates a limited vocabulary. It's a fair point. If you choose the right words, you can avoid intensifiers.
Don't write…
Go for something like…
very bad
atrocious
extremely hungry
ravenous
really old
ancient
incredibly tired
exhausted
Many writers assert that intensifiers are so useless, you should delete them even if you can't find a more descriptive word.
Ireland is great for the spirit but very bad for the body. (Actor Hugh Dancy)
(The deletion kills a word but no meaning.)
Writer Mark Twain shared this view:
Substitute "damn" every time you're inclined to write "very". Your editor will delete it, and the writing will be just as it should be.
Here's a good tip. Press "CTRL H". Put "very" in the Find box. Put nothing in the Replace box. Click Replace All.
(Issue 3) When an adverb modifies an adjective, don't join them with a hyphen.
When an adverb modifies an adjective, don't join the two with a hyphen.
I don't sleep with happily married men. (Actress Britt Ekland)
Ironically, he described himself as "a professionally-qualified grammarian".
(Don't join the adverb and the adjective with a hyphen.)
Remember that not all adverbs end "-ly."
The beginning is the most-important part of the work. (translation of Greek philosopher Plato)
As covered next, this no-hyphen rule applies only to adverbs that are obviously adverbs (e.g., ones that end "-ly").
(Issue 4) When an adverb that could feasibly be an adjective modifies an adjective, use a hyphen.
A few adverbs (e.g., "well" and "fast") look like adjectives. To make it clear your adverb is not an adjective, you can link it to the adjective it's modifying with a hyphen. The hyphen says "these two words are one entity," making it clear they're not two adjectives.
She's a well-known dog.
(The hyphen makes it clear that the dog is famous (i.e., well-known) as opposed to well (i.e., healthy) and known (i.e., familiar).)
He sold me six fast-growing carp.
(The hyphen makes it clear the carp are ones that grow quickly and not growing ones that can swim quickly.)
This issue crops up occasionally with "well," and "well" is almost never used as an adjective (meaning healthy) in a chain of other adjectives. So, in real life, there's almost never any ambiguity caused by these adjectivey-looking adverbs. Therefore, the following rule will cover 99% of situations: use a hyphen with "well" when it precedes an adjective.
It's a well-known tactic.
(This is not really about avoiding ambiguity. It's more about protecting readers from a reading-flow stutter caused by the feasibility of ambiguity.)
It's a widely known tactic.
(Don't use a hyphen with normal adverbs. They don't cause reading-flow stutters.)
(Issue 5) Make it clear what your adverb is modifying.
Whenever you use an adverb (a single-word or multi-word one), do a quick check to ensure it's obvious what it refers to. Here are some examples of badly placed adverbs.
Singing quickly improved his stammer.
(It's unclear whether quickly modifies singing or improved. This is called a squinting modifier.)
Peter told us after Christmas that he plans to diet.
(Here, after Christmas sits grammatically with told but logically with plans. This is called a misplaced modifier.)
I recorded the hedgehog feeding its hoglets cautiously.
(It's unclear whether cautiously modifies recorded or feeding.)
Usually a badly placed modifier can be fixed by putting it nearer to the verb it's modifying. (The top two examples can be fixed by moving the shaded text to the end. The third can be fixed by moving "cautiously" either to the left of "recorded" or to the left of "feeding," depending on the intended meaning.)
It's worth mentioning limiting modifiers (e.g., "hardly," "nearly," "only") because these commonly create logic flaws or ambiguity.
I only eat candy on Halloween. No lie. (Actor Michael Trevino)
(Logically, this means all he does on Halloween is eat candy; therefore, he doesn't work, sleep, or drink on that day. In everyday speech, we all get away with misplacing "only," but we should try to be more precise in our writing.)
I eat candy only on Halloween.
(This is sharper. As a rule of thumb, the best place for "only" is never to the left of a verb.)
The two examples below are correct, but they mean different things.
Lee copied nearly all 10 of your answers.
(This tells us Lee copied most of the answers.)
Lee nearly copied all 10 of your answers.
(Here, Lee might have copied none to nine.)
It's worth spending a second to ensure your limiting modifiers are well positioned.
(Issue 6) Use a comma after a fronted adverbial.
When an adverbial phrase or clause is at the start of a sentence, it is usual to follow it with a comma.
In colonial America, lobster was often served to prisoners because it was so cheap and plentiful.
One April day in 1930, the BBC reported, "There is no news."
If you're called Brad Thor, people expect you to be 6 foot 4 with muscles. (Author Brad Thor)
When the adverbial is at the back, the comma can be left out. Each of these could be re-written without comma and with the shaded text at the end.
When the adverbial is at the front, it's not a serious crime to omit the comma, but you should use one because it aids reading. When the adverbial is short (one or two words), your readers won't need helping, so you're safe to scrap the comma if you think it looks unwieldy.
Yesterday I was a dog. Today I'm a dog. Tomorrow I'll probably still be a dog. Sigh! There's so little hope for advancement. (Cartoonist Charles M. Schulz via Snoopy)
A relative clause is a multi-word adjective that includes a subject and a verb.
When we think of adjectives, we usually picture a single word used before a noun to modify its meanings (e.g., tall man, smelly dog, argumentative employee). However, adjectives also come in the form of relative clauses (also called adjective clauses). A relative clause comes after the noun it modifies and is made up of several words, which (like all clauses) include a subject and a verb.
Examples of Relative Clauses
Here are some examples of relative clauses:
The windows that you installed last year have warped.
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. (Writer Mark Twain)
The follies which a man regrets most in his life are those which he didn't commit when he had the opportunity. (US journalist Helen Rowland)
(Even though this is a quotation by an American journalist, nowadays, most writers in the US would use "that" instead of "which." There's more on this below.)
An relative clause has the following three components:
Component 1. It is headed by a relative pronoun ("who," "whom," "whose," "that," or "which") or a relative adverb ("when," "where," or "why").
(This links it to the noun it is modifying.) (Note: Quite often, the relative pronoun can be omitted. However, with a relative clause, it is always possible to put one in. There is more on this below.)
Component 3. It tells us something about the noun.
(This is why it is a type of adjective.)
Look at the three components in this example:
Often, the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause. Look at the three components in this example:
The Relative Pronoun Can Be Omitted
It is common for the relative pronoun to be omitted. For example:
The windows that you installed last year have warped.
The film which you recommended scared the kids half to death.
The follies which a man regrets most in his life are those which he didn't commit when he had the opportunity. (Helen Rowland, 1876-1950)
This is not always possible though:
Bore: a person who talks when you wish him to listen.
When the relative clause starts with a relative adverb ("when," "where" or "why"), the relative adverb cannot be omitted.
There comes a time when money doesn't matter. (Boxer Floyd Mayweather)
(You can often omit a relative pronoun, but you can't omit a relative adverb. So, you can't omit "when" in this example.)
Why Should I Care about Relative Clauses?
Here are two common questions related to relative clauses.
(Question 1) Should I use a comma before "which?
This is the most common question related to relative clauses. The answer is sometimes yes and sometimes no. The answer applies to all relative clauses, not just those that start with "which."
This is the rule:
Do not put commas around your clause if it is essential; i.e., it is required to identify its noun. (This is called a restrictive clause.)
Do use commas if your clause is just additional information. (This is called a non-restrictive clause.)
A Good Tip
If you'd happily put parentheses (brackets) around your clause or even delete it, then use commas.
Here is an example of a non-restrictive clause:
My brother, who claimed to have a limp, sprinted after the bus.
(This clause is not required to identify "My brother." It is just additional information.)
My brother (who claimed to have a limp) sprinted after the bus.
(As it's just additional information, you can put it in brackets.)
My brother sprinted after the bus.
(As it's just additional information, you can even delete it.)
Compare this to a restrictive clause:
A burglar who fell through a garage roof is suing the house owner.
(This clause is required to identify "a burglar." Without it, we don't know which burglar we're talking about.)
The tramp (who claimed to have a limp) sprinted after the bus.
(This sentence is only appropriate if we know which tramp we're talking about.)
The tramp sprinted after the bus.
(This sentence is only appropriate if we know which tramp we're talking about.)
(Question 2) What's the difference between "that" and "which"?
"Which" and "that" are interchangeable, provided we're talking about "which" without a comma.
When "which" starts a restrictive clause (i.e., a clause not offset with commas), you can replace it with "that." In fact, Americans will insist you use "that" instead of "which" for a restrictive clause.
Mark's dog which ate the chicken is looking guilty. (but in America or at least widely disliked)
(Americans baulk at "which" without a comma. They insist on "that.")
Mark's dog that ate the chicken is looking guilty.
(This version is acceptable for all. It will stop you getting hate mail from Americans.)
For many, even those following UK conventions, "that" feels more natural with a restrictive clause. This feeling is something we can use. If all this talk of restrictive and non-restrictive clauses is confusing, replace your "which" with "that." If your sentence still sounds good, then you almost certainly want "which" without a comma. This trick works because "that" can only be used with a restrictive clause, and – whether you consciously know it or not – some language-processing area of your brain does.
The "that substitution" trick also works with "who," but be aware that some of your readers might not like that used for people.
The burglar who is suing the homeowner was booed in court.
The burglar that is suing the homeowner was booed in court.
(Substituting "who" for "that" is a good way to test whether an adjective clause needs commas or not, but some of your readers might not like "that" being used for a person – even a burglar. So, if your clause starting "who" sounds okay with "that," then revert to "who" without commas.)
A non-restrictive clause is a clause that provides additional, non-essential information. In other words, a non-restrictive clause is not needed to identify the word it modifies, i.e., it's just bonus information. As a non-restrictive clause is not essential to the meaning of a sentence, it is offset with commas (or some other parenthetical punctuation such as dashes).
Non-restrictive Clauses Contrast with Restrictive Clauses
Here is another example of a non-restrictive clause.
Peter Jones , who plays goalkeeper for our village football team, has worked at his father's greengrocers for twenty years.
(The shaded text is a non-restrictive clause. It describes "Peter Jones," but it does not identify him. It is merely additional information about him. Deleting this clause would not affect the meaning.)
Non-restrictive clauses contrast with restrictive clauses. Look at this example of a restrictive clause:
The man who plays goalkeeper for our village football team has worked at his father's greengrocers for twenty years.
(The bold text is a restrictive clause. It describes "the man," and it identifies him. It is not just additional information. It is essential for meaning.)
Here are some more examples of non-restrictive clauses in real-life quotes (non-restrictive clauses shaded):
Every journalist has a novel in him, which is an excellent place for it. (Historian Russell Lynes)
Humans are the only animals that have children on purpose with the exception of guppies, who like to eat theirs. (Journalist P J O'Rourke)
She had a pretty gift for quotation, which is a serviceable substitute for wit. (Playwright W. Somerset Maugham)
You can talk about anything if you go about it the right way, which is never malicious. (comedian Rodney Carrington)
Why Should I Care about Non-restrictive Clauses?
When looking at writing errors, there are more issues associated with restrictive clauses than non-restrictive clauses. As a general observation, non-restrictive clauses do not cause too many snags. Nevertheless, here are two good reasons to give non-restrictive clauses a little more thought.
(Reason 1) Know when to use a comma before "who" or "which."
Writers often ask whether to put a comma before "who" and "which." The answer to that question is sometimes yes and sometimes no. It depends whether the "who" or "which" heads a restrictive clause or a non-restrictive clause.
Look at this example:
My brother, who lives in New York, caught coronavirus.
(This sentence suggests I have just one brother. I've also told you that he lives in New York, but I could have omitted that information. The shaded text is a non-restrictive clause.)
My brother who lives in New York caught coronavirus.
(In this sentence, the bold text is a restrictive clause. It specifies that I'm talking about my New York-based brother, i.e., not a different brother.)
Remember that if your adjective clause is essential to identify its noun, then there are no commas. If it's just additional information, use commas, dashes, or parentheses (brackets)...or delete it.
Test for a Non-restrictive Clause
If you'd happily put it in parentheses (brackets) or delete it, use commas.
The example above uses "who." Here's one with "which." There is a distinction between "who" and "which" because Brits are okay with a restrictive clause headed by "which," but, as a rule, Americans aren't.
I've enjoyed the benefits of this country, which has been very good to me. (Attorney Wendy Long)
(This is non-restrictive clause. It does not define the country (the word "this" does that job). The shaded clause is just additional information.)
How can you govern a country which has 246 varieties of cheese? (French President Charles De Gaulle)
(This is a restrictive clause. It defines the country. Those following British English writing conventions are okay with a restrictive clause headed by "which," but most Americans would use "that" instead of "which."
Do you have an adjective clause headed by "which" or "who"? Would you happily put it in parentheses? Yes? It's non-restrictive. Offset it with commas or, if you think it helps, dashes or parentheses (round brackets).
Knowing your options for parenthetical punctuation is a useful writing tool.
Got it? Take a quick test.
(Don't join the adverb and the adjective with a hyphen.)
(pro) normal-looking sentence
(con) commas are often confused with other commas in the sentence
