Adverbs are words that indicate:
- the frequency when something happens
- the manner in which it happens
- the place where it happens
- the time when something happens
- the level of intensity that something happens
Adverbs used in conjunction with articles, nouns, verbs, and adjectives add to the color of the English language. It is sometimes difficult to spot the differences between adjectives and adverbs, but with practice, you will be able to do it quickly.
Frequency
Some adverbs tell how often something is done. For example:
- I always do my homework on time.
In this sentence, always describes the frequency with which the homework is done on time.
Other adverbs of frequency include those in the following list, describing high frequency (top) to low frequency (bottom).
- always
- constantly
- nearly always
- almost always
- usually
- generally
- normally
- regularly
- often
- frequently
- sometimes
- periodically
- occasionally
- now and then
- once in a while
- rarely
- seldom
- infrequently
- hardly ever
- scarcely ever
- almost never
- never
When something happens regularly at a fixed time, the following adverbs can be used:
| Fixed time | Adverbs |
| Every day | Daily |
| Every week | Weekly |
| Every month | Monthly |
| Every year | Yearly/annually |
For example:
- I get a newspaper every day. I get the newspaper daily.
- I pay my rent every month. I pay my rent monthly.
Manner
Some adverbs tell how, or the manner in which, an action is or should be performed.
- The little girl ran quickly.
In this sentence, quickly modifies the manner in which she ran.
- We hurried quietly.
In this sentence, quietly modifies the manner in which we hurried.
Place
Some adverbs indicate where something happens. For example:
- My passport is here in my bag.
In this sentence, here describes where the passport is.
Time
Some adverbs tell the time that something is done. For example:
- Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away.
In this sentence, yesterday describes when the troubles seemed far away.
The following adverbs refer to definite time. In other words, they indicate more precisely when something is going to or did take place.
| Time | Example |
| A recurring specific day of the week | I go to the shops on Mondays. |
| Today | I have been to the shops today. |
| Yesterday | I went to the shops yesterday. |
| Next week/month/year | I am going to the shops next week. |
| Last week/month/year | I went to the shops last year. |
The following words are adverbs of indefinite time—a good sense of when they happened or will happen is not provided.
| Time | Example |
| Finally | I finally went to the shops. |
| Eventually | I eventually went to the shops. |
| Already | I have already been to the shops. |
| Soon | I am going to the shops soon. |
| Just | I am just going to the shops. (Just going now as opposed to the other interpretation, “I am just going to the shops, not to the museum or the train station.”) |
| Still | I am still at the shops. |