Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Do you want to know how adverbs work? They are amazingly versatile words that can impact many parts of speech within a sentence. It’s critical that writers, songwriters, and poets know how to use them. Keep reading What Is an Adverb? to learn what they are and how they work.
This article uses literary terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
What Is an Adverb: Multipurpose Words
“What is an adverb?” They are multipurpose words that can modify adjectives, verbs, other adverbs, phrases, and clauses.
They give extra information about:
- Cause: Why things happen.
- Degree: How much or how often they happen.
- Manner: How things happen.
- Place: Where things happen.
- Time: When things happen.
Thus, they answer questions such as:
- Why: Why do I run in the mornings? Because it’s cooler then. (Then helps answer the question.)
- How often: My son frequently swims. (Frequently adds information on how often the boy swims.)
- How: I slipped because the floor was very wet. (Very shows how wet the floor is.)
- Where: Grandma only drives locally. (Locally adds information on where Grandma drives.)
- When: The kids go back to school soon. (Soon gives information on when the kids go back.)
What Is an Adverb: How Do They Work?
Mostly, you form adverbs by using an -ly suffix:
- Slow/slowly
- Sure/surely
- Deep/deeply
However, adjectives that end in -y will drop the -y and add -ily:
- Happy/happily
- Easy/easily
- Lazy/lazily
Many adverbs don’t end with an -ly at all:
- Always
- Fast
- Hard
- Here
- Never
- Often
- Sometimes
- Well
Special cases:
- Relative: When, where, and why are used in subordinate clauses. “I remember when telephones were attached to the wall with a wire.”
- Interrogative: Why, where, when, and how begin questions. “When can I go?”
- Adverbs can also be used to modify whole sentences: “Unfortunately, I can’t go to the movie tonight.”
The following video will show you how they work.
Video: Lolly, Lolly, Lolly
Final Thoughts on “What Is an Adverb?”
Takeaway points:
- They are multipurpose words that can modify adjectives, verbs, other adverbs, phrases, and clauses.
- They give extra information about cause, degree, manner, place, and time.
- Mostly, you form them by using an -ly suffix.
Have fun writing!
Related Posts
- What Does Pronoun Mean – Can Pronouns Keep My Writing Focused?
- What Does Adjective Mean, and Can I Have a Cheat Sheet?
- Writing Well Crafted Songs
© 2024 Geoffrey Keith
Join me for online or in-person lessons today!
Glossary
What Exactly Does Onomatopoeia Mean in Writing
Do you want to know what in the world the odd sounding word onomatopoeia means? Do you need help learning how to write them? We’ll define the word and have examples from writing, songwriting, and poetry. Keep reading “What Exactly Does Onomatopoeia Mean in Writing” to learn what it is and how it’s used. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
Read More
Why Did Beethoven Keep Composing After Suffering Deafness?
Do you want to know what motivated Ludwig van Beethoven to push through adversity to create some of the best and most influential classical music ever? By the time he turned fifty, he was considered by many to be the world's best living composer. His funeral was attended by 10,000 people. However, to achieve this level of fame he literally had to suffer for his art. That begs the question, why did Beethoven keep composing after suffering deafness? Keep reading to learn the answer to this and more. Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
Read More
Songwriting – Let Her Scream
Do your lyrics lack powerful emotions? Do you want to learn how to write using stronger images? Take Mark Twain’s advice, “Don't say the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream.” The first of Twain’s sentences uses abstract language, but the second uses concrete images instead. Simply put, when you describe a scene, you need to show it rather than tell it. "Songwriting - Let Her Scream" shows you how. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Read More
Enjoy the Bold Song: Battle Hymn of the Republic
Do you want to enjoy the bold song “Battle Hymn of the Republic?” In this article, you’ll get three essentials: 1) a video of the song, 2) the complete words to the song, and 3) free easy-to-read lead sheet style sheet music using shape notes, including a sing along soundtrack. Keep reading to learn more. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
Read More