Adverbs

An Adverb mainly describes the Manner (how), Time (when) and Place (where) the action of both being and doing verbs.

Adverbs of Manner tell us 'how' or 'in what manner' an action is done.

• An old man walks slowly.
  (How does an old man walk? - slowly)
• The baby weeps bitterly.
  (How does the baby weep? - bitterly)

Adverbs of Time tell us 'when' or 'at what time' an action is done.

• She goes to school daily.
  (When does she go to school? - daily)
• I drew the picture yesterday.
  (When did you draw the picture? - yesterday)

Adverbs of Place tell us 'where' or 'in which place' an action is done.

• She is playing inside.
  (Where is she playing? - inside)
• The boys play there.
  (Where do the boys play? - there)

Forming Adverbs

Adverbs can be formed in different ways. Let us learn some of the rules.

• Adverbs are usually formed by adding -ly at the end of the word.
  For example :
  
  • beautiful + ly = beautifully
  • careful + ly = carefully
  • slow + ly = slowly
  • sweet + ly = sweetly


• If the word ends in -y, replace it with i and add -ly to form the adverb.
  For example :
  
  • happy + ly = happily
  • steady + ly = steadily
  • angry + ly = angrily
  • lazy + ly = lazily


• If the word ends in -le, remove the e and add -y to form the adverb.
  For example :
  
  • gentle + y = gently
  • able + y = ably
  • idle + y = idly
  • comfortable + y = comfortably