"He works very QUICKLY". In this sentence the word "quickly" is the adverb that describes the way the action "works" is done. Below we will explain how to form adverbs and when to use them.
Adverbs are words which modify the meaning of a verb. Adverbs can also modify adjectives and other adverbs.
Example:
| She speaks quickly. |
In the example above, “quickly” is an adverb which modifies the verb “to speak”. The adverb is used to express the way in which the subject speaks.
1. The general rule for forming adverbs is to add the termination “-ly” to an adjective.
Examples:
| quick → quickly |
| honest → honestly |
2. For those adjectives that end in “-y”, the “y” becomes an “i”. The termination becomes “-ily.”
Examples:
| easy → easily |
| happy → happily |
3. For adjectives which end in “-ic”, the termination changes to “-ically”.
Examples:
| automatic → automatically |
| tragic → tragically |
4. For adjectives that end in “-le”, the “e” is dropped and the termination “-ly” is added.
Examples:
| terrible → terribly |
| incredible → incredibly |
5. Some adverbs don’t change. The adjective and adverb are the same.
Examples:
| hard |
| fast |
As we have seen, adjectives tell us something about a noun (person, place or thing). Adverbs, on the other hand, tell us something about the way in which something is done. Adverbs can modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.
As we have seen, adjectives tell us something about a noun (person, place or thing). Adverbs, on the other hand, tell us something about the way in which something is done. Adverbs can modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.
Examples:
Verb
| Miguel runs fast. |
| You speak loudly. |
Adverb
| He runs really fast. |
| You speak very loudly. |
Adjective
| I am very happy. |
| She is really nice. |
