What is an adverb?
An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb, often telling how, when, where or how much. Examples include quickly, very, yesterday and here.
Many adverbs are formed by adding -ly to an adjective, like quick and quickly or careful and carefully. But many common adverbs do not end in -ly, such as very, often, never, soon, well and too. Some words ending in -ly, like friendly and lovely, are actually adjectives.
Adverbs give more detail. In She sings beautifully, the adverb tells how she sings. In The movie was really good, really modifies the adjective good. In He ran very quickly, very modifies the adverb quickly. Adverbs can also modify whole sentences, like Fortunately, it stopped raining.
Using adverbs well
Some writing guides advise using adverbs sparingly and choosing stronger verbs instead, like sprinted instead of ran quickly. Novelist Stephen King famously wrote that the road to hell is paved with adverbs, though most writers use them when they help.
Did You Know?
The adverb well is the irregular adverb form of good. We say She did well, not She did good, in formal English.