How to Use English Grammar Adverbs

Use English Grammar correctly to get ahead

Use English grammar skills to write and speak with clarity and confidence. Understanding adverbs and using them correctly is one of the more difficult challenges in the American English language.

Adverbs are words that modify adjectives, verbs and other adverbs, and there are easy ways to recognize this part of speech and to learn to use English grammar adverbs. It is not too late, no matter your age.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Learn the purpose of adverbs.

   Use adverbs to modify adjectives, verbs and other adverbs. Many adverbs end in -ly, and that may help in identification. There are lists available on the internet of common adverbs to learn, and these include really, very, too, so, away, now, and later.

2. Understand and find adverbs in sentences.

   Learn adverbs of time, place, degree and manner. This will help with understanding and finding adverbs in sentences.

   Adverbs of time tell when and include now, yesterday, today, later and soon.

   Adverbs of place tell where and include away, around, up, down, nearby, here and there.

   Degree includes "how much" words like almost, nearly, quite, hardly and very.

   Manner adverbs are some of the -ly words like quickly, gently, slowly, and softly.

3. Do not overuse adverbs.

   Use adverbs sparingly, and do not duplicate the use of adverbs. Adverbs are over-used and duplicated for expected emphasis. An example is the word "very." He was very, very ill. The sentence is not improved with the word, "very," and it is worsened with an extra "very." Other adverbs are unnecessary, too. Maybe you would like to say he was extremely ill. That is an adverb, too.

   Stephen King says in ON WRITING that the adverb is not your friend. Remember this when writing or speaking and do not overuse adverbs.

4. Watch the placement.

   Place an adverb as close to the word it modifies as possible. Otherwise, the construction may distort the meaning. "Only" is an adverb that demonstrates this. Only our children were waiting for Halloween. Our children were only waiting for Halloween. Our children were waiting for only Halloween. The location of this adverb changes the meaning.

5. Improve your speaking and writing skills with adverbs.

   Learn the different kinds of adverbs to build confidence and speaking techniques, but use them sparingly, placing them close to the words they modify for clear meaning. With some review and practice you can use English grammar adverbs to improve your speaking and writing skills.

Tips & Warnings

• We often write about English grammar, ESL, and writing. See more articles in Resources below.

• copyright 2009 Linda Richard

• Feel free to link to this article or send it to a friend.

Resources

• Use Correct English Grammar
• Study ESL English Grammar
• Use English Grammar: Wasted Words
• Use English Grammar Punctuation
• Spell with Spelling Rules and Associations
• How to Write a Poem
• Write Poetry and Papers: Revision
• Read Literature on the Internet