Adverbs

Like the adjective, the other major type of modifiers is also familiar to you—the adverb. It is used to modify or qualify a verb, an adjective, and another adverb. Look at the following examples:

1. The second brother thought that he can always fly on his magic carpet.
2. The glass looks certainly unusual.
3. The second brother was quite visibly awed by the magic carpet.

In the sentences above, the words always, certainly, and quite are used to modify or qualify the verb can fly, the adjective unusual, and the adverb visibly. The adverb visibly also modifies the verb awed.

Adverbs do not just modify verbs. They also modify a whole sentence. An adverb that modifies a whole sentence is called a sentence adverb.

Examples:

1. Unfortunately, Rahmun was put to jail.
2. Clearly, he has no excuse for such behavior.

Most adverbs are formed by adding –ly at the end of adjectives.

Adjectives	Adverbs
certain	certainly
unusual	unusually
visible	visibly

However, there are adverbs that do not end in –ly. These are called irregular adverbs. Here are some examples:

Irregular Adverbs
well fast hard late early far straight ill much

Some adverbs and adjectives have identical forms. Look at the following examples:

Adjectives	Adverbs
rough play	play rough
first sign	sign first
low bend	bend low
left turn	turn left