Adverbs

Adverbs of Place, Degree, Time, Manner in English

In this lesson, we will learn the types and definitions of adverbs and reinforce them with examples. There are many different types of adverbs in the English language and they all have their own rules and exceptions. However, manner adverbs, frequency adverbs, time adverbs, degree adverbs and place adverbs are the most commonly used.

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Adverbs of Time

Time adverbs describe how long and when an action occurred. These are widely used in English and their placement in the sentence is quite clear. Their positions are generally at the end of the sentence. In most cases, the time frame is at the end of the sentence. For example:

I have been cycling for 5 years, but I have been going to school by bike since last December.
John arrived last week, in March 2020.

Adverbs of Time Words

Always
Already
Annually
Before
Constantly
Daily
Early
Earlier
Eventually
Ever
Frequently
Finally
First
Formerly
Fortnightly
Generally
Hourly
Immediately
Infrequently
Just
Last
Late
Later
Lately
Monthly
Not until
Now
Normally
Never
Next
Often
Occasionally
Previously
Quarterly
Rarely
Regularly
Recently
Seldom
Sometimes
Since
Soon
Still
Then
Today
Tomorrow
Tonight
Yesterday
Usually
Yet
Weekly
Yearly

Adverbs of Manner

Manner adverbs tell us how something happened. There are many words in this group, including those created by adding the –ly tag to an adjective. For example, “nicely” is an adverb derived from the adjective “nice”. The following two sentences are similar in meaning, but the first is an adjective, while the second is an adverbs derived from that adjective.

He has a nice voice.
He sings nicely.

Positive Adverbs of Manner Words

Beautifully
Boldly
Bravely
Calmly
Carefully
Cautiously
Cheerfully
Joyously
Eagerly
Gladly
Easily
Elegantly
Equally
Faithfully
Frankly
Honestly
Generously
Gently
Justly
Kindly
Neatly
Obediently
Patiently
Openly
Perfectly
Politely
Powerfully
Promptly
Quickly
Rapidly
Quietly
Well

Negative Adverbs of Manner Words

Angrily
Anxiously
Awkwardly
Badly
Blindly
Carelessly
Cruelly
Foolishly
Frantically
Greedily
Hastily
Hungrily
Inadequately
Irritably
Lazily
Loudly
Noisily
Madly
Nervously
Painfully
Poorly
Recklessly
Roughly
Rudely
Sadly
Selfishly
Shyly
Stupidly
Suspiciously
Violently
Tensely

Adverbs of Frequency

Frequency adverbs such as weekly, daily, quarterly or annually tell the listener how often an action takes place. Sometimes frequency adverbs come before the main verb and after the auxiliary verb. If there is only one verb in the sentence, the adverb is written right after that. If there is an auxiliary verb, the adverb comes after the auxiliary verbs and before the main verb. For example;

Timmy always writes at day. (There is only one verb here, so “writes,” so the adverb comes first.)
They should always get up early in the morning. (The adverb is written after the auxiliary verb “should” and before the verb “get up”.)

Adverbs of Frequency Words

always
usually
often
normally
occasionally
sometimes
seldom
never
hardly ever
constantly
continually
frequently
infrequently
intermittently
periodically
rarely
regularly
generally
now and then
almost never
eventually
quarterly
weekly
later
then

Adverbs of Place

Location adverbs inform the speaker about the location where an action occurred. “Where did an action take place?” This question can only be asked to verbs, as they answer the question. Place adverbs such as around, outside, here, nearby, there and everywhere are at the end of the sentence. This adverb comes after the main verb or the object of the main verb. For example;

The students like to play outside.
They are planning a vacation nearby.

Adverbs of Place Words

About
Anywhere
Backward/s
Down
Elsewhere
In
Near
On
Over
Towards
Underground
Along
Under
Above
Away
Behind
Downstairs
Far
Indoors
Nearby
Out
Upstairs
Overseas
Somewhere
There
Up
Abroad
Back
East
Here
Inside
Off
Outside
Next door
Right
Below

Adverbs of Degree

Degree adverbs like very, too, extremely or enough give us information about the density of something. These adverbs usually precede the adjective, adverb or verb they replace. But there are some exceptions to this. Unlike place adverbs, such adverb replace adjective and adverb as well as verb. For example;