Adverbs are words like tomorrow, daily, badly, once and too. They tell us more about other words, especially verbs.

• The child smiled sweetly. (The adverb sweetly modifies the verb smiled.)
• She walked slowly. (The adverb slowly modifies the verb walked.)
• He talked politely. (The adverb politely modifies the verb talked.)

Sometimes adverbs modify adjectives.

• It was a very important question. (The adverb very modifies the adjective important.)
• You are so sweet. (The adverb so modifies the adjective sweet.)

Adverbs can also modify other adverbs.

• He walked very slowly. (The adverb very modifies the adverb slowly.)
• She sang extremely well. (The adverb extremely modifies the adverb well.)

Most adverbs are formed by adding -ly to their corresponding adjectives. Examples are: kindly (kind), slowly (slow), hardly (hard), sweetly (sweet) etc.

• She is very beautiful (adjective).

• She is beautifully (adverb) dressed.

• He is a strange (adjective) person.

• He behaved strangely (adverb).

Points to be noted

1. If the adjective ends in -y, replace it with -i and then add -ly.

2. If the adjective ends in -able, -ible, or -le, replace the -e with -y.

3. If the adjective ends in -ic, add -ally.

This rule, however, has an exception. The adverb formed from public is publicly, and not publically.

Some words ending in -ly are adjectives, and not normally adverbs.

Common examples are: costly, cowardly, deadly, friendly, likely, lively, lonely, lovely, silly, ugly and unlikely.

• She has a lovely daughter.
• Don’t be silly.
• It was a lively discussion.

Some adverbs and adjectives have the same form.

Examples are: fast, hard, high, late, near, straight, wrong, daily, early, leisurely etc.

• It is a fast (adjective) car.
• A fast (adjective) car goes fast (adverb).
• He drove fast (adverb).
• Hard (adjective) work pays.
• You must work hard (adverb).
• He is an early (adjective) riser.
• I got up early (adverb) today.
• It is easy (adjective).
• Take it easy (adverb)