Summary
In-depth Explanation
What Are Adverbs?
An adverb is a word that modifies, or gives more information about:
A verb: Describing how an action is performed.
She sings beautifully.
An adjective: Giving more detail about an adjective.
He’s very tall.
Another adverb: Modifying the degree of another adverb.
They arrived quite late.
Adverb Placement
Adverbs can be placed in different positions in a sentence, depending on the type of adverb and what it is modifying.
Adverbs Modifying Verbs
When an adverb modifies a verb, it usually comes after the verb. For example:
She sings well.
He runs quickly.
They worked hard.
However, adverbs of frequency (like “always” and “never”) usually come before the verb. For example:
She always drinks coffee in the morning.
We never watch TV after dinner.
Adverbs Modifying Adjectives or Other Adverbs
When an adverb modifies an adjective or another adverb, it usually comes before the word it is modifying. For example:
It’s very cold today.
She danced quite gracefully.
Adverbs of Time and Place
Adverbs of time and place usually go at the end of a sentence. For example:
She’ll meet us outside. (adverb of place at the end)
We went to the park yesterday. (adverb of time at the end)
However, they can sometimes be placed at the beginning of a sentence to emphasize the adverb. For example:
Yesterday, we went to the park. (adverb of time at the beginning)