Adverbs & adverbs of frequency
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In short
An adverb tells us how, how often, how much, when, or where something happens. Many come from an adjective + -ly (quick -> quickly), and frequency words like always and never go before the main verb but after be.
The rule
Adverbs add information to a verb (and degree adverbs to an adjective). There are a few useful types.
1. Adverbs of manner (how?) - usually adjective + -ly.
| Adjective | Adverb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| quick | quickly | She walks quickly. |
| careful | carefully | Drive carefully. |
| slow | slowly | He speaks slowly. |
Some are irregular and do not take -ly:
| Adjective | Adverb | Note |
|---|---|---|
| good | well | She sings well. (not |
| fast | fast | They run fast. (same word) |
| hard | hard | He works hard. (same word) |
But after a linking verb - be, look, taste, feel, sound, seem, get - the word that describes the subject is an adjective, not an -ly adverb: This tea tastes good. / You look tired. (See Adjectives (+ order of adjectives).)
Careful: hardly is a different word meaning almost not: I hardly know him. (= I almost don’t know him).
2. Adverbs of frequency (how often?) - always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never. Position:
- Before the main verb: I always walk to work.
- After the verb be: She is always late.
- After an auxiliary / have: I have never been there.
100% always > usually > often > sometimes > rarely > never 0%
3. Adverbs of degree (how much?) - very, really, too, quite, a bit. They go before the adjective: very good, really happy, too small, quite cold, a bit tired. Too means “more than is good”: This coffee is too hot (= I can’t drink it).
4. Adverbs of time and place (when? where?) - yesterday, today, now, here, there, every day. They usually go at the start or end of a sentence: I saw her yesterday. / Every day we have lunch at one.
Forms & patterns
| Type | Question | Typical position | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manner | How? | after the verb / object | He drives slowly. |
| Frequency | How often? | before main verb, after be | She often reads. / He is often busy. |
| Degree | How much? | before the adjective | It’s very cold. |
| Time / place | When? Where? | start or end | We go there every day. |
-ly spelling:
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Most adjectives: add -ly | slow -> slowly, nice -> nicely |
| -y -> -ily | happy -> happily, easy -> easily |
| -le -> -ly | simple -> simply, gentle -> gently |
Comparatives of adverbs in -ly use more: more quickly, more often, more carefully. Adverbs with the same form as the adjective take -er: fast -> faster, hard -> harder, soon -> sooner. Can you speak more slowly? (See Comparatives & superlatives.)
Examples
| English | Note |
|---|---|
| Please speak slowly; I don’t understand fast English. | Adverb of manner: how you speak. |
| My brother plays the guitar really well. | Irregular: well is the adverb of good. |
| I always drink coffee in the morning. | Frequency adverb before the main verb. |
| He is never angry with the children. | After be, the adverb comes second. |
| We have often visited that museum. | After the auxiliary have. |
| This box is too heavy for me. | Degree: too = more than is good. |
| The film was very long but quite funny. | Two degree adverbs before adjectives. |
| She called me yesterday. | Time adverb at the end of the sentence. |
Common mistakes
- She sings good. -> She sings well. - after an action verb you need the adverb well, not the adjective good.
- I drink always tea. -> I always drink tea. - put the frequency adverb before the main verb.
- She always is late. -> She is always late. - with be, the adverb goes after it.
- He speaks English very fastly. -> He speaks English very fast. - fast is already an adverb; there is no fastly.
- Can you talk more slowlier? -> Can you talk more slowly? - adverb comparatives use more, not -er.
Tips
- Many adverbs = adjective + -ly. If a word describes a verb (an action), reach for the -ly form: a quick car (adjective) vs drive quickly (adverb).
- Learn the pair by heart: good is the adjective (what is it like? - The food is good.), well is the adverb (how does she do it? - She cooks well.).
- Frequency rule of thumb: “before the main verb, after be.” Test it with am/is/are: I am always…, She is never…
- Very and too are not the same: very hot is just hot; too hot is a problem (more than you want).