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Introduction: What Are Adverbs?
There are eight parts of speech in English grammar. Each of the eight serves important purposes. Without these parts of speech, we won’t be able to form comprehensive sentences. One of these parts of speech is adverbs.
Adverbs are the part of the speech that modifies verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Modify means that they tell you more about the verbs or adverbs.
Take a look at the sentence below:
The baby slept soundly.
The word soundly is telling us more about how the baby slept. Slept is the past tense of the word sleep. Sleep is a verb.
Here are some more examples:
He plays the piano well.
They arrived at the scene early.
The old woman wept bitterly.
The students waited patiently for the teacher.
All the words underlined are adverbs. Notice that some adverbs are not at the end of the sentence. Adverbs can be anywhere in a sentence. Another thing to remember is that not all adverbs end in -ly.
Type Of Adverbs
Here are the 7 types of adverbs that we have. All examples of adverbs are grouped under these 7 types:
- Degree: adverbs of degree tell us to what extent something is done. For example, He could hardly walk. Other examples are: strongly, deeply, highly, totally slightly, very, and so on.
- Frequency: adverbs of frequency tell us how often something takes place. For example, my friends visit often. Other examples are: rarely, regularly, seldom, scarcely, never, every day, and so on.
- Manner: adverbs of manners tell us how something was done. For example, he ate greedily. Other examples are: slowly, immediately, angrily, fast, carefully, eagerly, and so on.
- Place: adverbs of place tell us where the action was carried out. For example, he eats inside. Other examples are above, below, onward, thee, here, under, and so on.
- Time: adverbs of time tell us when an event happened or took place. For example, I saw Denis recently. Other examples are tomorrow, now, later, soon, since, all day, and so on.
- Purpose: adverbs of purpose tell us the reason for something. These adverbs can be phrases or words. For example, I am working hard so I can get a promotion.
- Probability: adverbs of probability tell us about the certainty of a situation. For example, I am sure he will come. Other examples are possible, obviously, probably, perhaps, surely, likely, and so on.
What Are Interrogative Adverbs?
Interrogative Adverbs are the adverbs used to ask questions that will tell us more about adjectives, verbs, and adverbs.
Interrogative adverbs are just four in number.
When
This interrogative adverb is used to ask questions relating to time. For example:
When did your plane land?
When will you eat?
When can I drive a car?
When should Linda come back?
Why
This interrogative adverb is used to ask about reasons. Here are some examples:
Why are you late?
Why is he?
Why are they quiet?
Why is Rita baking a cake?
Where
This interrogative adverb is used to ask questions related to place or location. Here are some examples:
Where are you going?
Where did you find my eraser?
Where is your school?
Where is Abigail?
How
This is the interrogative adverb of manner, quantity, and frequency. It is used to ask how something occurred. They are also used to asking time-related questions too. Here are some examples:
How did the show end?
How often do you go shopping
How much do you love your mother?
How many sandwiches can you finish?
How long was your journey?
How long were you at the bus stop?
Observe in the examples above how the interrogative adverbs start the question and how the verb should follow.
How to use them
Interrogative adverbs can also be used to ask indirect questions. For example:
Mr. John asked me where I was going.
If you change the sentence above to direct speech you will have,
‘Where are you going?’ Mr. John asked.
In that sentence, where is an interrogative adverb? Other examples are:
My father wants to know how many friends I have.
Does your sister know where you are?
He asked why the television was off.
Conclusion
An adverb is a part of speech that describes a verb, an adjective, and even another verb. Examples of adverbs are quickly, often, softly, early, happily, and so on. The types of adverbs are adverbs of time, place, frequency, purpose, manner, degree, and probability. Interrogative adverbs are used to ask questions. There are four interrogative adverbs: why, when, where, and how. They are not types. They are examples of interrogative adverbs to ask questions that demand a reason, to ask questions related to time, to ask questions related to place, and in asking questions related to time, manner, frequency, and quantity. Interrogative adverbs can also be used indirectly in sentences and questions.
