A Brief Note on Adverbs

The words that modify adjectives, other adverbs and verbs are called Adverbs. They typically answer the question- how? when? where? why? or to what extent? For example, the adverb quickly modifies the verb ran to say how fast the person ran. Adverbs can help make your writing more descriptive and interesting. However, overuse of adverbs can make your writing sound choppy and unnatural. In this brief note, we will discuss some tips for using adverbs effectively in your writing.

Definition of Adverbs

Words that modify adjectives, other adverbs, and verbs are called Adverbs. They are often used to answer the question of how, when, where, or to what extent.

For example:

• He slowly walked across the room. (The adverb slowly is modifying the verb walked.)
• The dog is very cute. (The adverb is modifying the noun dog cute.)
• She ran extremely quickly. (The adverb extremely modifies the adverb quickly.)

As you can see, adverbs can be very helpful in making your writing more descriptive. However, it is important to use them sparingly. Overuse of adverbs can make your writing sound choppy and unnatural.

Words that modify verbs are called Adverbs. They can express manner, place, time, or degree. For example, in the sentence “He ran quickly,” the adverb quickly modifies the verb ran.

Adverbs can indeed modify descriptive terms and other adverbs as well. For example, in the sentence “She is a very good singer,” the adverb very is modifying the adjective good. Many adverbs are created by adding -ly to an adjective, as in quick becomes quickly. However, not all words that end in -ly are adverbs. For example, lovely is an adjective, not an adverb.

Some adverbs do not change the form, regardless of what they modify. These include well, fast, hard, and late.

When to Use Adverbs

Adverbs can help make your writing more descriptive. However, it is important to use them sparingly. Overuse of adverbs can make your writing sound amateurish.

If you are unsure of whether or not to use an adverb, consider whether the sentence would still make sense without it. If the answer is yes, then it is probably best to leave the adverb out.

Here are a few examples of when adverbs can be useful:

• He ran quickly across the street.

Without the adverb “quickly,” this sentence would simply state that he ran across the street. The adverb adds the detail that helps to paint a picture for the reader.

• She whispered quietly to herself.

Again, without the adverb “quietly,” this sentence would simply state that she whispered to herself. The adverb helps to create a more vivid image for the reader.

• He slowly walked towards the door.

This sentence would be fine without the adverb “slowly.” However, the adverb does add an element of suspense that might be desired in some situations.

When not to Use Adverbs

Adverbs can be tempting, especially when we want to emphasize a point. But beware – overusing adverbs is a sign of weak writing. In general, try to avoid using adverbs, or at least use them sparingly.

There are a few specific situations where adverbs should be avoided:

When used with dialogue tags

Example:

“I’m fine,” she said angrily.

Here, the adverb “angrily” is unnecessary – the reader will already be able to tell that she’s angry from her tone of voice.

When used with verbs that are already descriptive

Example:

He ran quickly across the street.

Here, the adverb “quickly” is unnecessary – the verb “ran” already implies that he’s moving quickly.

When used to describe a physically impossible action

Example:

He jumped happily out of the window.

Here, the adverb “happily” is impossible – it’s not possible to jump and be happy at the same time.

When used to make a general statement

Example:

All students must try their best.

Here, the adverb “best” is unnecessary – the word “try” already implies that they’re doing their best.

Conclusion

Words that modify adjectives, other adverbs and verbs are called adverbs. They typically answer the questions- when? how? Where? And Why?. You can usually spot an adverb because it will be preceded by an -ly suffix. While they may seem like a minor part of language, adverbs play an important role in both writing and speech. Many experts believe that adverbs are one of the most commonly misused parts of speech. One should be thorough with the rules, purposes and differences of adverbs in order to avoid any mistake while using them in spoken or written communication.