What is Adverb

What is Adverb in Grammar ?

Adverb – Simple Explanation

Adverbs are words that tell us more about verbs, adjectives, or even other adverbs. They describe how, when, where, and to what extent something happens. For example, in the sentence “She sings beautifully,” the word beautifully describes how she sings. That is the job of an adverb!

Hindi: Adverb वह शब्द होता है जो क्रिया, विशेषण या अन्य क्रिया विशेषण की विशेषता बताता है।

What is an Adverb? (Definition)

An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It provides extra detail, such as how something happens, when it happens, where it happens, or to what degree it happens. Adverbs add clarity and depth to sentences. Common adverbs include: quickly, very, here, now, silently, always, and too. Most adverbs end in -ly, although not all do. The placement of adverbs can vary, but they are often found near the word they modify.

Hindi: Adverb क्रिया को और स्पष्ट, रोचक और जानकारीपूर्ण बनाता है। जैसे – वह तेज़ दौड़ता है। (तेज़ = Adverb)

Types of Adverbs (75+ words)

Adverbs can be divided into several categories:

  • Adverb of Manner: Tells how something is done. (e.g., slowly, beautifully)
  • Adverb of Time: Tells when something happens. (e.g., now, yesterday)
  • Adverb of Place: Tells where something happens. (e.g., here, everywhere)
  • Adverb of Frequency: Tells how often something happens. (e.g., always, often)
  • Adverb of Degree: Tells the intensity. (e.g., very, too, almost)

Hindi: Adverb के प्रकार हैं: रीति वाचक, समय वाचक, स्थान वाचक, आवृत्ति वाचक और मात्रा वाचक क्रिया विशेषण।

Tips and Rules for Using Adverbs

  • Most adverbs of manner end with -ly.
  • Place the adverb near the verb it modifies.
  • Do not confuse adjectives with adverbs. (“He is a quick runner” vs “He runs quickly”)
  • Use only one adverb of degree per sentence.
  • Use adverbs to make writing more precise and vivid.

Fill in the Blanks – Practice Questions

  1. She speaks ________ during meetings. (softly / soft)
  2. They arrived ________ at the event. (late / lately)
  3. The baby is sleeping _________. (peaceful / peacefully)
  4. He ________ completes his homework. (always / seldom)
  5. The wind blew ________ through the trees. (gently / gentle)

Answers:

  1. softly – modifies “speaks”
  2. late – correct usage of time-related adverb
  3. peacefully – modifies “sleeping”
  4. always – shows frequency
  5. gently – describes how the wind blew

Common Error Correction Rules

  • Incorrect: She sings good. → Correct: She sings well.
  • Incorrect: He runs quick. → Correct: He runs quickly.
  • Incorrect: They arrived lately. → Correct: They arrived late.
  • Incorrect: I complete my work always. → Correct: I always complete my work.
  • Incorrect: The room is extreme cold. → Correct: The room is extremely cold.

Explanation: These corrections show how using the wrong form (adjective vs adverb) can change sentence meaning or make it incorrect.

Find the Error – Practice

  1. He talks very loud in the class.
  2. The teacher explained the topic very clear.
  3. She always go to school on time.
  4. You did the job perfect.
  5. They lives happily in the village.

Corrected Sentences:

  1. He talks very loudly in the class.
  2. The teacher explained the topic very clearly.
  3. She always goes to school on time.
  4. You did the job perfectly.
  5. They live happily in the village.

Passage-Based Practice – 1

Amit works in a busy office. He always arrives early and starts his work quietly. He types reports quickly and responds to emails politely. Because he works carefully, his manager trusts him completely. Even when the office gets noisy, Amit continues to focus.

Questions:

  1. Find three adverbs used in the passage.
  2. Which adverb shows manner?
  3. Why does the manager trust Amit?

Answers:

  1. early, quietly, quickly, politely, carefully, completely
  2. “quickly” and “politely” show manner
  3. Because Amit works carefully

Passage-Based Practice – 2

Neha sings beautifully. She practices daily and performs confidently on stage. Her voice is naturally sweet, but she still works hard. People always clap loudly after her performances. She never forgets to thank the audience.

Questions:

  1. Identify two adverbs of frequency.
  2. Which adverb describes how Neha sings?
  3. What makes Neha’s performance special?

Answers:

  1. always, never
  2. beautifully
  3. She sings beautifully and performs confidently

Free Educational Resources for Students

➗ Math Study Material & Tests 📚 English Vocabulary Tests 📚 English Grammar Online Tests 🎓 Grade 12 Case Studies 🧩 Grade 1 Logic Quizzes