"Adverbs" redirects here. For the Daniel Handler novel, see Adverbs (novel).
Look up Adverb in
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Examples
The waves came in quickly over the rocks.
I found the film amazingly dull.
The meeting went well, and the directors were extremely happy with the outcome.
Crabs are known for walking sideways.
I often have eggs for breakfast.
An adverb is a part of speech. It is any word that modifies any other part of language: verbs, adjectives (including numbers), clauses, sentences and other adverbs, except for nouns; modifiers of nouns are primarily determiners and adjectives.
Adverbs typically answer 3 questions such as how?, when?, or where? This function is called the adverbial function, and is realized not just by single words (i.e., adverbs) but by adverbial phrases and adverbial clauses. Adverbs also describe adjectives, verbs, and other adverbs.
An adverb as an adverbial may be a sentence element in its own right.
They treated her well. (SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT + ADVERBIAL)
Alternatively, an adverb may be contained within a sentence element.
An extremely small child entered the room. (SUBJECT + ADVERBIAL + OBJECT)