In this lesson you will learn about adverbs in English. Watch the presentation video, then read the Explanations and then watch the other related videos in this lesson. In other lessons we see every kind of adverb in more detail, this is just a general introduction.

ADVERBS

Adverbs are the words that modify the meaning of a verb and answer the questions: how?, how often?, when?, where?
(They can also modify an adjective or another adverb, but that's not important now)

- he speaks fast how? fast
- I sleep well how? well
- She is here today when? today
- They are dancing happily how? happily
- I never drink alcohol how often? never
- I live here where? here

ADVERBS OF MANNER

Most of the adverbs answer the question HOW? and are called "adverbs of manner". They are usually formed adding -ly to an adjective:
- happy + -ly = happily
- He is a happy man
- He dances happily how does he dance? happily
- A slow train moves slowly
More adverbs of manner: calmly, beautifully, badly, nicely, strongly, sadly, softly, ridiculously, madly, etc.
But some adverbs of manner don't end in -ly:
- A fast train moves fast

ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY

Adverbs answering the question HOW OFTEN? are called "adverbs of frequency" (always, never, sometimes, usually, rarely, etc.). Adverbs answering the question WHEN? are called "adverbs of time" (today, tomorrow, now, later, soon, etc.).

ADVERBS OF PLACE

Adverbs answering the question WHERE? are called "adverbs of place" (here, there, over there, nearby, far away, etc.).
- There is a bird over there
- I live here

ADVERBS OF TIME

Adverbs answering the question WHEN? are called "adverbs of time" (tomorrow, today, yesterday, later, soon, early, etc.)

- I will phone you tomorrow
- We can have a drink now or later

POSITION IN THE SENTENCE

They can go before or after the verb:
- She walked across the living-room
- She quietly walked across the living-room
- She walked quietly across the living-room
- She walked across the living-room quietly

Different adverbs may use different positions, some can use all, some can use only one or two.