What is an adverb?

This page has been put together to help you practise and revisit some of the brilliant skills you’ve learned all through primary school.

It’s a great way to boost your confidence in English and get you ready for the exciting next step into Year 8!

An adverb is a word that tells us more about a verb.

Adverbs can describe how, when or where something happens, making our sentences more precise and engaging.

Power through this page and you’ll be ready to:

• spot adverbs of manner, time and place

• recognise different types of adverbs and use them in sentences

• use adverbs to add detail to actions

• sort adverbs into categories based on their function

Adverbs of manner tell us how something happens.

They often (but not always) end in –ly.

Example:

• Susan waited patiently for her pizza.

Patiently is the adverb because it tells us more about the verb waited.

Adverbs of manner help readers picture the action clearly and precisely.

Further examples of adverbs of manner:

• The dog ate his dinner messily.

• Jerry laughed heartily at the comedian.

• You should always speak clearly when talking to a large crowd.

Adverbs of time tell us when an action takes place.

Example:

• Always brush your teeth before going to bed.

Always tells us when the action of brushing happens.

Adverbs of time help organise events clearly, which is particularly important in narrative and procedural writing.

Further examples of adverbs of time:

• After you eat dinner, it’s time to get ready for hockey practice.

• “Do your homework now!” shouted Dad.

• Next, the magician disappeared.

Activity

Adverbs of place tell us where something happens.

Example:

• The boys played basketball in the playground.

In tells us where the action of playing happened.

These adverbs often appear after the verb and give important spatial detail.

Further examples of adverbs of place:

· The eagle built its nest on the tree branches.

· William fell between the mobiles at lunch time.

· The choir sang in the church.

Adverbs can be moved around in a sentence, but the meaning and impact can change.

Examples:

• Quickly, the dog ran.

• The dog ran quickly.

Both sentences are correct, but placing the adverb at the start can add emphasis.

Activity

When an adverb begins a sentence, it is usually followed by a comma.

Example:

• Suddenly, the lights went out.

The comma helps the reader pause and improves clarity.

Activity

Think about these questions to stretch your thinking and sharpen your skills!

• How does adding an adverb change the meaning of a sentence? Can you give an example?

• Why might a writer choose to use adverbs when describing actions in a story?

• Can you think of an adverb that describes how you worked during a recent piece of work? Share it and explain why you chose it.

Have a chat about your answers with a parent, teacher or your class.