Dictionary of English - adverb

This is a grammatical part of speech for words that modify or describe verbs: she ran quickly, adjectives: a beautifully clear day, and adverbs: they did it really well. Most adverbs are formed from adjectives or past participles by adding -ly: quick: quickly or -ally: automatic: automatically.

Sometimes adverbs are formed by adding -wise as in moving clockwise; (in the phrase a clockwise direction, clockwise is an adjective). Some adverbs have a distinct form from their partnering adjective, for example, good/well: it was good work; they did it well. Others do not derive from adjectives, for example very, in very nice; tomorrow, in I'll do it tomorrow. Some are unadapted adjectives, for example pretty, as in It's pretty good. Sentence adverbs modify whole sentences or phrases: Generally, it rains a lot here; Usually, the town is busy at this time of year.

Adverbs are divided into four types, depending on whether they express manner, degree, time, or place. Overuse of adverbs should be avoided. For example, in the sentence He swiped wildly and the ball whizzed quickly, the adverbs are redundant, since the verbs contain their meanings already. See also tautology.

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