Parts of Speech · Today with Benny

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I'm Benny, and I modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. I tell how, when, where, and to what extent. Stick with me, because the right detail protects the play.

Meet the Adverbs!

An adverb describes or modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Many adverbs add -ly to an adjective, like quick becoming quickly, but not all of them do. An adverb answers one of four questions: how, when, where, or to what extent.

Each sentence answers one of my questions: how, where, or when.

Tells How

I studied all the answers carefully.

Tells When

Dany will celebrate her birthday tomorrow.

Tells Where

The apple fell nearby.

To What Extent

Julian whispered very quietly.

Each sentence answers one of my questions: how, where, or when.

Please run quickly to the store.

I don't want to go there.

The paper is due today?

Adverbs Tell How

An adverb that tells how shows the way an action happens, like carefully or loudly. Ask how the action got done, and the word that answers is the adverb.

In a sentence

Both highlighted words tell how. Only one of them ends in -ly.

Please look closely at the picture on my desk.

When Susan tripped, she fell hard to the ground.

Library

Now you try

Tell me HOW Ben kicked it, and that's your adverb. You could try slowly, or hard, or carefully. Make the call.

Adverbs Tell Where and When

Where

Adverbs of place tell where something happens, like here, there, or outside.

Stay there!

When

Adverbs of time tell when something happens, like today, tomorrow, or never.

Eli had his first day of high school yesterday.

Now you try

This one tells WHERE the boots go, so give me a place word. You could try there, or outside, or upstairs. Show me.

Adverbs Tell To What Extent

An adverb can tell to what extent, measuring how strong another word is. Words like very, quite, and really turn the dial up or down.

In a sentence

The degree adverb measures the word right beside it.

Julian whispered very quietly.

The hallway stayed remarkably quiet.

Now you try

This adverb tells TO WHAT EXTENT the soup was hot. You could try very, or quite, or really. Crank it up.

Where the Adverb Sits

An adverb can come before or after the word it modifies, and the meaning stays the same. Read the sentence both ways and pick the seat that sounds best.

In a sentence

The same adverb does its job before the verb and after it.

Hayden quickly ran from the angry weasel.

Hayden ran quickly from the angry weasel.

Now you try

An adverb that slides in BEFORE the verb to tell how the cat climbed. You could try quietly, or slowly, or carefully. Make the call.

Building Adverbs with -ly

Many adverbs are built by adding -ly to an adjective: quick becomes quickly, and careful becomes carefully. Some spellings shift first, like happy becoming happily.

In a sentence

Grateful became gratefully, and quiet became quietly. The -ly turned them into adverbs.

Sasha gratefully accepted the dry towel.

The mouse crept quietly past the sleeping cat.

Now you try

Turn the adjective into an adverb that tells how Rosa hummed. You could try quickly, or sweetly, or quietly. Just add -ly.

Identifying Adverbs

Modifying a verb

An adverb can modify a verb, telling how the action happens.

Kyle walked quickly.

Modifying an adjective

An adverb can modify an adjective, measuring how much.

Susie was not sad when I left.

Modifying another adverb

An adverb can even modify another adverb, strengthening it.

I wrote very messily.

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Now you try

This one tells TO WHAT EXTENT the soup was hot. You could try very, or not, or extremely. Make the call.

Adjective or Adverb?

Adjective (Jake's)

When the word describes a noun or a pronoun, it is an adjective, and that one is Jake's.

The slow turtle entered the race.

Adverb (mine)

When the word modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, it is an adverb, and that one is mine.

The turtle walked slowly across the finish line.

Now you try

Sang is a verb, so it takes an adverb. You could try sweetly, or loudly, or softly. You've got this.