Parts of Speech · Today with Benny

Do You Qualify?

1 Learn Start here

2 Assess Take the quiz

3 Practice Try it out

4 Create Make your own

★ Certified Earn your badge

▶ Play Optional

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.

One adverb for each question I ask.

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.

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

Ask how the sketching and the barking happened. The highlighted words answer.

Hank expertly sketched a pegasus on the cover of his workbook.

Katie barked loudly when someone stepped on her tail.

Library

Now you try

Tell me HOW the band played, and that's your adverb. You could try sweetly, or badly, or perfectly. That's your call.

Adverbs Tell Where and When

Where

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

Come here!

When

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

Winfield is going to come over for lunch tomorrow.

Now you try

This seat wants an adverb that tells WHEN practice starts. You could try soon, or tomorrow, or early. Name it.

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

Same sentence, same adverb, two different seats.

Lynn loudly knocked on the front door until it opened.

Lynn knocked loudly on the front door until it opened.

Now you try

Drop an adverb in right after the verb to tell how the kicker waited. You could try patiently, or quietly, or nervously. Name it.

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

Careful became carefully, and happy became happily. Both adverbs started life as adjectives.

Dev carefully laced up his cleats.

Mia smiled happily after the relay.

Now you try

Build the adverb off an adjective like angry, firm, or tight. You could try angrily, or firmly, or tightly. Heads up: angry changes its y to i first.

Identifying Adverbs

Modifying a verb

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

Emily gazed proudly at her amazing work.

Modifying an adjective

An adverb can modify an adjective, measuring how much.

Mom was really tired last night.

Modifying another adverb

An adverb can even modify another adverb, strengthening it.

Julian whispered very quietly.

Library

Now you try

This adverb makes the adjective stronger. You could try very, or extremely, or quite. Crank it up.

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 quick runner won 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 runner ran quickly around the track.

Now you try

Danced is a verb, so its partner is an adverb. You could try joyfully, or badly, or quickly. That's your call.

Comparative and Superlative Adverbs

Comparative

Comparative adverbs compare how two people do something. For short adverbs (1 syllable), add -er (faster). For longer adverbs, use more (more quickly).

I can dance more obnoxiously than you.

Betty threw the ball farther than I did.

Superlative

Superlative adverbs compare three or more. For short, add -est. For longer, use most. Irregular forms: well/better/best, badly/worse/worst.

I can dance the most obnoxiously of all.

Betty threw the ball the farthest of anyone on the whole team.

Now you try

Compare the two runners with one adverb. You could try sooner, or faster, or more quickly. Make the call.