Adverbs are a powerful tool in English that allow you to add detail, clarity, and emphasis to your sentences. Whether you’re describing how something is done, when it happens, or the degree to which it occurs, adverbs provide essential context. Mastering adverbs will not only help you sound more natural in conversation but also improve your writing skills.
In this article, we’ll explore 100 common English adverbs with examples to help you use them effectively in different contexts. Understanding the various types of adverbs and how they function in sentences will allow you to speak and write more fluently and accurately. Let’s dive in!
What are common English adverbs?
An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. It adds extra information to the sentence, answering questions like how, when, where, and to what extent something happens.
For example:
“He runs quickly.”
Here, “quickly” modifies the verb “runs” to explain how he runs.
Adverbs can describe the manner of an action, the time it occurs, its frequency, its place, or its degree.
Types of Common English adverbs
Adverbs can be categorized based on the type of information they convey. Below are the main categories of adverbs in English:
Adverbs of Manner—Describe how something happens.
Examples: quickly, slowly, easily, quietly
Example Sentence: “She sings beautifully.”
Adverbs of Time—Describe when something happens.
Examples: now, then, soon, today, tomorrow
Example Sentence: “I will see you tomorrow.”
Adverbs of Frequency—Describe how often something happens.
Examples: always, often, rarely, never, usually
Example Sentence: “He always goes to the gym on weekends.”
Adverbs of Place—Describe where something happens.
Examples: here, there, everywhere, nowhere
Example Sentence: “We looked everywhere for the missing keys.”
Adverbs of Degree—Describe the extent or intensity of an action or adjective.
Examples: very, quite, too, almost, extremely
Example Sentence: “She is extremely talented.”
Adverbs of Purpose—Explain why something happens.
Examples: so, thus, therefore
Example Sentence: “He studied hard; therefore, he passed the exam.”
100 common English adverbs with Examples
Adverbs of Manner
These adverbs tell us how an action is performed.
| Adverb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| quickly | She finished her work quickly. |
| slowly | The car moved slowly through the traffic. |
| easily | He solved the puzzle easily. |
| quietly | Please speak quietly during the presentation. |
| carefully | He carefully examined the document. |
| badly | She performed badly on the test. |
| well | She sings very well. |
| dramatically | His performance improved dramatically. |
| comfortably | She sat comfortably in the chair. |
| loudly | The dog barked loudly all night. |
Adverbs of Time
These adverbs tell us when something happens.
| Adverb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| now | I need to finish this work now. |
| soon | The train will arrive soon. |
| today | We are meeting today at 5 p.m. |
| yesterday | She went to the market yesterday. |
| tomorrow | I will call you tomorrow. |
| lately | I haven’t seen her lately. |
| always | He always arrives early for meetings. |
| often | I often go jogging in the morning. |
| never | She never eats junk food. |
| recently | I have recently moved to a new city. |
Adverbs of Frequency
These adverbs describe how often something occurs.
| Adverb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| always | I always drink coffee in the morning. |
| usually | She usually takes a walk in the evening. |
| often | We often visit our grandparents on weekends. |
| sometimes | He sometimes goes out for dinner after work. |
| rarely | I rarely watch television. |
| never | He never drinks soda. |
| frequently | The phone rings frequently during the day. |
| continually | She continually improves her skills. |
| occasionally | We occasionally go on vacation. |
| hardly ever | He hardly ever comes to the office on weekends. |
Adverbs of Place
These adverbs tell us where something happens.
| Adverb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| here | Come here and sit with us. |
| there | She’s waiting for you there. |
| everywhere | I looked everywhere for my keys. |
| nowhere | He went nowhere after the party. |
| outside | We’ll meet you outside the restaurant. |
| inside | The children are playing inside the house. |
| upstairs | She is working upstairs in her room. |
| downstairs | I heard a noise coming from downstairs. |
| anywhere | You can sit anywhere in the room. |
| everywhere | There are cafes everywhere in Paris. |
Adverbs of Degree
These adverbs tell us the intensity or extent of something.
| Adverb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| very | She is very kind to everyone she meets. |
| extremely | The test was extremely difficult. |
| quite | The cake is quite delicious. |
| too | This book is too heavy to carry. |
| almost | I almost missed the bus this morning. |
| entirely | She is entirely responsible for the project. |
| hardly | I can hardly wait for the concert tonight. |
| fully | The building was fully booked last night. |
| barely | We barely had enough money to buy the tickets. |
| somewhat | He is somewhat nervous about the meeting. |
Adverbs of Purpose
These adverbs tell us why something happens.
| Adverb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| so | He studied hard so he could pass the exam. |
| thus | They didn’t prepare, thus failing the test. |
therefore | She was sick; therefore, she didn’t come to work. |
| hence | He was late, hence his apology. |
| consequently | He forgot the map; consequently, we got lost. |
| accordingly | We will adjust accordingly based on your feedback. |
| otherwise | You need to leave now; otherwise, you’ll miss the flight. |
More Examples of Common English Adverbs
Adverbs of Manner
Adverbs of manner are used to describe how an action is performed. These adverbs give us more information about the action and make our sentences more descriptive and vivid.
| Adverb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| carefully | He carefully opened the fragile box. |
| gracefully | The dancer moved gracefully across the stage. |
| aggressively | The dog barked aggressively at the stranger. |
| politely | She politely declined the invitation. |
| energetically | He responded energetically to the challenge. |
| cleverly | She cleverly solved the puzzle in no time. |
| reluctantly | He reluctantly agreed to the proposal. |
| peacefully | The baby slept peacefully in the crib. |
| smoothly | The car moved smoothly along the highway. |
| quietly | He quietly slipped out of the room to avoid waking anyone. |
Adverbs of Time
These adverbs are used to give information about when something happens. Adverbs of time help set the timeframe for an action, making it clear when something is happening or will happen.
| Adverb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| already | I have already finished my homework. |
| soon | The bus will be arriving soon. |
| then | First we will go to the store, and then we can grab lunch. |
| eventually | She will eventually finish her degree. |
| never | He never calls me back. |
| always | She always leaves work at 5 p.m. |
| lately | He’s been feeling tired lately. |
| soon enough | We’ll be home soon enough. |
| still | She still hasn’t replied to my message. |
| yet | I haven’t seen that movie yet. |
Adverbs of Frequency
These adverbs indicate how often something happens, giving us insight into the regularity of an action.
| Adverb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| often | She often goes for a walk in the evening. |
| seldom | He seldom eats junk food. |
| frequently | They frequently travel for business. |
| occasionally | We occasionally go out for dinner. |
| always | He always remembers my birthday. |
| never | She never watches television. |
| regularly | I regularly exercise to stay fit. |
| sometimes | I sometimes forget my keys at home. |
| constantly | She is constantly checking her phone. |
| hardly ever | He hardly ever wakes up early on weekends. |
Adverbs of Place
Adverbs of place tell us where something happens. These adverbs can specify the location or direction of the action.
| Adverb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| here | Come here and sit down. |
| there | The kids are playing there in the park. |
| everywhere | I’ve looked everywhere for my keys. |
| nowhere | We searched everywhere to find him. |
| anywhere | You can sit anywhere in the theater. |
| upstairs | The bathroom is upstairs. |
| downstairs | I’ll be downstairs in the kitchen. |
| abroad | She traveled abroad for her studies. |
| outside | Let’s eat outside on the patio. |
| inside | The dog ran inside after hearing the doorbell. |
Adverbs of Degree
Adverbs of degree provide more information about the extent or intensity of an action, an adjective, or another adverb.
| Adverb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| very | The movie was very interesting. |
| too | The coffee is too hot to drink. |
| extremely | It was extremely hot in the desert. |
| almost | I almost missed the train this morning. |
| completely | The house was completely dark when we arrived. |
| highly | She is highly skilled in painting. |
| quite | The answer was quite easy to figure out. |
| not very | The movie wasn’t very good, in my opinion. |
| barely | He barely managed to catch the last bus. |
| fully | He was fully prepared for the presentation |
Advanced Uses of Common English adverbs
While the basic uses of adverbs are important, mastering their advanced applications can significantly enhance your fluency. Understanding how adverbs modify various parts of a sentence can make your language more precise, nuanced, and dynamic.
1. Using Adverbs to Modify the Entire Sentence
Adverbs that modify the entire sentence are placed at the beginning or end of the sentence. These adverbs give context or provide a broader understanding of the action as a whole.
Example 1:
“Fortunately, she passed the test with flying colors.”
“Fortunately” modifies the entire sentence, showing the speaker’s sentiment about the outcome.
Example 2:
“I will see you at the meeting, hopefully.”
“Hopefully” adds optimism to the sentence, modifying the whole statement.
2. Using Adverbs to Emphasize Adjectives or Other Adverbs
Certain adverbs can intensify or lessen the meaning of an adjective or another adverb, adding depth to your description.
Example 1:
“The soup is incredibly hot.”
“Incredibly” emphasizes the adjective “hot,” making it stronger.
Example 2:
“He ran quite quickly to catch the bus.”
“Quite” modifies the adverb “quickly,” indicating a moderate pace.
3. Using Adverbs to Create Contrast
Adverbs can be used to highlight differences or contradictions in an action or description.
Example 1:
“He’s normally very punctual, but today he arrived late.”
“Normally” contrasts with the late arrival, suggesting an unusual situation.
Example 2:
“She speaks softly, yet her words carry a lot of weight.”
“Yet” shows the contrast between her soft speaking manner and the powerful impact of her words.
Conclusion On Common English adverbs
Adverbs are an essential part of English grammar. They help provide more detail and context, allowing you to express yourself with clarity and precision. With the examples above, you can now incorporate 100 common adverbs into your sentences, making your conversations and writing more expressive.
By practicing adverbs in different situations, you’ll be able to communicate more effectively, adding nuance and depth to your English. Keep experimenting with these adverbs in your daily conversations, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering their use!