Adverbs are words that can describe:

 verbs → Read the instructions carefully. There are different types of adverbs:
 adjectives → I am terribly sorry about what  Adverbs of manner How? happily
happened.  Adverbs of place Where? here
 other adverbs → He speaks very quickly.  Adverbs of time When? today
 whole sentences → Apparently, he has forgotten our  Adverbs of frequency How often? always
appointment.
 Adverbs of degree How (adverb)? very
 Sentence adverbs How (sentence)? hopefully
Adverbs of manner answer questions beginning with How…?
How does she speak? She speaks loudly.

We form these adverbs by adding –ly to the adjective.

For example: slowly, quietly, carefully, beautifully, sadly… Adverbs of time answer questions beginning with When…?
When is she coming back? She is coming back
tomorrow.
Position
These adverbs are placed: Some adverbs of time are: today, tomorrow, yesterday,
soon, now, then, recently, lately, just, still, already,
 after the direct object. yet…
She did her homework quietly.
Position
 after the main verb if there is no direct object.
They are usually placed at the end of the sentence,
He sings badly.
although they can appear at the beginning of the
sentence for emphasis.
I am leaving today.
Tomorrow they are getting married.
Adverbs of place answer the questions beginning with
Where…? The adverbs just, still and already appear in the middle of
Where are the kids? They are outside. the sentence, between the auxiliary and the verb.
They are still reading.
Some adverbs of place are: here, there, somewhere, She has just finished her homework.
anywhere, everywhere, away, outside, inside, I have already seen that film.
downstairs, upstairs…
The adverb yet appears at the end of the sentence. It is
Position used in interrogative and negative sentences.
never
They haven’t called us yet.
They are usually placed at the end of the sentence. They hardly ever
go:


seldom
after the verb if there isn’t any object.
Pam went downstairs. rarely
Adverbs of frequency answer the questions beginning with
 after verb+object or verb+preposition+object. How often…?
occasionally
I saw them there. How often do you go to the theatre? I rarely go to the
We looked for the keys everywhere. theatre.
sometimes

These are the most common frequency adverbs:

often

Adverbs of degree are used to show the degree to which frequently

somebody or something has a characteristic.
It is really cold this morning. usually

Some adverbs of degree are: hardly, nearly, almost, very, always

really, much, fairly, quite, rather, pretty, extremely,
incredibly…

Position
100% 75%
They appear before the adjective or the adverb they 50%
modify. 25% 0%
He is a rather clever boy. Position
She dances quite well.
These adverbs are placed:
before the main verb.
If they modify a verb, they go:
I usually go out on Saturday nights.
 before the main verb.
I don’t often eat meat.
I slipped and nearly fell. after the verb to be or auxiliary verbs.
 after auxiliary verbs, modal verbs and the verb to She is always late for school.
be. He has never seen that film.
He can hardly see without his glasses.
She didn’t really like the book.
Sentence adverbs are adverbs that modify a whole When there are more than one adverb or adverbial phrases in
sentence. They are used to express how sure we are about a sentence, then we use them in the following order:
what is said.
Apparently, he won’t be here on time. manner – place – time

Some sentence adverbs are: certainly, obviously, clearly, She worked hard at school (*) yesterday.
definitely, surely, probably, possibly…
But when the main verb of the sentence is a verb of
Position movement, for example: go, leave, arrive, come…, then we
use the adverbs in the following order:
They can appear in any position in the sentence.
Actually, I didn’t buy anything. place – manner – time
She’ll probably be late.
She can dance well, obviously. He arrived here early this morning.
When they are in the middle of the sentence, they are
placed before the main verb or after the auxiliary. (*) Prepositional phrases can also be used as adverbs:
He definitely hates beer. I go to school by bus.
They will probably arrive late.

We form most of adverbs (especially adverbs of manner) by Some adverbs are not formed according to the rule, while
adding –ly to their corresponding adjectives. some others have the same form as their adjective.
wonderful – wonderfully
kind – kindly
slow – slowly Adjective Adverb Adjective Adverb
nice – nicely BUT true – truly
good well late late
But there are some rules:
fast fast early early
 Adjectives which end in consonant + y change the –y to
–i and add –ly. far far near near
heavy – heavily
easy – easily
hard hard high high

 Adjectives which end in –ble or –le change the –e to –y. Some adjectives end in –ly: deadly, elderly, friendly,
probable – probably lively, lonely, lovely, silly… The adverb of these
gentle – gently BUT whole – wholly adjectives is formed with “in a … way”.
He is very friendly
 Adjectives which end in –ic add –ally. He behaved in a friendly way.
tragic- tragically
basic – basically BUT public – publicly Some words ending in –ly are both adjectives and
adverbs: hourly, daily, early, weekly, monthly,
 Adjectives which end in –ll ad –y. yearly…
full – fully I bought a weekly magazine.
We play chess twice weekly.

Some adjectives have two adverbs: one with the same form as the adjective and another in –ly. But the meaning of these
adverbs is different.

Adjective Adverb I always work hard and

pass my exams, but my
Adverb
sister hardly studies and
deep deep (a long way down)
she always fails her exams.
deeply (greatly)

easy easy (slowly, gently)

easily (without difficulty)

free free (without cost)

freely (with freedom)

hard hard (with a lot of effort)

hardly (scarcely, barely)

high high (a long way up)

highly (very much)

last last (after all the others)

 lastly (finally)

late late (not early)

lately (recently)

near near (close)

Short adverbs There are some adverbs which don’t follow the rules
One-syllable adverbs and adverbs with the same form and have irregular
nearly comparative and superlative
(almost)
as adjectives form their comparative by adding –er forms.
sure sure (certainly)
and their superlative by adding –est to the positive
form of the adverb.
surely (undoubtedly)
Adverb Comparative
fast - faster - the fastest Superlative
wrong well wrong (not correctly)
early - earlier - the earliest better
wrongly badly best worse
soon - sooner - (unjustly)
the soonest
little worst
Long adverbs less
much least more
Adverbs with more than two-syllables (adverbs ending
in –ly) form their comparative with more and their far most
superlative with most before the adverb. farther / further
farthest / furthest
slowly - more slowly - the most slowly
happily - more happily - the most happily

Remember!

 less + adverb + than, in the comparative degree, shows

inferiority. It is the opposite of more … than.
I see Brian less often than Daniel.

 the least + adverb + of / in, in the superlative degree, shows

inferiority. It is the opposite of the most … of. Use than after the
Diana works the least hard in the class.
comparative and of or in after
 as + adverb + as shows similarity.
He runs as fast as his sister (does). the superlative degree.
 Use the article the before the
 not as / so + adverb + as shows dissimilarity.
She doesn’t swim as / so fast as her brother (does) superlative degree.

Write the words in brackets in the correct place.

I have cereal for breakfast. (usually)
__________________________________________
Sandra is going to participate in the competition.
(definitely)
__________________________________________
I was glad to see Mary after so many years. (really)
__________________________________________
We go to the cinema on Saturdays. (hardly ever)
__________________________________________
The two girls were talking when I arrived. (happily)
__________________________________________
My mother felt tired this morning. (extremely)
__________________________________________
I have an appointment with the doctor. (tomorrow)
__________________________________________
My brother is complaining about everything. (always)
__________________________________________
The children played in the afternoon. (upstairs)
___________________________________________
Andrew ate his sandwich. (quickly)
___________________________________________
The football match had started when we arrived at the
stadium. (already)
__________________________________________
My sister will go to Egypt in summer. (probably)
__________________________________________
Peter and Sam meet every day. (here)
__________________________________________
It is impossible that Ann arrives on time. (almost)
__________________________________________
The factory workers are on strike. (still)
__________________________________________
Karen opened her presents on her birthday. (eagerly)
__________________________________________
 Write the words in the correct order and make sentences.

often / in the afternoon / go / for a walk / I
__________________________________________
his dinner / Ben / hungrily / ate / at the restaurant
__________________________________________
the classroom / left / noisily / the students /
/ two minutes ago
__________________________________________
played / yesterday / the children /in the garden /
/ happily
__________________________________________
carefully / examined / the doctor / the patient
__________________________________________
my father / hard / always / in his office / works
__________________________________________
Alex / every day / to school / by bus / goes
__________________________________________
I / go / tomorrow / probably / shopping / will
__________________________________________
in front of the TV / comfortably / Mrs. Jones /
/ is sitting / now
__________________________________________
all night / the baby / peacefully / in his cradle /
/ slept
__________________________________________
always / carefully / her motorbike / rides / Susan
__________________________________________
very quickly / Janet / her homework /last night / did
__________________________________________
very / the plane / late / at the airport / arrived
__________________________________________
certainly / is / today / to the meeting / going / Paul
__________________________________________
my father / in the morning / early / usually / gets up
__________________________________________
Pam / wonderfully / at the concert / sang / last night
__________________________________________

Choose for each sentence the appropriate adjective, then complete the sentences with the adverbs of
these adjectives.
2
1
David was very bad at tennis, but he plays __________ now.

Please, drive __________. The road is very wet.

I’m a bit worried, the child is playing very __________, I can’t hear him. (good – bad) (dangerous - careful)

Let’s run __________.The bus is coming!

3 4
When Lisa got the phone call, she smiled __________.

Alison has got new glasses. Now she can see things __________.

I saw Tim at the dentist’s. He was sitting __________. (noisy - quiet) (slow - fast)

Thomas took an umbrella because it was raining __________.

Sam arrived at home late last night and his wife was waiting __________.

Eddie works as a chef, but he cooks ________. 5

6
Emily didn’t have breakfast so she ate her lunch __________.
(happy - sad) (bad - clear)
Daniel looks sad. I think he did __________ in the exam.
12 11
10 9 7

(good - bad) (slow - hungry) (terrible - good) (angry - happy) (quick - heavy) (nervous - happy)
 Complete the blanks with the correct form of the adverbs.

POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE

fast ___________________ ___________________

quietly ___________________ ___________________
___________________ ___________________ the most slowly
early ___________________ ___________________
___________________ worse ___________________
cheaply ___________________ ___________________
___________________ ___________________ the most beautifully
correctly ___________________ ___________________
___________________ ___________________ the best
___________________ farther ___________________
politely ___________________ ___________________
___________________ harder ___________________
___________________ ___________________ the most cleverly
wisely ___________________ ___________________
___________________ more quickly ___________________

Complete the blanks with the comparative Write sentences using as…as and
or superlative of the adverbs in brackets. as/so…as, as in the examples.

Susan is studying __________ (hard) than she did last year. Sophie studies / hard / Phil 
Amanda eats __________ (healthily) than his brother. Sophie studies as hard as Phil.
Maggie paints __________ (well) in the class.
Alex walked __________ (far) than Alexis in the excursion.
Mark drives / fast / Helen 
Mark doesn’t drive as /so fast as Helen.
Diana behaved __________ (cheerfully) of all the people in
the party.
Cheetahs can run __________ (fast) of all animals.
Carol sings / beautifully / Kate 
____________________________________________
She dressed __________ (expensively) than she could afford.
Alan speaks Italian __________ (fluently) than Jack.
Charlie played __________ (badly) of all in the team.
Tony came / soon / he could 
The teacher treats Anne __________ (well) than the other ____________________________________________
students.
My little sister goes to bed __________ (early) in the family. Martin’s book is sold / well / Lucy’s 
Your daughter danced __________ (gracefully) of all in her ____________________________________________
class.
Helen drives __________ (carelessly) than she used to. The parents behaved / stupidly / their children 
My father sleeps __________ (soundly) of all the people I
____________________________________________
know.
Planes can fly __________ (high) than birds.
She speaks __________ (politely) of all my friends.
Tim plays football / badly / Peter 
____________________________________________

John stayed at the party / late / Sandra 

____________________________________________

Melissa gets up / early / her mother 

 Choose the correct alternative for each sentence.

You should eat __________ if you want to lose weight.

least

b) little

c) less

Our team played __________ of all in the Championship.

worse

b) the worst

c) badly

My new motorbike doesn’t cost as __________ as yours.

more

b) most

c) much

The postman came __________ than I had expected.

earlier

b) early

c) earliest

Today the children are playing __________ than yesterday.

more quiet b)

more quietly

c) quieter

Colin speaks French less __________ than I do.

well

b) good

c) better

It has been raining __________ for weeks. If it doesn’t stop soon, we will have a flood.

hard

b) hardly

c) harder

Could you please speak __________? I can’t understand you.

more slow

b) slow

c) more slowly

Alan missed the train because he arrived __________ at the railway station.

late
 b) later

c) lately
ANSWER KEY
The air-hostess spoke to us __________.
1 friendly
2
1. I usually have cereal for breakfast. 1. I often go for a walk in the afternoon.
2. Sandra is definitely going to participate in the 2. Ben ate his dinner hungrily at the restaurant.
competition.b) in a friendly way c)
3. The students left the classroom noisily two minutes
3. I was really glad to see Mary after so many years. ago.
4. in ahardly
We friendever
waygo to the cinema on Saturdays. 4. The children played happily in the garden yesterday.
5. The two girls were talking happily when I arrived. 5. The doctor examined the patient carefully.
6. Mymother
My dog barks __________
felt extremely tiredthan
this my neighbour’s dog. 6. My father always works hard in his office.
morning.
7. I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow. 7. Alex goes to school by bus every day.
8. Mymore loudis always complaining about everything.
brother 8. I will probably go shopping tomorrow.
9. The children played upstairs in the afternoon. 9. Mrs. Jones is sitting comfortably in front of the TV now.
10. Andrew ate his sandwich quickly. 10. The baby slept peacefully in his cradle all night.
b) loudly
11. The football match had already started when we 11. Susan always rides her motorbike carefully.
arrived at the stadium. 12. Janet did her homework very quickly last night.
c) less loudly
12. My sister will probably go to Egypt in summer. 13. The plane arrived at the airport very late.
13. Peter and Sam meet here every day. 14. Paul is certainly going to the meeting today.
Although Henry studied __________ he could, he failed15. theMy
exam.
father usually gets up early in the morning.
14. It is almost impossible that Ann arrives on time.
15. The factory workers are still on strike. 16. Pam sang wonderfully at the concert last night.
as hard as b)
16. Karen opened her presents eagerly on her birthday.
hard

c) hardly

well was so tired that he could __________ keep

John his eyes open.
POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
3 carefully 4 fast faster the fastest
quietly quietly more quietly the most quietly
hard
fast slowly more slowly the most slowly
happily early earlier the earliest
clearly b) hardly badly worse the worst
nervously cheaply more cheaply the most cheaply
heavily beautifully c) harder
more beautifully the most beautifully
angrily correctly more correctly the most correctly
terribly
We had a map, so we found the hotel __________.
well better the best
hungrily far farther / further the farthest / the furthest
badly politely more politely the most politely
easily
hard harder the hardest
cleverly more cleverly the most cleverly
b) easier wisely more wisely the most wisely
quickly more quickly the most quickly
c) easy

1. My neighbour plays the music the __________ of all in the neighbourhood.

harder
5 2. more healthily
3. more loudly
the best b)
4. farther / further
5. the most cheerfully 3. Carol sings as beautifully as Kate.
most loud
6. the fastest
6 4. Tony came as soon as he could.
7. more expensively 5. Martin’s book isn’t sold as / so well as Lucy’s.
c) most loudly 6. The parents behaved as stupidly as their children.
8. more fluently
9. the worst 7. Tim doesn’t play football as badly as Peter.
10. better 8. John didn’t stay at the party as late as Sandra.
11. the earliest 9. Melissa gets up as early as her mother.
12. the most gracefully
13. more carelessly
14. the most soundly
15. higher
16. the most politely

7 1. c 2. b 3. c 4. a 5. b 6. a 7. a 8. c 9. a 10. b 11. c 12. a

13. b 14. a 15. c