Understanding the forms of adverbs is essential for mastering English syntax and sentence structure. There are three primary forms of adverbs: adverbs formed by adding -ly to an adjective, adverbs that share identical words with an adjective, and adverbs not derived from an adjective or any other word. For a broader look at how adverbs are structured, you can also read our detailed guide on Forms of Adverbs.
What Are the Main Forms of Adverbs?
Adverbs can be classified into several categories based on how they are derived and used in sentences. Let's explore the core types and spelling rules.
1. Most Adverbs Are Formed by Adding -ly to an Adjective
Adding the suffix -ly is the most common way to transform descriptive adjectives into adverbs.
- He had a sudden heart attack while jogging. (Adjective)
- He suddenly had a heart attack while jogging. (Adverb)
- She had a quick walk to get there on time. (Adjective)
- She walked quickly to get there on time. (Adverb)
2. Adverbs That Share Identical Words with an Adjective
Some words function as both adjectives and adverbs without changing their spelling.
- He found the exam quite hard. (Adjective)
- He failed his exam as he didn't try very hard. (Adverb)
- The two brothers live on opposite sides of the city. (Adjective)
- She has a brother who lives opposite to her. (Adverb)
3. Underived Adverbs
Adverbs such as as, even, how, never, next, now, rather, so, soon, still, then, too, etc. are not derived from an adjective or any other word.
- He said he had never been to a circkus.
- She has got rather a lot of money to spend at this time of the month.
- She has eaten two big pizzas and is still hungry
How Do Spelling Rules Affect Adverb Formation?
Converting certain adjectives to adverbs by adding -ly entails removing or changing letters according to specific orthographic patterns.
Spelling Changes When Adding -ly
| Rule Description | Adjective Example | Adverb Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adding –ly or –ally to the end | quick – heroic | quickly – heroically |
| Removing the last –e before –ly | comfortable – possible | comfortably – possibly |
| Dropping the last y and replacing with –ily | easy – happy | easily – happily |
5. Adverbs Formed from Other Parts of Speech
Adverbs are also formed from other parts of speech such as noun (accident) and verb (hurry), and from present participle (frightening).
- She deleted my file by accident. (Noun)
- She accidentally deleted my file. (Adverb)
- Nick hurried to answer the telephone. (Verb)
- Nick moved hurriedly to answer the telephone. (Adverb)
- He's frightening us with the speed he's driving. (present participle)
- He's driving frighteningly close to the edge of the pavement. (Adverb)
Key Takeaways
- Adverbs can be formed by adding -ly to adjectives, sharing identical words, or standing as underived standalone words.
- Specific spelling rules apply when converting adjectives ending in -e or -y into adverbs.
- Adverbs can also originate from nouns, verbs, and present participles.
Quick Practice
Test your understanding of the forms of adverbs by answering these practice questions in the comments below:
- What is the adverb form of the adjective "easy"?
- Write a sentence using the word "hard" as an adverb.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three main forms of adverbs?
The three forms are adverbs formed by adding -ly to an adjective, adverbs that share identical words with an adjective, and adverbs not derived from an adjective or any other word.
How do you change adjectives ending in -y to adverbs?
You drop the last y from the adjective and replace it with –ily (for example, easy becomes easily and happy becomes happily).
Can nouns and verbs become adverbs?
Yes, adverbs can be formed from other parts of speech such as nouns (e.g., accident to accidentally) and verbs (e.g., hurry to hurriedly).