Adverbs in Spoken English: Definition, Types & Examples

Definition of Adverb

An adverb is a part of speech that modifies a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or even a whole sentence. Adverbs often tell us how, when, where, or to what extent something happens. For example: "She spoke softly." (Here, "softly" describes how she spoke.)

While many adverbs are formed by adding “-ly” to adjectives (e.g., slow → slowly), not all adverbs follow this pattern. Some adverbs do not end in "-ly" (e.g., fast, well, often, never) and there are also adverbial phrases (e.g., "in a hurry," "at night") that function as adverbs.

Adverbs add important detail and precision. They can make a description more specific. For instance, "She sang the song beautifully." — the adverb "beautifully" tells how she sang, which provides more information than "She sang the song." Similarly, "I intentionally broke the window." conveys a very different meaning than "I broke the window."

Types of Adverbs

Adverbs can be categorized based on the information they convey. The main types of adverbs in English include manner, time, place, frequency, degree, and conjunctive adverbs. Each type answers a specific question, as outlined below:

• Adverbs of Manner – *How?* (describe **how** an action happens). Example: “The dog ran quickly.” (Quickly tells *how* the dog ran.)
• Adverbs of Time – *When?* (describe **when** something happens). Example: “We will start tomorrow.” (Tomorrow tells *when* we will start.)
• Adverbs of Place – *Where?* (describe **where** something happens). Example: “She looked everywhere for her keys.” (Everywhere tells *where* she looked.)
• Adverbs of Frequency – *How often?* (describe **how often** something happens). Example: “He rarely smokes.” (Rarely tells *how often* he smokes.)
• Adverbs of Degree – *How much?* (describe **to what extent** or **how much**). Example: “I completely agree.” (Completely tells *to what extent* I agree.)
• Conjunctive Adverbs – *Connecting words* (link clauses or sentences, expressing transitions). Example: “It was late; however, we continued working.” (However connects two clauses, like a transition word.)

Example Sentences with Advanced Adverbs

Here are 51 sentences showcasing a variety of advanced or less-common adverbs in context. Each sentence uses a different adverb:

1. The team met the deadline; accordingly, they delivered the project on time.
2. The CEO allegedly misused company funds.
3. This lounge is exclusively for VIP members.
4. The rules explicitly state that late submissions will not be accepted.
5. He only did the dishes begrudgingly after being told twice.
6. The student blatantly cheated on the exam by looking at his phone.
7. She spent her inheritance capriciously, buying luxury items on a whim.
8. He clandestinely copied the files onto a flash drive.
9. The new evidence definitively proves his innocence.
10. The house was disconcertingly quiet when I arrived home.
11. The fines disproportionately affect low-income communities.
12. He solved the complex puzzle effortlessly.
13. The report was egregiously biased, ignoring all evidence to the contrary.
14. The dessert was exceedingly sweet, almost too much to finish.
15. Frankly, I am not impressed with their performance.
16. She frantically searched her bag for the lost passport.
17. He packed his bags hastily, forgetting several important items.
18. I inadvertently deleted the important email.
19. The baby cried incessantly throughout the night.
20. That is indisputably the best pizza in town.
21. She protested ineffectually, but her opinion was ignored.
22. He invariably arrives at the office before anyone else.
23. Ironically, the English teacher misspelled a common word on the board.
24. He meticulously documented every step of the experiment.
25. Three students were late, namely John, Sarah, and Tom.
26. It was raining heavily; nonetheless, they continued their hike.
27. The museum is notably quieter on weekdays.
28. She joined the committee ostensibly to improve the school, but she had personal motives.
29. He was overly cautious crossing the street, looking both ways five times.
30. The door was partially open, letting in a sliver of light.
31. This region is predominantly rural, with few urban areas.
32. We are presently working on the final draft of the report.
33. The lights are off, presumably because no one is home.
34. Traveling alone for a year was a profoundly life-changing experience.
35. He apologized profusely for the inconvenience.
36. Instructions are readily available on the website.
37. Regardless of the difficulties, she kept moving forward.
38. The paparazzi relentlessly followed the celebrity.
39. The actor is reportedly earning $10 million for the film.
40. Alice and Bob scored 85 and 90 on the test, respectively.
41. The solution is seemingly simple, yet no one can figure it out.
42. Caught in the act, the child grinned sheepishly at his mother.
43. The two pianists played simultaneously on the same piano.
44. She accepted the job solely for the higher salary.
45. He only visits his hometown sporadically since moving abroad.
46. Our profits have substantially increased compared to last year.
47. Thankfully, no one was injured in the accident.
48. She raised her arms triumphantly as she crossed the finish line first.
49. The committee unanimously agreed to approve the new policy.
50. She is undoubtedly the best candidate for the job.
51. The lawyer zealously argued for his client's innocence.

Quick Quiz

Q: In the sentence "The manager spoke frankly about the team's performance." – what type of adverb is the word "frankly"?

Answer: "Frankly" is an adverb of manner, describing how the manager spoke (in an honest, direct manner).