ADVERBS

Below are some explanations regarding adverb in English sentences.

1. The Adverbs and The Adjectives in English

Adjectives tell us something about a person or a thing. Adjectives can modify nouns (girl) or pronouns (she). Adverbs tell us in what way someone does something. Adverbs can modify verbs (drive), adjectives, or other adverbs.

Adjective to  Adverb

*Mandy is a careful girl = Mandy drives carefully.

*She is very careful = She drives carefully.

Mandy is a careful driver. This sentence is about Mandy, the driver, so use the adjective. 

Mandy drives carefully. This sentence is about her way of driving, so use the adverb.

2. Form

Adjective + -ly

Adjective to Adverb

dangerous = dangerously

careful = carefully

nice becomes = nicely

horrible becomes = horribly

easy becomes = easily

electronic becomes = electronically

Irregular forms: 

Adjective to Adverb

good = well

hard = hard

a. If the adjective ends in y, change -y to i. Then add -ly. Example: happy-happily (except shy-sh)yly).

b. If the adjective ends in -le, the adverb ends in -ly. Example: terrible-terribly

c. If the adjective ends in -e, then add -ly.

Example: safe-safely

d. Not all words ending in-ly are adverbs. Example:

1) adjectives ending in-ly: friendly, silly, lonely, ugly 

2) nouns, ending in -ly: ally, bully, Italy, melancholy

3) verbs, ending in -ly: apply, rely, supply 

There is no adverb for an adjective ending in -ly.

3. Use of Adverbs

Below are the use of adverb. 

a. To modify verbs

Example: The handball team played badly last Saturday. 

b. To modify adjectives

Example: It was an extremely bad match.

c. To modify adverbs

Example: The handball team played extremely badly last Wednesday. 

d. To modify quantities

Example: There are quite a lot of people here.

e. To modify sentences

Example: Unfortunately, the flight to Dallas had been cancelled.

4. Types od Adverbs

Below are types of adverb

a. Adverbs of Manner : quickly, kindly, carefully, loudly

b. Adverbs of degree : very, almost, nearly, hardly

c. Adverbs of frequency : often, sometimes, ever, usually

d. Adverbs of time : now, today, on time, too late

e. Adverbs of place : here, nowhere, in the ..., on the... 

5. How do we know whether to use and adjectives or adverbs? 

John is a careful driver. - In this sentence we say how John is- careful. If we want to say that the careful John did not drive the usual way yesterday - we have to use the adverb. Example: John did not drive carefully yesterday.

Here is another example: 

a. I am a slow walker. (How am I?→ slow→ adjective)

b. I walk slowly. (How do I walk?→ slowly → adverb)

6. Adjective or Adverb After Special Verbs

Both adjectives and adverbs may be used after look, smell, and taste. Mind the change in meaning.

Here are two examples:

Adjective

*The pizza tastes good.

(How is the pizza?)

*Peter's feet smell bad. (How are his feet?)

Adverb

*McDonald's can taste well. (How can McDonald's taste?)

*Peter can smell badly. (How can Peter smell?)

Do not get confused with good/well.

a. Linda looks good. (What type of person is she?) 

b. Linda looks well. (How is Linda? - She may have been ill, but now she is fit again.) 

c. How are you? - I'm well, thank you.

One can assume that in the second/third sentence the adverb well is used, but this is wrong - well can be an adjective (meaning fit/healthy), or an adverb of the adjective good.