An adverb is a word or set of words that modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Usually adverbs modify verbs, telling us how, how often, when, or where something was done.
We walked really slowly
In most cases, an adverb is formed by adding -ly to an adjective.
slow → slowly
Adverbs formed from adjectives ending in -l have double l.
careful → carefully
if the adjective ends in -able, -ible, or -le, replace the -e with -y.
probable → probably
terrible → terribly gentle → gently
if the adjective ends in ic, add -ally. There is an exception: public - publicly.
economic → economically
Adjectives that end in -ly, such as friendly or lively, can't be made into adverbs by adding -ly. We can use in a friendly way/manner instead.
He talked to me in a friendly manner
The following adverbs have the same form as the adjectives: early, fast, hard, high, late, near, straight, wrong.
The train is very fast (adjective)
The train goes fast (adverb)
Note that the adverb well corresponds to the adjective good.
Tom is a good student. He studies well
Note that the adverb hardly is not related to the meaning of hard. The adverb hardly has the meaning almost not.
Hardly anyone writes to me these days (=Almost no one writes to me these days.)
Susan ate hardly anything (=Susan ate almost nothing.)
-I miss Ann terribly! We hardly ever see her.
-I understand you completely. I haven't seen her for ages. At least she often call us.
-Yeah, she doesn't forget calling us regularly.
-Especially with her job - she works very hard! She told me yesterday that she had to overtime. She must be so tired!
-I'll try to persuade her to take a vacation and come here. She definitely needs to rest to work productively.
Fill in the gaps with the adverbs.
hard · happily · hardly · well · successfully
Alan dance very .................... and never steps on people's feet.
I can .................... believe it!
And they lived .................... ever after.
We completed the course .................... .
Susan worked very .................... and was promoted in February.
Rewrite each sentence so that it has a similar meaning and contains the adverb in brackets.
Sam didn't sleep well. (badly)
Jan lives abroad so her friends almost never see her. (hardly ever)
Lucy's parents are slow walkers. (slowly)
The couple lived together and were happy. (happily)
Philis is ill. (well)