Adjectives and adverbs · Elementary (A2)
Adverbs: manner and frequency
Say how and how often: She drives carefully. I always get up early.
The rules
Adverbs of manner describe how: usually adjective + -ly: slow → slowly, careful → carefully, easy → easily. Irregular: good → well, fast → fast, hard → hard, late → late. They usually go after the verb or object: She speaks English fluently.
Adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never) go before the main verb but after be: I often walk. He is never late. With auxiliaries they go after the first auxiliary: I have never been there.
Adverbs of degree change strength: very, really, quite, extremely, a bit: It’s quite cold. She sings really well.
Examples
- He plays the guitar very well.
- Please drive carefully.
- We rarely eat out.
- She has always wanted to visit Peru.
Common mistakes
✗ She speaks English very good.
✓ She speaks English very well.
Good is an adjective; the adverb is well.
✗ I go always to the gym.
✓ I always go to the gym.
Frequency adverbs go before the main verb.
✗ He drives very careful.
✓ He drives very carefully.
Describe a verb with an adverb.
Practice
She works very ___.
Quiz
1.The adverb of “good” is…
2.Put the words in the right order.
3.Complete the sentence.
4.“Fast” is both an adjective and an adverb.