What Does the Adverb Modify?

What does the adverb modify? To answer this question, we need to understand what an adverb is and look at some examples of adverbs, the parts of speech they modify, and the phrases and clauses that act like adverbs.

What Does the Adverb Modify? 

The answer to the question, “What does the adverb modify?” is verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Following is a definition of verbs and adjectives along with examples of each.

Verbs are found in every sentence. They show action or clarify the subject of the sentence. There are two kinds of verbs: action and linking. Here are examples of an action verb in a sentence with the verb underlined:

• I ate the entire box of chocolates.
• Harry drove his car to the park.

Linking verbs do not express action; rather they connect the subject to information about the subject. Here are two examples:

• Juan is really smart.
• Karen can be late at times.

Adverbs can also modify adjectives. Adjectives are words that modify or describe nouns and pronouns.  Two examples are: 

• That is a lovely hat.
• The red car is missing.  

Lastly, adverbs can modify other adverbs. Here are a few examples of adverbs:

• Cheetahs can run fast.
• You type slowly. 

Functions of Adverbs

Now that you know the answer to the question, “What does the adverb modify?” you need information about different kinds of adverbs and their functions. Adverbs can answer questions, start questions, give more information, and connect parts of a sentence. Here are the explanations of different types of adverbs with examples.

Adverbs can be sorted into the kinds of questions they answer. Adverbs of manner answer the question, “How?” and adverbs of time answer the question, “When?”  Adverbs of place answer “Where?” and adverbs of degree answer “How much?” An adverb of frequency would answer the question “How often?” Here are some examples:

• She watched the children carefully. (How?)
• I always arrive early for my appointment. (When?)
• Why don’t you play outside? (Where?)
• After the trip, I was totally exhausted. (How much?)
• We watch movies occasionally. (How often?)

Conjunctive adverbs can connect clauses or sentences. Here is a short list of some conjunctive adverbs: also, besides, finally, however, instead, nevertheless, next, now, otherwise, still, then, therefore, and thus.  

If conjunctive adverbs connect two independent clauses (sentences), a semicolon is used, like in:

• I didn’t study for the test; therefore, I failed the class.

If the conjunctive adverb is used at the beginning of a sentence, then a comma is used, as in:

1. The kids are in bed.  Finally, I can get some work done.  

If the conjunctive adverb is within a clause, commas are used to separate it, like:

• She would not go out with him the first time he asked.  The young man, nevertheless, refused to give up.

Interrogative adverbs come at the beginning of a question, like:

• How did you do that?   Why are you smiling?

Forms of Adverbs

When young children learn about adverbs, they often just think all you have to do is add an “ly” to a word and it becomes an adverb. This is true for many adverbs, but not all. Many adjectives can easily become adverbs, like slow = slowly, soft = softly, and precise = precisely.

Clauses can function as adverbs. A clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb. Independent clauses are called sentences. So when you ask, ““What does the adverb modify?” you need to realize that a clause may be functioning as an adverb. Here are some examples:

• After dinner is over, we will see a movie. (When?)
• She got additional training so she would get a promotion. (Why?) 

Prepositional phrases and infinitive phrases can also act as adverbs. Here are two examples:

• She gets a part time job during the summer. (When?)
• He had to run to catch the train. (Why?)

To sum up, adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. They can connect clauses or start sentences that are questions. Clauses, prepositional phrases, and infinitive phrases sometimes act like adver