CAT 2025 Lesson : Parts of Speech - Adverbs

5. Adverbs

Adverbs are words used to describe verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. Adverbs answer the questions how, where, when, in what way, how much, etc.

Example: fast, slowly, loudly, often, very, etc.

He shouted so loudly that the children started crying. (loudly is describing the verb shouted).
This lemon is very sour. (very is describing the adjective sour).
I ran really fast. (really is describing the adverb fast).

There are different types of adverbs based on what they describe, including:

Adverbs of manner, which tell us how an action is performed or how something takes place. They can usually be converted from adjectives by adding ‘ly’.
Example: quickly, well, vigorously, loudly, bravely, etc.

Adverbs of time, which tell us when an action is performed or when something takes place.
Example: today, yesterday, now, later, last year, etc.

Adverbs of place, which tell us where an action is performed or where something takes place.
Example: here, there, everywhere, around, nearby, outside, etc.

Adverbs of frequency, which tell us how many times an action is performed.
Example: daily, always, often, scarcely, monthly, rarely, sometimes, ever, never, etc.

Adverbs of degree, which refer to the intensity with which an action is performed or something is done.
Example: very, rather, quite, nearly, completely, almost, sparsely, just, enough, extremely, etc.

Adverbs of certainty, which explain how sure we are about something.
Example: definitely, certainly, possibly, surely, probably, undoubtedly, etc.

Many adjectives are typically turned into adverbs by adding ‘ly’:

Adjective	Adverb
Quick	Quickly
Slow	Slowly
Expensive	Expensively
Easy	Easily
Lucky	Luckily
Hungry	Hungrily
Possible	Possibly
Probable	Probably
Gentle	Gently
Basic	Basically
Economic	Economically
Tragic	Tragically

Some exceptions are fast, early, late, hard, difficult, daily, very, never, well, later, only, etc. These words have the same form for both adjectives and adverbs.