Definition

An adverb is a word used to modify the meaning of a verb, an adjective, a participle, or another adverb.

For example

He leaves quickly.
Washington was a truly great man.
The judge, rising slowly, addressed the prisoner.
I beg your pardon, I spoke very hastily.

When an idea, however expressed, is used to alter or clarify the meaning of a verb, an adjective, a participle, or an adverb it is an adverb. As an adverb, it provides information on some circumstance of place, time, online, manner, or degree about the word or phrase that it modifies. This is similar to the placement of and the use of adjectives in relation to a noun or a pronoun.

For example

He who acts uprightly is an upright man.
The star rose in the East.
the eagle which perched upon the cliff
They saw the eagle as it perched on the cliff.

An adverbial idea may be expressed:

• by a single word, an adverb. A single word adverb has its relation determined by its termination, its position, or its meaning.

  For example

  ‘Tis wise to talk softly.

• by a phrase. Here the relation to the word or phrase modified is expressed by a preposition.

  For example

  The affair was managed with prudence; that is, prudently.
  They gathered around it.
  In this case, the phrase consisting of the preposition and the noun is said to be adverbial.

• by a proposition. In this case, the relation to the word or phrase modified is expressed by a conjunctive adverb.

  For example

  Speak so that you may be understood; that is, distinctly.
  Here the whole clause, so that you may be understood, is adverbial.

Adverbs are usually abridged expressions taking the place of prepositional phrases consisting of a preposition and a noun phrase.

For example

He lived there; that is, in that place.
Notice that there is used to mean the same thing as in that place.
She studied wisely; that is, in a wise manner.
Notice that wisely here means that same things as in a wise manner.

An adverb can modify a phrase, or an entire proposition.

For example

The accident happened directly after we crossed the bridge.

At this point proceed to Exercise 30.