Have you ever asked someone about their day, only to get a boring answer like "it was good"?
Hearing a short answer with no explanation can be really discouraging in a conversation. Don't be that person!
Instead, add more detail by combining different types of adverbs in your sentences. Your conversations will become much more fulfilling and interesting!
Why should I use different types of adverbs?
Adverbs give more information on how, where, or when something has happened in a sentence.
If you use adverbs in conversations, the other person doesn’t have to keep asking you questions to find out the details. It's more efficient, and avoids making the conversation boring.
If you use adverbs in writing, such as in essays, you can pack more information into one sentence.
Quiz
Alex wants to know how your new project is going. Which of the following responses include an adverb? Select all that apply:
So, what are the types of adverbs?
There are 6 common types of adverbs:
Frequency (e.g. occasionally, never, always)
Manner (e.g. angrily, slowly, hungrily)
Place (e.g. here, inside, at the __)
Time (e.g. today, soon, eventually)
Degree (e.g. very, extremely, quite)
Conjunctive (e.g. however, furthermore, regardless)
There are so many exciting adverbs you can use in a sentence! Check out this chart for common adverbs to see more examples of each type.
Quiz
Which of these sentences includes a conjunctive adverb?
Did you know?
Sometimes adverbs aren't just one word, but two or three. Those are called adverbial phrases. For example, in the sentence "I read at home," at home is an adverbial phrase that would give even more detail than just saying "I read here"!
How do I combine adverbs correctly?
You can stack up multiple types of adverbs in one sentence for more and more detail. But be careful, because if you combine them in the wrong order, it can sound awkward!
Here's an example of a sentence that combines adverbs in an awkward order:
"I ate yesterday at home quickly." 🤨
Instead, here's the sentence again, but combining adverbs in a natural order:
"I ate quickly at home yesterday." 😊
Follow this "Royal Order of Adverbs" to combine adverbs:
Try to combine your types of adverbs in this order, and I guarantee it will sound natural:
Conjunctive / [Subject, Verb, Object] / Degree / Manner / Place / Frequency / Time
Here's an example sentence following the full order:
Also, / I borrow books / very / consistently / at the library / every Monday / evening.
Adverbs are flexible, so you might see them in different places in the sentences. But when you're just starting out, following this order will be a safe bet.
Did you know?
Advanced grammar tip: Sometimes I like to move an adverb to the beginning of the sentence for more emphasis. For example: “Every Monday evening, I borrow new books at the library” has a different emphasis compared to, “At the library, I borrow new books every Monday evening.” Adverbs are flexible that way!
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Practice time!
Fill in the blanks below with the adverb that would sound MOST natural.
Quiz
I jog ___ slowly every Saturday.
Now try out this real-world example!
Choose the sentence below with the most accurate combination of adverbs.
Hint: remember the Royal Order of Adverbs!
A. My boss gave me a new project super on Friday afternoon inconveniently.
B. My boss gave me a new project super inconveniently on Friday afternoon.
C. My boss on Friday afternoon gave me a new project super inconveniently.
D. My boss gave me a super inconveniently new project on Friday afternoon.
Quiz
Which of the above sentences sounds most natural?
Take Action
Are you ready to take your communication skills to the next level? Start adding details to your sentences TODAY with a variety of adverb combinations!
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