Adverbs most commonly describe how, but below is a more comprehensive list of the most common types of adverbs.
| Type of Adverb | Example |  |
|---|---|---|
| Adverbs of manner (or how) | Christine sang the song atrociously. No more karaoke for her! | |
| Adverbs of time | Michelle did her homework yesterday, but she did the wrong assignment. | |
| Adverbs of place | I met my friend at the coffee shop, and that’s where we saw the first signs of the outbreak. | |
| Adverbs of degree | It’s too quiet in here. | |
| Adverbs of frequency | Michael Jordan rarely misses a free throw, but Shaq frequently does. | |
| Adverbs of purpose | I clean the litter box every day to keep the house from smelling. |
And like adjectives, adverbs have a “royal order.” While you may already have an innate sense of this order, it can be helpful to review the rules.
The Royal Order of Adverbs
| Verb | Manner | Place | Frequency | Time | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beth swims | enthusiastically | in the pool | every evening | before dusk | to keep in shape. |
| Dad walks | impatiently | into town | every morning | before work | to get a newspaper. |
| Joe naps | in his room | every afternoon | after lunch. |
Adapted from Adverbs. (n.d.) Capital Community College Foundation. Retrieved from grammar.ccc.commnet.edu