Order of Adverbs

Adverbs most commonly describe how, but below is a more comprehensive list of the most common types of adverbs.

Type of Adverb Example An owl wearing a crown.
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

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