Definition: The adverb modifies the verb. It tells you more about the verb.
Why adverbs: the adverb allows you to say more about how or when the action, described by the verb, was carried out. It also allows you to say more about the doer of the action, the subject of the sentence.
Example: look at each of these pairs of sentences. Notice the adverb (italics) adds to the understanding of the sentence.
1. Helen walked onto the
stage.
2. Helen walked confidently
onto the stage.
3. Gerry chopped the log.
4. Gerry chopped half-heartedly
at the log.
Notice that most adverbs
end in ‘-ly’ . Adverbs are usually placed alongside the verb in the sentence,
though not always.
Exercise 1: Add 1 adverb to the verb in italics in each of the sentences below.
1 Ciara struck the ball
into the net.
2 Pádraic scooped
a fish out of the water.
3 Síofra greeted
her fried.
4 Ciarán cleaned
the cut on his knee.
5 Máire laid out
the pieces of the kit before assembling it.
6 Séamus hammered
a nail into the wall.
7 Niamh changed the channel
on the television.
8 Niall swept the floor.
9 Criona hid her diary
when her brother walked into the room.
10 Fintan handed over the
catapult to his father.
Exercise 2: Incorporate each of the following adverbs into separate sentences.