Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, even other adverbs. They describe the manner in which something was done, when or where something happens, and to what degree or purpose. Many adverbs end in "-ly," which makes them easier to identify (but watch out for adjectives that end in "-ly," such as "friendly" or "lovely"). These are the words that give us a better understand of the situation at hand. It can tell us how much or how often something happens. It also shares the authors opinion of the scenario with the audience. All and all the benefits for the reader and their understanding of what the author is sharing with them. You will often find that adverbs can be spread over several words and are not single words in some cases. They are often expressed as phrases or clauses. There are also some adverbs you will want to avoid using in your writing. These words such as extremely and very are called intensifiers. Some feel that these words demonstrate a limited use of vocabulary and they prefer not to use them.

Please note: Answer sheets are fully provided, but in many cases there are many open response questions available here. Fun Project Idea: Have your students perform the Schoolhouse Rock "Lolly, Lolly, Lolly" song (available on YouTube) for extra reinforcement of the definition and use of adverbs.