Adverbs and adverbials · Year 3
Adverbs tell us more about a verb: how (quietly), when (yesterday), where (outside) or how often (never). Many adverbs are adjectives + -ly. A group of words that does the same job is an adverbial: after lunch, in the garden. An adverbial at the start of a sentence is a fronted adverbial and is followed by a comma.
Key facts
- How: slowly, carefully, well. When: today, soon, later. Where: here, outside, upstairs. How often: always, usually, sometimes, never.
- Most adverbs add -ly: quick → quickly. y becomes i: happy → happily. -le becomes -ly: gentle → gently.
- Some are different: good → well; fast, hard and late stay the same.
- An adjective describes a noun (a quiet room); an adverb describes a verb (She spoke quietly.).
- Fronted adverbial: After lunch, we played chess. Very slowly, the cat crept forward.