Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or whole sentences. They often answer how, when, where, how often, how much, or to what extent. Understanding what the adverb modifies helps you choose the right form and position.

The most common way to form an adverb from an adjective is to add -ly. This usually keeps the adjective’s meaning and turns it into “in a … way.” Not all adverbs use -ly, and not all -ly words are adverbs.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 单词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例句
quick → quickly	🟦 快 → 快速地	in a quick way	🟩 以快速的方式	She answered quickly.	🟪 她回答得很快。
careful → carefully	🟦 小心 → 小心地	in a careful way	🟩 以小心的方式	Drive carefully.	🟪 请小心驾驶。
recent → recently	🟦 最近 → 最近地	not long ago	🟩 不久前	I recently moved.	🟪 我最近搬家了。
usual → usually	🟦 通常 → 通常地	in the normal way most times	🟩 在大多数情况下以正常的方式	He usually walks.	🟪 他通常走路。

When adding -ly, spelling sometimes changes to keep pronunciation and standard spelling patterns. Learn the common transformations so you can form adverbs correctly from a wide range of adjectives.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Most adjectives add -ly directly	🟦 许多 -ly 结尾的形容词不会变成 *-lily	slow → slowly	🟪 友好 → in a friendly way
Adjectives ending in -y change y to i + -ly	🟦 某些 -ly 结尾的形容词使用不同的副词	easy → easily	🟪 好 → 很好地
Adjectives ending in -le often change -le to -ly	🟦 如果没有标准副词，使用介词短语	gentle → gently	🟪 昂贵 → 以高成本
Adjectives ending in -ic usually add -ally		basic → basically
True takes -ly as truly with a spelling change		true → truly

Some adjectives already end in -ly and are usually not turned into adverbs with another -ly. In these cases, English often uses a different adverb form or a phrase like in a … way to express the meaning.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 单词/短语	Example	🇨🇳 中文 定义
Many -ly adjectives do not become *-lily	🟦 fast	friendly → in a friendly way	🟩 quick → 快速地
Some -ly adjectives use a different adverb	🟦 hard	good → well	🟩 with a lot of effort
If no standard adverb exists, use a prepositional phrase	🟦 late	costly → at a high cost	🟩 after the expected time

Some adverbs have the same form as adjectives and do not take -ly. These are common in everyday English and are often required after certain verbs or in fixed expressions.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 示例	Example	🇨🇳 中文
fast	🟦 hard 表示努力， hardly 表示几乎没有	quickly	🟪 我工作努力。 / 我几乎不工作。	He runs fast.
hard	🟦 late 表示时间， lately 表示最近	with a lot of effort	🟪 她晚到了。 / 最近，她一直很忙。	She works hard.
late	🟦 near 表示距离， nearly 表示几乎	after the expected time	🟪 商店就在附近。 / 我差点摔倒。	They arrived late.
early	🟦 high 表示物理高度， highly 表示非常或极大地	before the expected time	🟪 飞机飞得很高。 / 它极有可能。	I woke up early.
straight		in a direct line		Go straight ahead.

Some pairs exist where the flat form and the -ly form are both possible but differ in meaning or style. Learning these contrasts prevents confusion because the -ly form is not always just “the adverb version.”

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 单词/短语	Example	🇨🇳 中文 定义
hard is effort, hardly is almost not	🟦 very	I work hard. / I hardly work.	🟩 可分级形容词的强烈强调词
late is timing, lately is recently	🟦 really	She arrived late. / Lately, she has been busy.	🟩 强烈的强调词，非正式到中性
near is distance, nearly is almost	🟦 quite	The store is near. / I nearly fell.	🟩 中等强度，意义取决于上下文
high is physical height, highly is very or greatly	🟦 extremely	The plane flew high. / It is highly likely.	🟩 非常强烈的强调词

Many adverbs express degree or intensity rather than manner. These often modify adjectives or other adverbs and include both -ly and non--ly forms. Choosing a degree adverb depends on strength and whether the adjective is gradable.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 单词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
very	🟦 fortunately	strong intensifier for gradable adjectives	🟩 表达积极的结果	very tired	🟪 幸运的是，没人受伤。
really	🟦 honestly	strong intensifier, informal to neutral	🟩 表示真实或强调	really important	🟪 说实话，我忘记了。
quite	🟦 probably	medium intensity, meaning depends on context	🟩 表示可能性	quite good	🟪 她很可能会同意。
extremely	🟦 however	very strong intensifier	🟩 显示想法之间的对比	extremely cold	🟪 然而，我们决定等待。
too		more than acceptable or needed		too loud

Some adverbs comment on the whole sentence rather than one word, expressing attitude, certainty, or connection. These often appear at the beginning of the sentence, but can also appear mid-sentence with commas depending on style.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 示例	Example	🇨🇳 中文
fortunately	🟦 频率副词通常放在主谓动词之前	expresses a positive outcome	🟪 她经常学习。	Fortunately, no one was hurt.
honestly	🟦 频率副词跟在 be 之后	signals truthfulness or emphasis	🟪 他总是迟到。	Honestly, I forgot.
probably	🟦 方式副词通常放在宾语之后	shows likelihood	🟪 她仔细地读了那封邮件。	She will probably agree.
however	🟦 句子副词通常在句首并用逗号	shows contrast between ideas	🟪 不幸的是，下雨了。	However, we decided to wait.

Adverb placement depends on what the adverb modifies and what type it is. Manner adverbs often appear after the verb or object, frequency adverbs often appear before the main verb, and sentence adverbs often come first. Position can change emphasis and sometimes meaning.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Frequency adverbs usually go before the main verb	🟦 使用形容词来修饰名词	She often studies.	🟪 一个安静的房间
Frequency adverbs go after be	🟦 使用副词来修饰动词	He is always late.	🟪 说话要安静地。
Manner adverbs often go after the object	🟦 在连系动词之后，使用形容词	She read the email carefully.	🟪 她觉得累。
Sentence adverbs often go at the start with a comma	🟦 使用副词来修饰形容词或副词	Unfortunately, it rained.	🟪 难以置信地快

Choosing between an adjective and an adverb depends on whether you are describing a noun or describing an action or quality. After linking verbs like be, seem, and feel, English typically uses an adjective rather than an adverb. This helps avoid errors like using *quickly to describe a subject state.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文	Example	🇨🇳 中文
Use adjectives to modify nouns		a quiet room
Use adverbs to modify verbs		Speak quietly.
After linking verbs, use an adjective		She feels tired.
Use adverbs to modify adjectives or adverbs		incredibly fast