Adverbs encompass an extensive array of words that can depict the manner, location, or timing of an action. They can also convey the speaker’s perspective on the action, amplify the intensity of an adjective or another adverb, and serve various other roles.
Explore these resources on adverb grammar in English to enhance the precision and richness of your communication in both speech and writing.
Adverbs in English
- Using adverbs in English
- Forming adverbs from adjectives
- Comparative and superlative adverbs
- Adverbs of place
- Adverbs of time
- Adverbs of manner
- Adverbs of degree
- Adverbs of certainty
- Viewpoint and commenting adverbs
- Relative adverbs
- Interrogative adverbs
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1. Using adverbs in English
Adverbs alter or provide additional information about different words. Typically, adverbs alter verbs by indicating how, how frequently, when, or where an action occurred. The adverb is positioned after the verb it is modifying.
Examples
- The bus moved slowly.
- The bears ate greedily.
- The car drove fast.
Sometimes adverbs modify adjectives, making them stronger or weaker.
Examples
- You look absolutely fabulous!
- He is slightly overweight.
- You are very persistent.
Some types of adverbs can modify other adverbs, changing their degree or precision.
Examples
- She played the violin extremely well.
- You’re speaking too quietly.
2. Forming adverbs from adjectives
In most cases, an adverb is formed by adding -ly to an adjective
Adjective | Adverb |
---|---|
cheap | cheaply |
quick | quickly |
slow | slowly |
If the adjective ends in -y, replace the y with i and add -ly
Adjective | Adverb |
---|---|
easy | easily |
angry | angrily |
happy | happily |
lucky | luckily |
If the adjective ends in -able, -ible, or -le, replace the -e with -y.
Adjective | Adverb |
---|---|
probable | probably |
terrible | terribly |
gentle | gently |
If the adjective ends in -ic, add -ally. Exception: public -> publicly
Adjective | Adverb |
---|---|
basic | basically |
tragic | tragically |
economic | economically |
Some adverbs have the same form as the adjective: early, fast, hard, high, late, near, straight, & wrong
Examples
- It is a fast car.
- He drives very fast.
- This is a hard exercise.
- He works hard.
- We saw many high buildings.
- The bird flew high in the sky.
Well is the adverb that corresponds to the adjective good.
Examples
- He is a good student.
- He studies well.
- She is a good pianist.
- She plays the piano well.
- They are good swimmers.
- They swim well.
3. Comparative and superlative adverbs
With adverbs ending in -ly, you must use more to form the comparative, and most to form the superlative.
Adverb | Comparative | Superlative |
---|---|---|
quietly | more quietly | most quietly |
slowly | more slowly | most slowly |
seriously | more seriously | most seriously |
Examples
- The teacher spoke more slowly to help us to understand.
- Could you sing more quietly please?
When dealing with brief adverbs that lack the -ly ending, their comparative and superlative forms match those of adjectives: attach -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative. If the adverb concludes with an e, eliminate it prior to adding the suffix.
Adverb | Comparative | Superlative |
---|---|---|
hard | harder | hardest |
fast | faster | fastest |
late | later | latest |
Examples
- Jim works harder than his brother.
- Everyone in the race ran fast, but John ran the fastest of all.
Some adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms.
Adverb | Comparative | Superlative |
---|---|---|
badly | worse | worst |
far | farther/further | farthest/furthest |
little | less | least |
well | better | best |
Examples
- The little boy ran farther than his friends.
- You’re driving worse today than yesterday !
- He played the best of any player.
4. Adverbs of place
Adverbs indicating location inform us of the place where an event occurs. Generally, these adverbs are positioned following the main verb or the clause they modify.
Adverbs of place do not alter adjectives or other adverbs. A few illustrations of adverbs of place include: here, everywhere, outside, away, around.
Examples
- John looked around but he couldn’t see the monkey.
- I searched everywhere I could think of.
- I’m going back to school.
- Come in!
- They built a house nearby.
- She took the child outside.
Here and there
“Here” and “there” are frequently used adverbs denoting location. They provide a position in relation to the speaker. When used with verbs indicating movement, “here” signifies “towards or alongside the speaker,” while “there” signifies “away from or apart from the speaker.”
Sentence | Meaning |
---|---|
Come here! | Come towards me. |
The table is in here. | Come with me; we will go see it together. |
Put it there. | Put it in a place away from me. |
The table is in there. | Go in; you can see it by yourself. |
Here and there are combined with prepositions to make many common adverbial phrases.
Examples
- What are you doing up there?
- Come over here and look at what I found!
- The baby is hiding down there under the table.
- I wonder how my driver’s license got stuck under here.
At the start of sentences, “here” and “there” are positioned during exclamations or when there is a need for emphasis. They are succeeded by the verb when the subject is a noun, or by a pronoun if the subject is a pronoun.
Examples
- Here comes the bus!
- There goes the bell!
- There it is!
- Here they are!
Adverbs of place that are also prepositions
Many adverbs of place can also be used as prepositions. When used as prepositions, they must be followed by a noun.
Word | Used as an adverb of place, modifying a verb | Used as a preposition |
---|---|---|
around | The marble rolled around in my hand. | I am wearing a necklace around my neck. |
behind | Hurry! You are getting behind. | Let’s hide behind the shed. |
down | Mary fell down. | John made his way carefully down the cliff. |
in | We decided to drop in on Jake. | I dropped the letter in the mailbox. |
off | Let’s get off at the next stop. | The wind blew the flowers off the tree. |
on | We rode on for several more hours. | Please put the books on the table. |
over | He turned over and went back to sleep. | I think I will hang the picture over my bed. |
Adverbs of place ending in -where
Adverbs of place that end in -where express the idea of location without specifying a specific location or direction.
Examples
- I would like to go somewhere warm for my vacation.
- Is there anywhere I can find a perfect plate of spaghetti around here?
- I have nowhere to go.
- I keep running in to Sally everywhere!
Adverbs of place ending in -wards
Adverbs of place that end in -wards express movement in a particular direction.
Examples
- Cats don’t usually walk backwards.
- The ship sailed westwards.
- The balloon drifted upwards.
- We will keep walking homewards until we arrive.
Be careful: Towards is a preposition, not an adverb, so it is always followed by a noun or a pronoun.
Examples
- He walked towards the car.
- She ran towards me.
Adverbs of place expressing both movement & location
Some adverbs of place express both movement & location at the same time.
Examples
- The child went indoors.
- He lived and worked abroad.
- Water always flows downhill.
- The wind pushed us sideways.
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5. Adverbs of time
Adverbs indicating time provide information about the timing of an action, encompassing its duration and frequency. These time-related adverbs remain consistent in form.
They are widely used in the English language. The placement of adverbs of time within a sentence follows standard rules based on the specific time-related detail they convey.
Adverbs that tell us when
Adverbs that tell us when are usually placed at the end of the sentence.
Examples
- Goldilocks went to the Bears’ house yesterday.
- I’m going to tidy my room tomorrow.
- I saw Sally today.
- I will call you later.
- I have to leave now.
- I saw that movie last year.
Positioning a “when” adverb at the sentence end is a neutral choice, yet these adverbs offer varied emphases when placed differently. All “when” adverbs can be relocated to the sentence’s outset to stress the temporal aspect. In formal writing, certain adverbs can be positioned before the main verb, while others cannot assume that position.
Examples
- Later Goldilocks ate some porridge. (the time is important)
- Goldilocks later ate some porridge. (this is more formal, like a policeman’s report)
- Goldilocks ate some porridge later. (this is neutral, no particular emphasis)
Adverbs that tell us for how long
Adverbs that tell us for how long are also usually placed at the end of the sentence.
Examples
- She stayed in the Bears’ house all day.
- My mother lived in France for a year.
- I have been going to this school since 1996.
In these adverbial phrases that tell us for how long, for is always followed by an expression of duration, while since is always followed by an expression of a point in time.
Examples
- I stayed in Switzerland for three days.
- I am going on vacation for a week.
- I have been riding horses for several years.
- The French monarchy lasted for several centuries.
- I have not seen you since Monday.
- Jim has been working here since 1997.
- There has not been a more exciting discovery since last century.
Adverbs that tell us how often
Adverbs conveying frequency indicate how often an action occurs. Typically, they are situated before the main verb, following auxiliary verbs like “be,” “have,” “may,” and “must.” The sole exception is when the main verb is “to be,” in which scenario, the adverb follows the main verb.
Examples
- I often eat vegetarian food.
- He never drinks milk.
- You must always fasten your seat belt.
- I am seldom late.
- He rarely lies.
Numerous adverbs indicating frequency have the flexibility to occupy either the sentence’s commencement or conclusion, although this isn’t possible for all of them. When positioned in these alternative locations, the adverb’s significance is notably intensified.
Adverb that can be used in two positions | Stronger position | Weaker position |
---|---|---|
frequently | I visit France frequently. | I frequently visit France. |
generally | Generally, I don’t like spicy foods. | I generally don’t like spicy foods. |
normally | I listen to classical music normally. | I normally listen to classical music. |
occasionally | I go to the opera occasionally. | I occasionally go to the opera. |
often | Often, I jog in the morning. | I often jog in the morning. |
regularly | I come to this museum regularly. | I regularly come to this museum. |
sometimes | I get up very early sometimes. | I sometimes get up very early. |
usually | I enjoy being with children usually. | I usually enjoy being with children. |
Certain additional adverbs conveying frequency provide a precise count of how many times an action occurs or occurred. Typically, these adverbs find their place at the sentence’s conclusion.
Examples
- This magazine is published monthly.
- He visits his mother once a week.
- I work five days a week.
- I saw the movie seven times.
Using “yet”
“Inquiries and negative statements employ ‘yet’ to suggest an anticipated occurrence that hasn’t taken place or might not have happened. ‘Yet’ is positioned at the sentence’s conclusion or follows ‘not’.”
Examples
- Have you finished your work yet? (= simple request for information)
- No, not yet. (= simple negative answer)
- They haven’t met him yet. (= simple negative statement)
- Haven’t you finished yet? (= expressing surprise)
Using “still”
“Still” conveys a sense of ongoingness. In affirmative sentences, it is positioned before the main verb and follows auxiliary verbs like “be,” “have,” “might,” and “will.” However, if the main verb is “to be,” “still” is placed after it. For questions, “still” comes before the main verb.
Examples
- She is still waiting for you.
- Jim might still want some.
- Do you still work for the BBC?
- Are you still here?
- I am still hungry.
Order of adverbs of time
If you need to use more than one adverb of time in a sentence, use them in this order:
1: how long 2: how often 3: when
Examples
- 1 + 2 : I work (1) for five hours (2) every day
- 2 + 3 : The magazine was published (2) weekly (3) last year.
- 1 + 3 : I was abroad (1) for two months (3) last year.
- 1 + 2 + 3 : She worked in a hospital (1) for two days (2) every week (3) last year.
6. Adverbs of Manner
Adverbs describing manner inform us about the way an action occurs. Typically, they are positioned either following the main verb or after the object.
Examples
- He swims well.
- He ran quickly.
- She spoke softly.
- James coughed loudly to attract her attention.
- He plays the flute beautifully. (after the direct object)
- He ate the chocolate cake greedily. (after the direct object)
An adverb of manner cannot be put between a verb and its direct object. The adverb must be placed either before the verb or at the end of the clause.
Examples
- He ate greedily the chocolate cake. [incorrect]
- He ate the chocolate cake greedily. [correct]
- He greedily ate the chocolate cake. [correct]
- He gave us generously the money. [incorrect]
- He gave us the money generously. [correct]
- He generously gave us the money. [correct]
If there is a preposition before the verb’s object, you can place the adverb of manner either before the preposition or after the object.
Examples
- The child ran happily towards his mother.
- The child ran towards his mother happily.
Adverbs of manner should always come immediately after verbs which have no object (intransitive verbs).
Examples
- The town grew quickly after 1997.
- He waited patiently for his mother to arrive.
These common adverbs of manner are almost always placed directly after the verb: well, badly, hard, & fast
Examples
- He swam well despite being tired.
- The rain fell hard during the storm.
The adverb’s placement becomes significant when multiple verbs appear in a sentence. If the adverb is situated before or after the primary verb, it alters that specific verb alone. However, if the adverb follows a clause, it affects the entire action conveyed by the clause. Observe the contrasting meanings in the subsequent sentences.
Example | Meaning |
---|---|
She quickly agreed to re-type the letter. | the agreement is quick |
She agreed quickly to re-type the letter. | the agreement is quick |
She agreed to re-type the letter quickly. | the re-typing is quick |
He quietly asked me to leave the house. | the request is quiet |
He asked me quietly to leave the house. | the request is quiet |
He asked me to leave the house quietly. | the leaving is quiet |
Literary usage
Sometimes an adverb of manner is placed before a verb + object to add emphasis.
Examples
- He gently woke the sleeping woman.
- She angrily slammed the door.
Some writers put an adverb of manner at the beginning of the sentence to catch our attention and make us curious.
Examples
- Slowly she picked up the knife.
- Roughly he grabbed her arm.
7. Adverbs of degree
Adverbs indicating degree provide insight into the level of intensity of an action. Typically, these adverbs are positioned prior to the adjective, adverb, or verb they modify, although certain exceptions exist. “Too,” “enough,” “very,” and “extremely” are instances of adverbs of degree.
Adverb of degree | Modifying | Example |
---|---|---|
extremely | adjective | The water was extremely cold. |
quite | adjective | The movie is quite interesting. |
just | verb | He was just leaving. |
almost | verb | She has almost finished. |
very | adverb | She is running very fast. |
too | adverb | You are walking too slowly. |
enough | adverb | You are running fast enough. |
Usage of “enough”
Enough can be used as both an adverb and as a determiner.
Enough as an adverb
When utilized as an adverb denoting ‘sufficiently,’ “enough” is positioned following the adjective or adverb it modifies, contrary to the conventional placement of other adverbs. This arrangement applies to both affirmative and negative sentences.
Examples
- Is your coffee hot enough?
- This box isn’t big enough.
- He didn’t work hard enough.
- I got here early enough.
Enough is often followed by “to” + the infinitive.
Examples
- He didn’t work hard enough to pass the exam.
- Is your coffee hot enough to drink?
- She’s not old enough to get married.
- I got here early enough to sign up.
Enough can also be followed by “for someone” or “for something”.
Examples
- The dress was big enough for me.
- She’s not experienced enough for this job.
- Is the coffee hot enough for you?
- He didn’t work hard enough for a promotion.
Enough as a determiner
When employed as a determiner signifying ‘an adequate amount or quantity,’ “enough” is situated preceding the noun it describes. This application applies to plural countable nouns as well as uncountable nouns.
Examples
- We have enough bread.
- You have enough children.
- They don’t have enough food.
- I don’t have enough apples.
Usage of “too”
“Too” is always an adverb, but it has two distinct meanings, each with its own usage patterns.
Too meaning “also”
Too as an adverb meaning “also” goes at the end of the phrase it modifies.
Examples
- I would like to go swimming too, if you will let me come.
- Can I go to the zoo too?
- Is this gift for me too?
- I’m not going to clean your room too!
Too meaning “excessively”
Too as an adverb meaning “excessively” goes before the adjective or adverb it modifies. It can be used in both affirmative and negative sentences.
Examples
- This coffee is too hot.
- He works too hard.
- Isn’t she too young?
- I am not too short!
Too is often followed by “to” + the infinitive.
Examples
- The coffee was too hot to drink.
- You’re too young to have grandchildren!
- I am not too tired to go out tonight.
- Don’t you work too hard to have any free time?
Too can also be followed by “for someone” or “for something”.
Examples
- The coffee was too hot for me.
- The dress was too small for her.
- He’s not too old for this job.
- Sally’s not too slow for our team.
Usage of “very”
Very goes before an adverb or adjective to make it stronger.
Examples
- The girl was very beautiful.
- The house is very expensive.
- He worked very quickly.
- She runs very fast.
When aiming to create a negative version of an adjective or adverb, we have several options: appending “not” to the verb, utilizing an adjective or adverb with a contrasting meaning, or employing “not very” in conjunction with the original adjective or adverb. It’s worth noting that the nuances of these phrases differ. Generally, the expression involving “not very” is more subtly indirect and therefore more courteous than the alternatives.
Examples
Original phrase | Opposite meaning with “not” | Opposite meaning with “not very” | Opposite meaning with an opposite word |
---|---|---|---|
The girl was beautiful. | The girl was not beautiful. | The girl was not very beautiful. | The girl was ugly. |
He worked quickly. | He did not work quickly. | He did not work very quickly. | He worked slowly. |
Difference in meaning between “very” and “too”
There is a big difference in meaning between “too” and “very”. “Very” expresses a fact while “too” suggests there is a problem.
Examples
- He speaks very quickly.
- He speaks too quickly for me to understand.
- It is very hot outside.
- It is too hot outside to go for a walk.
Other adverbs used like “very”
Some common adverbs are used in the same way as “very” to heighten the degree of adjectives and adverbs.
Expressing very strong feelings | Expressing strong feelings | Expressing somewhat doubtful feelings |
---|---|---|
extremely, terribly, amazingly, wonderfully, insanely | especially, particularly, uncommonly, unusually, remarkably, quite | pretty, rather, fairly, not especially, not particularly |
The movie was amazingly interesting. | The movie was particularly interesting. | The movie was fairly interesting. |
She sang wonderfully well. | She sang unusually well. | She sang pretty well. |
The lecture was terribly boring. | The lecture was quite boring. | The lecture was rather boring. |
Inversion with negative adverbs
Typically, the subject precedes the verb, but certain negative adverbs can lead to inversion when positioned at the clause’s start. In this scenario, the order is flipped, with the verb preceding the subject. It’s important to note that this inversion is exclusive to written language and is not employed in spoken communication.
Adverb | Normal word order | Inversion |
---|---|---|
Never | I have never seen such courage. | Never have I seen such courage. |
Rarely | She rarely left the house. | Rarely did she leave the house. |
Not only | She did not only the cooking but the cleaning as well. | Not only did she do the cooking, but the cleaning as well. |
Scarcely | I scarcely closed the door before he started talking. | Scarcely did I close the door before he started talking. |
Seldom | We seldom cross the river after sunset. | Seldom do we cross the river sunset. |
8. Adverbs of certainty
Adverbs indicating certainty convey our level of confidence regarding an action or occurrence. These adverbs typically precede the main verb, unless the main verb is ‘to be’, in which case the adverb of certainty follows.
Examples
- He definitely left the house this morning.
- He surely won’t forget.
- He is probably in the park.
- He is certainly a smart man.
If there is an auxiliary verb, the adverb of certainty goes between the auxiliary and the main verb.
Examples
- He has certainly forgotten the meeting.
- He will probably remember tomorrow.
- He is definitely running late.
Sometimes these adverbs of certainty can be placed at the beginning of the sentence.
Examples
- Undoubtedly, Winston Churchill was a great politician.
- Certainly, I will be there.
- Probably, he has forgotten the meeting.
When the adverb of certainty surely is placed at the beginning of the sentence, it means the speaker thinks something is true, but is looking for confirmation.
Examples
- Surely you’ve got a bicycle.
- Surely you’re not going to wear that to the party.
9. Viewpoint and commenting adverbs
Certain adverbs and adverbial expressions provide insights into the speaker’s perspective or opinion regarding an action, often adding commentary to the action. These adverbs differ from others since their role is not to describe how an action occurred. Rather, they modify entire clauses instead of single verbs, adverbs, or adjectives.
The differentiation between commenting adverbs and viewpoint adverbs is primarily based on their placement within sentences. Many adverbs that serve as viewpoint adverbs can also function as commenting adverbs. However, in certain instances, an adverb tends to be notably more common in one role over the other.
Sentence placement
Viewpoint adverbs find their position at the sentence’s outset, or less frequently, at its conclusion. Generally, they are set apart from the sentence’s remainder by a comma. Commenting adverbs are positioned before the main verb, unless “to be” is employed, in which case they can appear either before or after the verb.
Occasionally, commenting adverbs preceding the main verb will also be segregated from the rest of the sentence by commas, although this is not the case in most instances. The provided examples demonstrate appropriate placements for both viewpoint and commenting adverbs. When a sentence placement seems unusual, awkward, or too formal for spoken language, it is indicated with an asterisk.
Viewpoint or commenting adverb | At the start of a sentence | Before the main verb | At the end of a sentence |
---|---|---|---|
clearly | Clearly, he doesn’t know what he is doing. | He clearly doesn’t know what he is doing. | He doesn’t know what he is doing, clearly. |
obviously | Obviously, you are acting silly. | You are obviously acting silly | You are acting silly, obviously. |
personally | Personally, I’d rather go by train. | I’d personally rather go by train. | I’d rather go by train, personally. |
presumably | Presumably, he didn’t have time to go to the post office. | He presumably didn’t have time to go to the post office. | He didn’t have time to go to the post office, presumably. |
seriously | Seriously, I can’t give this speech. | I seriously can’t give this speech. | I can’t give this speech, seriously. |
surely | Surely you tried to get here on time. | You surely tried to get here on time. | You tried to get here on time, surely. |
technically | Technically, we cannot fly to Mars and back. | We technically cannot fly to Mars and back. | We cannot fly to Mars and back, technically. |
undoubtedly | Undoubtedly, he has a good reason not to come. | He undoubtedly has a good reason not to come. | He has a good reason not to come, undoubtedly. |
bravely | Bravely, I kept on walking. | I bravely kept on walking. | *I kept on walking, bravely. |
carelessly | Carelessly, she threw her book into the pond. | She carelessly threw her book into the pond. | *She threw her book into the pond, carelessly. |
certainly | Certainly you should be there. | You certainly should be there. / You should certainly be there. | You should be there, certainly. |
cleverly | Cleverly, Sally hid the jellybeans. | Sally cleverly hid the jellybeans. | *Sally hid the jellybeans, cleverly. |
definitely | *Definitely, you are smart. | You defintely are smart. / You are definitely smart. | *You are smart, definitely. |
foolishly | Foolishly, they cried out. | They foolishly cried out. | They cried out, foolishly. |
generously | Generously, he donated the money. | He generously donated the money. | *He donated the money, generously. |
stupidly | Stupidly, they played in the street. | They stupidly played in the street. | *They played in the street, stupidly. |
obviously | Obviously, we are lost. | We are obviously lost. / *We obviously are lost. | We are lost, obviously. |
kindly | Kindly, she fed the cat first. | She kindly fed the cat first. | She fed the cat first, kindly. |
luckily | Luckily, you got here on time. | You luckily got here on time. | You got here on time, luckily. |
fortunately | Fortunately, we found the boat. | We fortunately found the boat. | We found the boat, fortunately. |
naturally | Naturally, you cannot be in the circus now. | You naturally cannot be in the circus now. | You cannot be in the circus now, naturally. |
wisely | Wisely, she stayed home to take a nap. | She wisely stayed home to take a nap. | She stayed home to take a nap, wisely. |
confidentially | Confidentially, I never gave him the envelope. | I never gave him the envelope, confidentially. | |
theoretically | Theoretically, we could send astronauts to Mars. | We could theoretically send astronauts to Mars. / We theoretically could send astronauts to Mars. | We could send astronauts to Mars, theoretically. |
truthfully | Truthfully, I don’t like chocolate much. | I truthfully don’t like chocolate much. | I don’t like chocolate much, truthfully. |
disappointingly | Disappointingly, she got fourth place. | She disappointingly got fourth place. | She got fourth place, disappointingly. |
thoughtfully | Thoughtfully, I turned away. | I thoughtfully turned away. | I turned away, thoughtfully. |
simply | *Simply, I don’t want to come. | I simply don’t want to come. | |
unbelievably | Unbelievably, she showed up late again. | She unbelievably showed up late again. | She showed up late again, unbelievably. |
unfortunately | Unfortunately, there is no more room. | There is unfortunately no more room. / There unfortunately is no more room. | There is no more room, unfortunately. |
10. Relative adverbs
The adverbs “where,” “when,” and “why” serve as connectors between sentences or clauses. They replace the more formal construction of preposition + “which,” which was previously used to introduce a relative clause.
Formal structure, preposition + which | More common stucture using a relative adverb |
---|---|
That’s the restaurant in which we met for the first time. | That’s the restaurant where we met for the first time. |
That picture was taken in the park at which I used to play. | That picture was taken in the park where I used to play. |
I remember the day on which we first met. | I remember the day when we first met. |
There was a very hot summer the year in which he was born. | There was a very hot summer the year when he was born. |
Tell me the reason for which you came home late. | Tell me (the reason) why you came home late. |
Do you want to know the reason for which he is angry with Sally? | Do you want to know (the reason) why he is angry with Sally? |
11. Interrogative adverbs
Interrogative adverbs like why, where, how, and when are positioned at the start of a question. These queries can receive responses in the form of a sentence or a prepositional phrase.
Following an interrogative adverb in a question, the subject and verb are inverted to prioritize the verb as the first element.
Examples
- Why are you so late? There was a lot of traffic.
- Where is my passport? In the drawer.
- How are you? I’m fine.
- When does the train arrive? At 11:15.
Uses of how
How can be used to form questions in four different ways. How can be used by itself to mean “in what way”.
Examples
- How did you make this sauce?
- How do you start the car?
- How can I get to your house?
How can be used with adjectives to ask about the degree of an attribute.
Examples
- How tall are you?
- How old is your house?
- How angry is mother?
How can be used with much and many to ask about quantity. Much is used with uncountable nouns and many is used with countable nouns.
Examples
- How many people are coming to the party?
- How much flour do I need?
- How much are these tomatoes?
How can be used with other adverbs to ask about the frequency or degree of an action.
Examples
- How quickly can you read this?
- How often do you go to London?
- How loudly does your brother scream?
What is your English level?
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I am Nilay, an experienced English Language Assessment Director at the International English Test, where I have been working full-time since February 2020. I specialize in helping people worldwide validate their English proficiency through comprehensive assessments and certifications.
Before joining the International English Test, I worked as a self-employed English Language Assessment Consultant from January 2015 to December 2019. During this time, I assisted companies and individuals in improving their language skills, helping them achieve their academic and professional goals.
I hold a degree in Engineering and have also studied at Shafston International College in Australia. My educational background has equipped me with the tools to make a meaningful impact in the field of English language learning. Additionally, I enjoy sharing my expertise through articles that explore effective teaching methods and language assessment strategies, contributing to the International English Test and the broader assessment community.