An adverb is a word that describes how, when, where, or to what extent something happens. While adjectives describe nouns (like “fast car” or “happy dog”), adverbs usually describe verbs, telling you more about the action.

Most adverbs end in -ly: you can run quickly, speak softly, or work carefully. But not all adverbs follow this pattern. Words like very, always, never, soon, here, and too are also adverbs. When you say “I'll meet you there” or “She always arrives early,” those italicized words are adverbs because they add information about where or when something happens.

Adverbs can also describe adjectives or other adverbs. In “The test was incredibly difficult,” the adverb incredibly makes the adjective difficult more intense. In “He ran very quickly,” very is an adverb describing another adverb, quickly.

Here's a useful trick: adverbs often answer questions like “How did it happen?” (gracefully), “When did it happen?” (yesterday), “Where did it happen?” (outside), or “To what extent did it happen?” (completely). Once you start noticing adverbs, you'll see them everywhere, quietly doing their job of making sentences more specific and interesting.