Mrs. Grammar Person Admires Adverbs :-)

MRS. GRAMMAR PERSON ADMIRES ADVERBS

Fear not, Gentle Writer, Mrs. Grammar Person is here and intends to make adverbs perfectly clear.

Adverbs are our versatile friends that answer the question: how, where, why or when (but not who).

They modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs as well; Mrs. G.P. will explain if you sit for a spell.

Adverbs work alone and with others in a number of ways; if there's no verb or subject, it's an adverbial phrase (during class, to the moon).

Mrs. G.P. will try to clear the haze; sometimes an adverb is an infinitive phrase (to catch the train, to see her father).

Now that you are in a daze, Mrs. G.P. will explain the prepositional phrase (under the bed, behind the dresser).

This next rule may give you pause but if there's a verb and a subject, it's an adverb clause (when she arrives, after we eat).

More and less, least and most, comparative adverbs allow one to boast.

The most familiar adverbs all end in -ly, like the dog ate his treat happily.

Extremely, quite, just, almost, very, too, and enough are adverbs of degree.

Being punctual is an uphill climb without early, late, now and first, our adverbs of time.

Some adverbs are superfluous, which is rather sad, but very, extremely, and really have nothing to add.

Adverbs are grand and we use them like crazy, but use them too often, readers think you are lazy.

And adverbs of frequency, like every day, let Mrs. G.P. know when you'll be passing her way. (Do drop by for tea, won't you?)