What is an Adverb Phrase and How to Write One?

What are Adverb Phrases in English?

An adverb phrase in English is a group of words that modifies the main verb of a sentence. Just like an adverb, an adverb phrase also tells us WHY, WHERE, WHEN, and HOW an action takes or took place.

Look at the following examples:

• Ashish teaches English.
• Ashish teaches English here.
• Ashish teaches English right here without any book.

The first sentence has a subject (Ashish), a verb (teaches), and the object of the verb teaches (English).

The second sentence, apart from having a subject, a verb, and an object, has an adverb of place here. It is modifying the verb teaches and tells us where the action of teaching happens.

The third example has two adverb phrases that are giving more details about the action taught. Right here, the first adverb phrase is telling us where the action of teaching happens, and the second adverb, without any book, tells us how the action of teaching happens.

Adverb phrases examples

• Jon played the guitar surprisingly well. (Describes how the action happened)
• My sister prepares food very quickly. (Describes how the action happens)
• That day, you performed extremely beautifully. (Describes when and how the action happened)
• Jimmy is sleeping on the floor. (Describes where the action is happening)
• You should avoid going around that place. (Describes where the action should not happen)
• I am doing everything to make people happy. (Describes why the action is happening)
• He started listening to English to learn it better. (Describes why the action happened)
• You will get a call from the company after a few days. (Describes when the action happens)

Adverb phrases/adverbial phrases of Time (WHEN)

Adverb phrases of time describe ‘when’ the action takes/took place in a sentence.

Some adverb phrases of time

• After the match
• In the next 3 years
• Within a few months
• As soon as possible
• Very soon
• Last night
• The day before yesterday
• Any time
• In the evening

Adverbial phrases examples in sentences

• Let’s meet after the match.
• He wants to have his own brand in the next 3 years.
• If you start listening to English, your listening and speaking skills will improve within a few months.
• We will reach out to you as soon as possible.
• She is getting married very soon.
• We had a crazy party last night.
• Your cousin Riya called me the day before yesterday.
• You can call me at any time.
• Let’s meet in the evening.

Adverb phrases/adverbial phrases of Place (WHERE)

Adverb phrases of place describe ‘where’ the action takes/took place in the sentence.

Some adverb phrases of place

• Behind our school
• At the station
• By the police station
• In front of my house
• Under the bed
• Behind the curtains
• In the face
• On the lips

Adverbial phrases examples in sentences

• We used to fight behind our school.
• Don’t wait for me; I’ll see you at the station directly.
• He lives by the police station.
• Some people are fighting in front of my house.
• Jimmy is hiding under the bed.
• She could hide behind the curtains too.
• Joey smacked him in the face and knocked him out.
• Last night, she kissed me on the lips. It was beautiful.

The adverb phrases (colored red) are modifying the verbs by talking about where they are taking place.

Adverb phrases/adverbial phrases of Reason (WHY)

Adverb phrases of reason describe ‘why’ the action takes/took place in the sentence.

Some adverb phrases of reason

• To succeed in life
• To pursue higher education
• To pay their loans
• To make my family happy
• To eradicate poverty from the world
• To impress others
• To be calm and composed
• To educate others

Adverbial phrases examples in sentences

• Most people don’t push themselves enough to succeed in life.
• Max is going to London to pursue higher education.
• People are selling themselves to pay their loans.
• I am working day and night to make my family happy.
• We need to educate every single human being living on the planet to eradicate poverty from the world.
• People buy stupid things to impress others.
• To be calm and composed, I meditate daily.
• To educate others, they are running a school for free.

The adverb phrases (colored red) are modifying the verbs in these sentences by talking out why they are taking place. Adverb phrases of reason are often infinitive phrases.

Adverb phrases/adverbial phrases of Manner (HOW)

Adverb phrases of manner describe ‘how’ the action takes/took place in the sentence.

Some adverb phrases of manner

• Very well
• Lightning fast
• Extremely carefully
• Very easily
• In a low voice
• With a lot of zeal and compassion
• Like a grown-up man

Adverbial phrases examples of sentences

• You cook very well.
• Max kicks lightning fast.
• You have to do it extremely carefully.
• Some people can convince you very easily. I want this power too.
• Max answered my call in a low voice.
• Jenny always talks with a lot of zeal and compassion.
• You need to behave like a grown-up man.

Types of Adverb Phrases

1. An adverb and an intensifier

We can form adverb phrases/adverbial phrases using a regular adverb and an intensifier (words that make adverbs stronger) or a mitigator (words that make adverbs stronger).

• You look very well.
  Main adverb = well, intensifier = very

• Max kicks lightning fast.
  Main adverb = fast, intensifier = lightning

• You look quite well.
  Main adverb = well, mitigator = quite

• Max kicks somewhat fast.
  Main adverb = fast, mitigator = somewhat

Common intensifiers = very, extremely, completely, highly, rather, really, so, too, totally, utterly, etc.
Common mitigators = fairly, pretty, slightly, quite, somewhat, etc.

2. Prepositional phrases

Prepositional phrases can function as both adjectives and adverbs. They start with a preposition and are followed by the object of the preposition.

• We used to fight behind our school.
  Preposition = behind
  The object of the preposition = our school

• Max answered my call in a low voice.
  Preposition = in
  The object of the preposition = a low voice

Both prepositional phrases are working as adverbial phrases as they are modifying the main verb in the sentence. The first adverbial phrase tells us where the action would happen, and the second tells us how the action happened.

• Fight where?
• Behind our school

• Answered the call how?
• In a low voice

3. Infinitive phrases

Infinitive phrases also function as adverbs; they modify verbs too. They start with an infinitive (TO + V1).

• People are selling themselves to pay their loans.
  Infinitive = to pay
  The object of the infinitive = their loans

• Most people don’t push themselves enough to succeed in life.
  Infinitive = to succeed
  The modifier of the infinitive = in life

4. Participle phrases

Participle phrases can function both adjectivally (as adjectives) and adverbially (as adverbs). Let’s see how participle phrases function as adverbs.

• Thinking about his old days at the hostel, Jon got emotional.(Thinking about his old days at the hostel is a present participle phrase that tells us the reason why the action in the main clause took place. It is functioning as an adverb.)

• Having returned Alex’s money, I felt relieved.

(Here, having returned Alex’s money is a perfect participle phrase that is modifying the main verb of the main clause, telling us why the subject I felt relieved.)

An adverb phrase can consist of one adverb or an adverb plus other words before it (premodification) or after it (postmodification). Adverb phrases have many different meanings.

In the examples, the adverb phrases are in bold. The other words that modify the adverb are underlined.

How to find adverb phrases in a sentence?

Find the main verbs in the following sentences and ask WHY/WHERE/WHEN/HOW to them. The result will be your adverb phrases.

• The girl is sitting on the table.
  Sitting where?
  Adverb phrase = on the table

• He eats like a pig.
  Eats how?
  Adverb phrase = like a pig

• My friend Monu got me a phone to make me happy.
  Got me a phone why?
  Adverb phrase = to make me happy

• She will call me after 10 p.m.
  Call WHEN?
  Adverb phrase = after 10 p.m.

Adverb Phrase in a Sentence

Adverb phrases can be used in any position in a sentence. Consider these adverb phrase examples so you’ll know what you’re looking for:

• Bob nodded like a bobblehead.
• Meet me at the mall later this evening.
• Without thinking, he turned down the road.
• They must kiss before sunset to break the spell.
• She went online for more information.
• In the forest, many creatures snarl and growl.
• I will not do that, never in a million years!
• Dad spoke softly to calm her fears.
• They have a house right by the ocean.
• She slammed the door in a huff.
• We will reconvene earlier than usual.
• Truly happy, I gave him my answer.
• She took some time off for a much-needed vacation.
• At every turn, problems blocked his path.
• I saw a lot of trash beside the highway.
• He decided to join a gym to get in shape.
• The dog came in for his bath, incredibly reluctantly.
• We strolled through the gardens very slowly.
• He made his decision as quickly as possible.
• Put the flowers by the birdbath.
• Jose always arrives sooner than the other students.
• She flew the plane through the fog calmly and skillfully.
• So as not to disturb anyone, Michelle tiptoed to bed.
• The seamstress mended the hem with needle and thread.
• Sometimes I don’t clean under the bed.
• He performed the tasks without care.
• Come closer to get a better look.
• Take this medication as often as needed.
• The oath was recited somewhat hesitantly.
• Mary needs to drive her new car much more carefully.
• To see the view, Harry climbed to the peak.
• The mystery books were placed next to the crime dramas.
• The line was moving frustratingly slowly.
• The parade coursed around the town square.
• She runs five miles every day.
• The children opened their presents with delight.
• This product is available in all places.
• She responded very rudely.
• You need to wash your hands better than that.
• He stood on this very spot and lied to me.

Why Adverbial Phrases Are Important

Here are four good reasons to think more carefully about adverbial phrases.

Be careful not to create a misplaced modifier.

A misplaced modifier is a word (or group of words) that does not link clearly to what it is intended to modify. A misplaced modifier makes the meaning of a sentence ambiguous or wrong. Look at this example:

• • • Jack, coax the monkey with the banana. 

  (The shaded text is a misplaced modifier. It is meant to be an adverbial phrase modifying the verb “coax.” It is supposed to tell Jack

how

•  to coax the monkey. However, the shaded text could feasibly be an adjective phrase

•  describing the monkey, telling Jack which monkey to coax.)
  • Jack, use the banana to coax the monkey. 

(Often, rewording is best. This corrected example does not feature an adverbial phrase.)

Here is an example from the film “Hot Fuzz”:

• • “He was a hero at his last police station. He once shot a robber with a Kalashnikov.”
    • “Great, where did he get that?”

    “No, the robber had the Kalashnikov.”

• (The shaded text is a misplaced modifier. It is meant to be an adjective phrase

 describing the robber. However, it was taken to be an adverbial phrase modifying the verb “shot.”)

Use commas correctly with your adverbial clauses.

When your adverbial phrase (or clause for that matter) is at the front of your sentence, it is known as a “fronted adverbial.” A fronted adverbial is usually offset with a comma. For example:

• At 4 o’clock, open the gates. 
• In the middle of New York, temperatures reached 106 degrees Fahrenheit. 

When your adverbial phrase is at the back, the tendency is to omit the comma. For example:

• Open the gates at 4 o’clock. 
• Temperatures reached 106 degrees Fahrenheit in the middle of New York. 

Here are examples with adverbial phrases at both ends:

• In July 1936, temperatures reached 106 degrees Fahrenheit in the middle of New York. 
• In the middle of New York, temperatures reached 106 degrees Fahrenheit in July 1936. 

Save two words by writing “to” instead of “in order to.”

To reduce your word count, you can usually replace “in order to” with “to” without any loss of meaning.

• The mountaineers spent two months with the air-sea rescue team in order to gain experience.

Even though it adds to your word count, you should not delete “in order” every time. Using “in order to” makes it clear that the text that follows is the reason for performing the action. (It’s like using “so as to.”) Using just “to” runs the risk of creating a misplaced modifier. Look at this example:

• • Jack designed a device in order to find underground water.

(With “in order” deleted, we’re now unsure whether Jack designed an underground-water finder (i.e., “to find underground water” is an adjective describing “device”) or whether he designed a device that can be used to detect underground water as per his intention (i.e., “to find underground water” is an adverb modifying “designed”). With “in order to,” that ambiguity disappears. It can only be the latter. Get it?)

There’s another advantage to using “in order to.” It puts a little more emphasis on the reason for the action. So, save two words if you need to, but be careful not to create a misplaced modifier.

Delete your intensifier, unless you really need it.

When writing formally, the level of intensity should be achieved through word choice (e.g., by using strong adjectives instead of intensifiers). Using intensifiers is widely considered as lazy writing.

• • She was very angry.

(This is considered as lazy writing.)

• • She was livid.

(There is no need for an intensifier with a strong adjective like “livid.”)

This quotation captures why you should use intensifiers sparingly.

• If everything is very important, then nothing is important. (Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney)

Important points

1. Punctuate adverb phrases correctly.

If you start a sentence with an adverb phrase, offset it using a comma after it. But when it comes at the end of a sentence, don’t use a comma.

• To earn more money, Max is doing night shifts these days.
• In my childhood, I used to trouble my mother a lot.

Using a comma after the adverb phrase (when it comes at the beginning of a sentence) helps us understand where it ends, and it also creates a dramatic effect.

• Max is doing night shifts these days to earn more money.
• I used to trouble my mother a lot in my childhood.

2. Don’t get confused between adverb phrases and adjective phrases.

If you misplace your adverb phrases, you could end up having adjective phrases. Look at the following example:

• Let’s check out the bike in the next room.

Is the prepositional phrase modifying the verb CHECK OUT or the noun BIKE? Shall we go to the next room to check out the bike or check out the bike that is in the next room?

The prepositional phrase is intended to modify the verb, but it seems to be modifying the noun, logically. In such a case, rephrasing or rewording is the best way to avoid confusion.

• Let’s go to the next room and check out the bike.

3. You can have multiple adverb phrases in your sentence.

If you wish to, you can use multiple adverb phrases in your sentence. Let me show you an example:

• After the match, we will have a party at my house to celebrate our victory.