ESL Grammar: ADVERBS (8) – Modify Adjectives & Adverbs

This ESL grammar lesson shows students how to use adverbs to modify not only verbs, but also adjectives and adverbs, followed by a short review exercise.

ESL Grammar: What Are Adverbs?

Adverbs are versatile words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They answer questions such as “How?”, “When?”, “Where?”, or “To what extent?” Adverbs add detail and context, helping to describe actions, qualities, and degrees.

ESL Grammar: Adverbs Modifying Adjectives

When an adverb modifies an adjective, it enhances or intensifies the meaning of the adjective. This combination provides more specific information about the noun being described.

Examples:

• She is incredibly talented. (The adverb “incredibly” modifies the adjective “talented”, intensifying the description of her talent.)
• The weather is unusually warm for this time of year. (The adverb “unusually” modifies the adjective “warm”, specifying the extent of the warmth.)

ESL Grammar: Adverbs Modifying Other Adverbs

When an adverb modifies another adverb, it changes the intensity or degree of the adverb it is modifying. This adds further detail to how an action is performed or the extent of a description.

Examples:

• She runs very quickly. (The adverb “very” modifies the adverb “quickly”, increasing the intensity of how quickly she runs.)
• He spoke quite softly during the meeting. (The adverb “quite” modifies the adverb “softly”, adjusting the degree of softness in his speech.)

The English grammar lesson below teaches students about adverbs modifying adjectives and other adverbs in a clear and simple manner that is easy for beginner or intermediate English learners to understand. Our series of ESL grammar lessons on subjects and verbs introduce these concepts and reinforce them through helpful and instructive exercises.

This lesson is available for free download, and you can download many more English grammar lessons focusing on all different parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and lots more!) in our comprehensive, beginner-level ESL grammar textbook Great, Great Grammar! (Book 1: Parts of Speech).