There are 9 parts of speech or word classes in English language:
– nouns
– pronouns
– determiners
– verbs
– prepositions
– adjectives
– adverbs
– conjunctions
– interjections

We use adverbs to explain or describe:
– verbs,
– adjectives,
– other adverbs.

John speaks loudly.
– speak = verb
– loudly = adverb
– Adverb ‘loudly’ describes the verb ‘speaks.’

Mary lives there.
– lives = verb
– there = adverb
– Adverb ‘there’ describes the verb ‘lives.’

I saw John yesterday.
– saw = verb
– yesterday = adverb
– Adverb ‘yesterday’ describes the verb ‘saw.’

Jane is really beautiful.
– beautiful = adjective
– really = adverb
– Adverb ‘really’ describes the adjective ‘beautiful.’

She drives incredibly slowly.
– drives = verb
– slowly = adverb
– incredibly = adverb
– Adverb ‘slowly’ describes the verb ‘drives.’
– Adverb ‘incredibly’ describes the adverb ‘slowly.’

An adverb of degree tells us:
– the extent of how someone does something
– the extent of how something is done
– the extent of a quality or condition

Adverbs of degree answer the questions of ‘how much?‘ or ‘to what degree?‘

I totally agree with you.
– totally = adverb of degree (explains how much the speaker agrees)

Mary is very beautiful.
– very = adverb of degree (explains how beautiful Mary is – the extent of a quality)

I quite enjoyed the movie.
– quite = adverb of degree (explains how much the speaker enjoyed the movie – the extent of how someone does/did something )

How to Use Adverbs of Degree

(1) Adverb of Degree + Main verb

Main verbs
– base form (walk, eat)
– past simple form (walked, ate)
– past participle form (walked, eaten)
– -s form (walks, eats)
– -ing form (walking, eating)

I totally agree with you.
She fully supports his plan.
I quite enjoyed the movie.

(2) Adverb of Degree + Adjective

Mary is very beautiful.
I’m extremely tired.
That is quite far.

Adverb of Degree List

These are some examples of adverbs or degree
– absolutely
– completely
– entirely
– extremely
– fully
– totally
– highly
– really
– so
– truly
– too
– very
– almost
– practically
– moderately
– relatively
– partly
– somewhat
– quite
– rather
– fairly
– slightly
– barely
– hardly

An adverb of frequency tells us:
– how often something happens
– how often something is done

Adverbs of frequency answer the questions of ‘how often?‘

We meet daily.
– daily = adverb of frequency (explains how often speaker and his/her group meet)

There are 2 types of adverbs of frequency:
a. Adverbs of Definite Frequency
The frequency of how something happens/is done is certain or fixed.
I meet him daily.

b. Adverb of Indefinite Frequency
The frequency of how something happens/is done is not certain or fixed.
I often meet him.

How to Use Adverbs of Indefinite Frequency

(1) Adverb of Indefinite Frequency + Main verb

Main verbs
– base form (walk, eat)
– past simple form (walked, ate)
– past participle form (walked, eaten)
– -s form (walks, eats)
– -ing form (walking, eating)

I usually eat breakfast at 6 a.m.
He sometimes does that.
We never went there.

(2) We can use ‘sometimes, occasionally, frequently, often, usually’ in the beginning or at the end of a sentence.

I usually eat breakfast at 6 a.m. (correct)
Usually, I eat breakfast at 6.am. (correct)

He sometimes does that. (correct)
He does that sometimes. (correct)

I often go there by myself. (correct)
Often, I go there by myself. (correct)

(3) Verb be + Adverb of Indefinite Frequency

Verb be
– am/is/are
– was/were
– been
– being
– be

I am never late.
He was often angry.
We are usually on time.

Adverb of Indefinite Frequency List

These are some examples of adverbs of indefinite frequency

– always
– constantly
– usually
– normally
– frequently
– often
– sometimes
– occasionally
– rarely
– infrequently
– seldom
– hardly ever
– never