The spooked horse bolted hastily across the field.

On the queen’s death, the throne reverts back to the next male in line.

Here are a few more examples of adverbs that repeat the meaning of the verb they’re trying to modify:

Anna smiled happily as she ate her ice cream.Īgain, if Anna is smiling, we already know that she is happy.

It’s not possible to shout quietly, so the word loudly is redundant.

Tom shouted loudly at the taxi as it drove away.

What is a Redundant Adverb?Īn adverb is redundant if you use it to modify a verb with the same meaning in its definition.

He apprehensively gave her a ride home.Įach of those sentences paints a different picture because of the adverbs.

The adverb adds more nuanced information to the verb. Examples include quickly, helpfully, apprehensively, grumpily. Here are some common examples:Īfterward, already, almost, back, better, best, even, far, fast, hard, here, how, late, long, low, more, near, never, next, now, often, quick, rather, slow, so, soon, still, then, today, tomorrow, too, very, well, where, yesterday Many writers think of adverbs as the -ly words, but there are many without an -ly ending. “Unfortunately” modifies the entire sentence.

Unfortunately, we can’t make it to your wedding.

“Very” modifies the adjective “comfortable.”

She looked very comfortable in her knit dress.

Helen walked quickly to her next meeting.

Writers use adverbs to add color and refine meaning. They alter the meaning of words ‒ verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, and even whole sentences.

What is an example of an adverb