Adverbs that modify other adverbs grammar lesson

Adverbs modifying other adverbs provide more information about the adverb they modify. For example, "He sings very well" the adverb "very" modifies the adverb "well" by describing the degree of well he sings.

Here are some examples of adverbs modifying other adverbs:

• "He sings extremely well." (modifying the degree of well)
• "She runs quite fast." (modifying the degree of fast)
• "I am hardly ever late." (modifying the frequency of being late)

Special cases:

• Adverb modifying another adverb can come before or after the adverb.
  • "He sings extremely well."
  • "He sings well extremely."

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing adverbs with adjectives:
  • "He sings very good." (incorrect, "good" is an adjective, should be "well")
• Improper placement of adverbs:
  • "He sings extremely well always." (incorrect, should be "He sings always extremely well")

Practical uses:

• Adverbs modifying other adverbs can be used to add emphasis or to convey tone in spoken and written language.
• Adverbs modifying other adverbs can be used to add precision to instructions, reports or emails in business writing.
• Adverbs modifying other adverbs can be used to add color and atmosphere to a scene in creative writing.
• Adverbs modifying other adverbs can be used to add detail and description to sentences in academic writing.

Exercises:

1. Complete the sentence with the correct adverb: "He sings ___ well ." 
2. Identify the adverb modifying another adverb in the sentence: "She runs quite fast."
3. Write a sentence using an adverb to describe the degree of another adverb: "I am ___ always late." 
4. Write a sentence using an adverb to describe the manner in which another adverb is used: "He speaks ___ clearly." 
5. Rewrite the sentence to correct the improper placement of adverbs: "He sings well always extremely."