Adverbs Teaching Resources
Save time on your adverbs lesson plans with printable worksheets, digital activities, adverb lists, grammar games and more from the teachers of Teach Starter.
This collection of teaching resources was teacher-created to help you help your students learn how to correctly identify and use this fundamental part of speech to show better how things happen in their writing. With editable curriculum-aligned resources, you can meet Australian curriculum standards while differentiating instruction for the individual students in your classroom.
New to teaching this part of the English curriculum or just looking for new ways to engage students as they learn about adverbs? Take a peek at this primer from our teacher team, including what an adverb is plus the different types.
What Is an Adverb? A Kid-Friendly Definition
Knowing the definition of this part of speech yourself is only part of the battle. You'll also need to explain adverbs to your students! So let's start with a kid-friendly definition.
An adverb is a word that describes how, when or where an action or verb takes place.
How
Many adverbs are used to modify verbs, describing how something is done or how an action takes place.
For example, the commonly used adverb 'quickly' describes how a person is running. Another example is 'loudly,' which describes how someone is speaking.
When
One of the crucial 5Ws — describing when something occurs — is crucial to setting a scene. Adverbs help writers do just that!
Examples of this include words like yesterday —describing when an action happened — and soon, describing when an action will happen.
Where
Adverbs can also describe where an action takes place. The adverb 'here,' for example, describes where someone is located. Other 'where' adverbs that students will encounter include 'there' and 'everywhere.'
Common Adverb Examples
The English language is stocked with some interesting adverbs that can help tell a colourful story, but some are more used than most. Here are some common examples of adverbs used in primary school writing:
- Very
- Often
- Always
- Never
- Well
- Hard
Types of Adverbs
There are six main types of adverbs that students are likely to encounter as young writers.
Positive Adverbs
These adverbs describe the manner or degree of an action without comparing it to anything else. For example, 'quickly,' 'loudly,' 'carefully,' and 'happily' are all positive adverbs. They don't require a point of comparison for the reader to understand what the writer is trying to convey.
Comparative Adverbs
Unlike positive adverbs, comparative adverbs require a comparison. In fact, these words are used specifically to compare the degree or manner of an action between two things or people.
For example, 'faster,' 'louder,' 'more carefully' and 'happier' are comparative adverbs.
Superlative Adverbs
Superlative adverbs compare the degree or manner of action between three or more things or people.
They are formed by adding '-est' to the end of the adverb or by using 'most' before the adverb.
'Fastest,' 'loudest,' 'most carefully' and 'happiest' are all superlative adverb examples.
Interrogative Adverbs
Adverbs that are used to ask questions are called interrogative adverbs. Some examples include 'when' and 'where.'
This type of adverb typically appears at the start of a sentence, and a comma often follows it.
Conjunctive adverbs
Adverbs that are used to connect independent clauses in a sentence are called conjunctive adverbs. These words function as a conjunction but are typically used to indicate a relationship between the two clauses, such as contrast, addition or cause and effect.
Words like 'however' and 'nevertheless' are conjunctive.
Relative Adverbs
Adverbs that are used to introduce adjective clauses —such as 'where,' 'when' and 'why' — are called relative adverbs. This type of adverb describes a characteristic of the noun or pronoun that the clause modifies.
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Nouns, Proper Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs and Conjunctions Posters
Enhance student understanding of the 8 parts of speech with these colourful, informative and easily-referenced grammar wall posters.
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Adverbs Activity : Grammar Charades
Have some fun and build grammar skills with an adverb charades activity.
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Adding Adverbs to Sentences Teaching Presentation
Enjoy this fun drama game with your students as you teach them that adverbs describe how, when or where a verb is happening!
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Find the Adverbial Phrases Worksheet
Use this simple yet effective adverbs worksheet to assess students’ ability to identify adverb groups (adverbial phrases) in sentences.
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Adjectives and Adverbs Worksheets (Silly Stories)
Have fun with your students creating silly stories together while teaching and learning about parts of speech (adverbs and adjectives)!
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Adverb List Posters
Display this poster set (including a list of adverbs) in your classroom to encourage your students to explore and use adverbs in their writing!
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Adverb Worksheet Pack
Assign your students this fun worksheet pack to reinforce their understanding of adverbs (you can even create an adverbs workbook!).
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"Simon Says" Instruction Cards
A set of 24 instruction cards to use when playing "Simon Says".
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Adverb Worksheets PDF - Grades 1-2
Use this printable Adverb Worksheets PDF Resource to help your little learners practise identifying adverbs.
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Adverbial Phrases Category Sorting Game
Use this fun adverbs game in your literacy lesson or small groups to help students grasp the concept of adverb groups!
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Types of Adverbs Teaching Slides
Explore five types of adverbs in this action-packed adverb adventure teaching slide deck! This resource covers adverbs of time, place, manner, frequency and degree.
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Write Your Own Adverbial Phrases Worksheet
Use this set of differentiated adverbs worksheets to assess students’ ability to add adverb groups into simple sentences.
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Adverb Grammar Card Game – Flip It!
A fun game for students to play in small groups to consolidate their understanding of adverbs.
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Adverb Groups Interactive Activity
Teach your students to locate and categorise adverbial phrases in descriptive sentences using this engaging interactive activity.
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Adverbial Phrases Comprehension Task: The Secret Garden
Help your students identify adverb groups in descriptive writing with this comprehension worksheet.
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Adverbial Phrases Roll and Write Activity
Along with your students, roll and write your way to hilarious silly sentences with adverb phrases with this printable worksheet!
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Adverbs Interactive Activity
Provide your students with engaging, interactive activities to help them improve their usage and identification of adverbs.
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Adverbs Worksheet
A 2 page worksheet that explores the use of adverbs.
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Adverb Vocabulary Cards
Display this word wall featuring a list of adverbs in your classroom to encourage your students to explore and use adverbs in their writing!
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Relative Adverbs Worksheet Pack
Use this pack of five worksheets to help your students practise the correct use of relative adverbs in text.
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Relative Adverb Scoot Game
Use this relative adverbs scoot game as a warm up or active learning activity to add some colour to your grammar lesson!
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Adverbs Drama Game
Enjoy this fun drama game with your students as you teach them that adverbs describe how, when or where a verb is happening!
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Adverbs and Adjectives Interactive Activity
Share this interactive drag-and-drop activity with your students to allow them to practise the correct use of adverbs and adjectives in the English language.
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Comparative and Superlative Adverb Worksheet
Use this comparative and superlative adverbs worksheet to check students understanding of this grammar concept in your classroom
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Positive, Comparative, Superlative Adverbs Worksheet
Give your students practise using positive, comparative, and superlative adverbs with an adverb worksheet.
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Adverb Crossword – Worksheet
A crossword where all the answers are adverbs.
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Adverbs of Frequency Poster
Use this eye-catching poster in your primary classroom when teaching children about adverbs of frequency.
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Conjunctive Adverb Interactive Activity
Use this engaging interactive activity in your classroom to teach students what conjunctive adverbs are and how to use them in their writing.
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Interesting Events Adverb Groups Worksheets
Use this set of differentiated grammar worksheets to help students incorporate adverb groups or phrases into their writing.
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Conjunctive Adverbs Task Cards
Assess your students’ understanding of conjunctive adverbs with these fun adverbs task cards!
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Adverb Entry and Exit Tickets (Differentiated)
Use these exit tickets to teach your students how to use adverbs to add detail in simple sentences!
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Adverb Whole Class Game
Teach your students how to use adverbs to add detail in simple sentences with this fun whole-class game!