Adjectives vs Adverbs
According to my Oxford English dictionary, adjective and adverb are defines as:
- Adjective: a word naming an attribute of a noun, such as sweet, red or technical
- Adverb: a word or phrase that modifies the meaning of an adjective (including prenoun adjunct), verb, or other adverb or of a sentence
Adverb list
いつも | always, every time |
おおぜい | a great number of people |
すぐ | immediately, instantly |
すぐに | immediately, instantly |
すこし | little, few |
たいへん | very |
たくさん | many, a lot, much |
たぶん | perhaps, probably |
だんだん | gradually, by degrees |
ちょうど | just, right, exactly |
ちょっと | a little, somewhat |
ときどき | sometimes |
とても | very |
はじめて | for the first time |
また | again, and |
まっすぐ | straight (ahead), direct |
ゆっくり | slowly, at ease |
よく | frequently, often |
よく | well, skillfully |
Examples
In the following example, adverbs are shown in bold and what is modified by the adverb is shown in Italics.
Examples of adverbs modifying an adjective
- このケーキはとてもあまいです。
This cake is very sweet. - あのもんだいはたいへんむずかしかったです。
That question was very difficult. - このくつはちょうどいいです。
These shoes are just fine.
Examples of adverbs modifying a verb
- しんかんせんは はやく はしります。
Shinkansen runs fast. - すぐかえります。
I will go home immediately. - すぐにたべました。
We ate it immediately. - きのうはビールをたくさん*のみました。
I had plenty of beer yesterday. - きのうはワインをちょっと*のみました。
I had a small amount of wine yesterday. - よくできました。
Well done. - ひとが おおぜい います。
There are a great number of people.
* In Japanese, phrases for a quantity or a number are often inserted as an adverb.
Examples of adverbs modifying another adverb
- しんかんせんは とても はやく はしります。
Shinkansen runs very fast. - すこしおそくなりました。
I was a bit late.
Examples of adverb modifying a sentence
- ときどき あめが ふります。
Sometimes it rains. - ははとよくでんわではなしをします。
I talk with my mum on the phone often. - いつも バスで がっこうに いきます。
I always go to school by bus. - はじめてくるまをうんてんしました。
I drove a car for the first time. - たぶんジョンさんのパーティーにいきます。
Probably I will go to John’s party. - またきょうとにいきたいです。
I want to go to Kyoto again. - ゆっくりおふろにはいりました。
I had a bath leisurely.
It is common that adverbs are placed immediately before the word/phrase/sentence that it is modifying but it can be placed almost anywhere in the sentence.
Suggested activities
- Make a few sentences each for the adverb shown as examples.
Course: JLPT N5