---
title: adverb — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «adverb» in the school dictionary: An adverb is a word that tells us more about a verb — how, when, where or how often something happens — like «quickly», «yesterday», «here» or «often». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# adverb

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** adverb, word, something, Adverbs, She, you · **What happens:** be, tell, happen, describe, run, add · **To what, where:** word, more, us, adjectives, adverb, cold · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«adverb» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [adverb in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/adverb.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An adverb is a word that tells us more about a verb — how, when, where or how often something happens — like «quickly», «yesterday», «here» or «often».

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adverb:m1:1
# text = An adverb is a word that tells us more about a verb — how, when, where or how often something happens — like «quickly», «yesterday», «here» or «often».
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	adverb	adverb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	iobj	_	_
9	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	obj	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
14	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
16	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	16	conj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
20	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	21	advmod	_	_
21	often	often	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
22	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	23	nsubj	_	_
23	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	conj	_	_
24	—	-	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
25	like	like	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	27	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	27	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	31	punct	_	_
30	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	31	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	yesterday	yesterday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	31	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	35	punct	_	_
34	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	35	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	23	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	35	punct	_	_
37	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	39	cc	_	_
38	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	39	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
39	often	often	ADV	RB	_	35	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
40	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	39	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
41	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a adverb | a word |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | a word | more | us |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient more=Topic |
| 3 | **happen** | present | something |  |  | here | yesterday | often, quickly *property* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Adverbs can also describe adjectives or other adverbs: «very tall», «really slowly».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adverb:m2:1
# text = Adverbs can also describe adjectives or other adverbs: «very tall», «really slowly».
1	Adverbs	adverb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	adjectives	adjective	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	adverbs	adverb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	very	very	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	really	really	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | can | Adverbs | adjectives or other adverbs |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP to be ADJ»: agent=Agent adjective=Theme clause=Attribute |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Quickly» is an adverb in «She ran quickly».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adverb:x1:1
# text = «Quickly» is an adverb in «She ran quickly».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	adverb	adverb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | a adverb |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **run** *in a quote* | past | She | a adverb *not said here* |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme adverb=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Add an adverb to show how the giant walked: «heavily».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adverb:x2:1
# text = Add an adverb to show how the giant walked: «heavily».
1	Add	add	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	adverb	adverb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	giant	giant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	heavily	heavily	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | a adverb |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent adverb=Patient |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **walk** | past | the giant |  |  |  |  | heavily *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Yesterday» is an adverb of time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adverb:x3:1
# text = «Yesterday» is an adverb of time.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Yesterday	yesterday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	adverb	adverb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Yesterday | a adverb |  |  | time |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Very» is an adverb in «very cold».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adverb:x4:1
# text = «Very» is an adverb in «very cold».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	adverb	adverb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | a adverb |  | cold |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many adverbs end in «-ly».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adverb:x5:1
# text = Many adverbs end in «-ly».
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	adverbs	adverb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	end	end	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	ly	ly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | present | Many adverbs |  |  | ly |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Suddenly, the lights went out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adverb:x6:1
# text = Suddenly, the lights went out.
1	Suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	out	out	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go out** | past | the lights |  |  |  |  | out, suddenly *property* | vn interact-36.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Always» and «never» are adverbs of frequency.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adverb:x7:1
# text = «Always» and «never» are adverbs of frequency.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	adverbs	adverb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	frequency	frequency	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | adverbs |  |  |  | of frequency | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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