A2 English Adverbs: The Complete List
Time & Sequence
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| already | I have already seen it.Word Partners: have already done, have already seen | /ɔːlˈredi/ |
| any more | I don’t live here any more.Word Partners: not… any more | /ˌeni ˈmɔː(r)/ |
| finally | We finally arrived but it was very late. | /ˈfaɪnəli/ |
| firstly | Firstly, I would like to thank you. | /ˈfɜːstli/ |
| immediately | You should leave immediately. | /ɪˈmiːdiətli/ |
| recently | Until recently, I lived in London.Word Partners: until recently, more recently | /ˈriːsntli/ |
| secondly | Firstly, it’s too expensive. Secondly, we don’t have time. | /ˈsekəndli/ |
| still | Are you still at the office, Sally? | /stɪl/ |
| suddenly | Suddenly it started to rain. | /ˈsʌdənli/ |
| yet | I haven’t finished yet and I’ll be late.Word Partners: not yet | /jet/ |
Frequency, Degree & Extent
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| almost | We are almost finished.Word Partners: almost finished, almost ready | /ˈɔːlməʊst/ |
| completely | I completely forgot the time of the appointment. | /kəmˈpliːtli/ |
| enough | Is there enough food for everyone? | /ɪˈnʌf/ |
| especially | I love Italian food, especially pasta. | /ɪˈspeʃəli/ |
| extremely | This exam is extremely difficult.Word Partners: extremely difficult, extremely important | /ɪkˈstriːmli/ |
| further | You must walk a little further and then you will see the beach. | /ˈfɜːðə(r)/ |
| mostly | It is mostly sunny in July and August. | /ˈməʊstli/ |
| nearly | It is nearly time for your favourite TV show.Word Partners: nearly time, nearly there | /ˈnɪəli/ |
| normally | I normally finish work at 5 PM and get home an hour later. | /ˈnɔːməli/ |
Location & Direction
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| abroad | I want to live abroad.Word Partners: live abroad, go abroad | /əˈbrɔːd/ |
| anywhere | I can’t find my keys anywhere.Word Partners: go anywhere, not… anywhere | /ˈeniweə(r)/ |
| around | Let’s walk around the park and see the lake. | /əˈraʊnd/ |
| everywhere | I looked everywhere.Word Partners: look everywhere, go everywhere | /ˈevriweə(r)/ |
| forward | I look forward to it.Word Partners: look forward to, move forward | /ˈfɔːwəd/ |
| inside | Come inside – it’s raining. | /ɪnˈsaɪd/ |
| near | Is there a bank near here? | /nɪə/ |
| nowhere | Last year, we didn’t have any money so we went nowhere.Word Partners: go nowhere, getting nowhere | /ˈnəʊweə(r)/ |
| outside | The children are playing outside. | /aʊtˈsaɪd/ |
| somewhere | Let’s go somewhere nice.Word Partners: go somewhere | /ˈsʌmweə(r)/ |
Manner – How Actions Are Performed
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| badly | The team played badly and lost the match. | /ˈbædli/ |
| carefully | Please listen carefully.Word Partners: listen carefully, drive carefully | /ˈkeəfəli/ |
| clearly | He explained it clearly to us.Word Partners: explain clearly, speak clearly | /ˈklɪəli/ |
| correctly | Did I answer it correctly?Word Partners: answer correctly, spell correctly | /kəˈrektli/ |
| differently | My brother and I think differently.Word Partners: think differently, do things differently | /ˈdɪfrəntli/ |
| easily | She passed easily.Word Partners: pass easily, win easily | /ˈiːzəli/ |
| happily | They were playing happily.Word Partners: play happily, live happily ever after | /ˈhæpɪli/ |
| loudly | He speaks loudly.Word Partners: speak loudly, laugh loudly | /ˈlaʊdli/ |
| quietly | Please speak quietly in the library.Word Partners: work quietly, speak quietly | /ˈkwaɪətli/ |
| sadly | Sadly, our holiday is over. | /ˈsædli/ |
| slowly | Please speak slowly.Word Partners: speak slowly, drive slowly | /ˈsləʊli/ |
Certainty & Probability
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| actually | It was actually quite exciting. | /ˈæktʃuəli/ |
| certainly | I will certainly be there.Word Partners: will certainly | /ˈsɜːtnli/ |
| definitely | I will definitely call you.Word Partners: will definitely | /ˈdefɪnətli/ |
| exactly | That’s exactly right.Word Partners: exactly right, exactly the same | /ɪɡˈzæktli/ |
| perhaps | Perhaps we can go later. | /pəˈhæps/ |
Attitude, Evaluation & Alternatives
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| anyway | It was raining but we went anyway. | /ˈeniweɪ/ |
| fortunately | Fortunately, nobody was hurt. | /ˈfɔːtʃənətli/ |
| instead | Have tea instead of coffee.Word Partners: instead of | /ɪnˈsted/ |
| rather | I’d rather have tea.Word Partners: would rather, rather bad/good | /ˈrɑːðə(r)/ |
| unfortunately | Unfortunately, I cannot come. | /ʌnˈfɔːtʃənətli/ |
