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Adverbs (Adverbien)

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or whole clauses. They answer questions like how, when, where, and to what extent.

Types of Adverbs

  • Manner (Art und Weise) — describe how something is done: schnell, langsam, gut, schlecht.
  • Time (Zeit) — when or how often: heute, gestern, bald, oft, immer, nie.
  • Place (Ort) — where: hier, dort, überall, oben, unten.
  • Degree (Grad/Intensität) — to what extent: sehr, ziemlich, kaum, völlig.
  • Frequency (Häufigkeit) — how often: häufig, selten, meistens.
  • Interrogative adverbs — used to ask questions: wie? wann? wo? warum?

Position in the Sentence

  • Adverbs of time usually come early in the sentence (after the verb in main clauses with subject-verb inversion they may come first):
    • Ich gehe heute ins Kino.
  • Adverbs of manner and place typically follow time: Time > Manner > Place is a common default order.
    • Er liest heute ruhig zu Hause.
  • Adverbial phrases can move for emphasis, but watch word order in main vs. subordinate clauses.

Examples

  • Sie spricht gut Deutsch. (manner)
  • Gestern war das Wetter schlecht. (time)
  • Wir treffen uns draußen. (place)
  • Das ist sehr wichtig. (degree)
  • Er kommt oft zu spät. (frequency)
  • Wie geht es dir? (interrogative)

Notes & Tips

  • Many adjectives can be used as adverbs without change (e.g., schnell -> Er fährt schnell.).
  • Distinguish adverbs from prepositional phrases that act adverbially (e.g., in der Stadt vs. dort).
  • Learn typical adverb order (time > manner > place) but remember context and emphasis can change it.

Adverbs are essential for adding detail and nuance; practice by expanding simple sentences with time, manner, and place adverbials.