Adverbs are the most basic form of adverbial modifier.  Adverbs, like all adverbial modifiers, modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.  Adverbs are indeclinable words, meaning they will not change their endings in order to reflect the word they modify.

Most often, adverbs modify verbs in order to tell the reader how the action of the verb is performed.  For example:

Most adverbs derived their forms from adjectives.  First/second declension adjectives form their adverb by dropping the -us ending of the nominative masculine singular and adding a long -e.

3rd delcsion adjectives drop the final -s of the genitive singular and add -ter:

There are many adverbs, however, that do not derive from adjectives.  Here are some examples:

Last Updated March 18, 2003