Grade 5 English Adverbs – Adverbs Of Manner, Time, Place And Frequency Notes
English Notes: Adverbs
Subtopic: Adverbs of Manner, Time, Place and Frequency
An adverb is a word that tells us more about a verb, an adjective or another adverb. Adverbs answer questions:
- How? (manner) — e.g., quickly, slowly
- When? (time) — e.g., today, yesterday, now
- Where? (place) — e.g., here, there, inside
- How often? (frequency) — e.g., always, sometimes, never
These tell us how something is done.
Examples:
- She ran quickly to the matatu.
- The teacher spoke clearly.
Often end in -ly (quick → quickly).
These tell us when something happens.
Examples:
- We will leave tomorrow.
- He arrived yesterday in Nairobi.
Time adverbs can be at the start or end of a sentence.
These tell us where something happens.
Examples:
- They are waiting outside the market.
- Put the books here.
Place adverbs often come after the verb.
These tell us how often something happens.
Examples:
- We always say the pledge at school.
- My brother sometimes plays football at the field.
Frequency adverbs usually go before the main verb (but after 'to be').
Where to put adverbs (simple rules)
- Manner: After the main verb or after the object — "She sings beautifully."
- Place: After the verb or at the end — "They played outside."
- Time: At the beginning or end — "Tomorrow we travel." / "We travel tomorrow."
- Frequency: Usually before the main verb — "He often visits." If the verb is to be, frequency comes after — "She is always happy."
Formation: Turning adjectives into adverbs
Many adverbs of manner are made by adding -ly to an adjective:
- slow → slowly
- happy → happily
- careful → carefully
Some words are the same as adjectives and adverbs: fast, early, near.
Examples using Kenyan life (easy to understand)
- Mama cooks chapati well. (manner)
- We will visit Lamu next week. (time)
- The pupils are waiting at the gate. (place)
- The bus usually arrives at 7 am. (frequency)
Short practice (fill in the blanks)
- He finished his homework ________. (quick / quickly)
- We go to church ________. (Sunday / on Sunday / sometimes) — choose a time adverb.
- They live ________ Nairobi. (in / at / here) — choose a place adverb/word.
- She ________ eats mandazi. (always / quickly) — choose a frequency adverb.
- quickly
- on Sunday (or tomorrow, yesterday)
- in Nairobi (or here, there, outside)
- always
Tip: Ask the four questions to find the right adverb — How? When? Where? How often? Use simple adverbs first, then try words that end in -ly.
Good luck! Practice by writing 5 sentences about your day using at least one adverb of each type.