Adverb Phrase Examples of Manner, Time, Place and Degree

An adverb phrase is an adverb with one or more modifiers that describes how, when, where, or how frequently something happens, as in very carefully, quite recently, and much too early. These 304 adverb phrase examples are written for manner, time, place, frequency, degree, comparisons, positions in a sentence, negatives, questions, and everyday contexts from home to sports. You get model sentences for speaking, writing, and exam practice, together with related practice on adjective phrases, verb phrases, and adverb clauses.

Quick Answer: Adverb Phrase Examples

• Manner: The pianist played remarkably softly at the end.
• Time: The results arrived very late on Friday.
• Place: The school is quite far from the harbour.
• Frequency: My uncle calls us fairly regularly.
• Degree: The room was almost completely dark.
• Intensifier: The bus stopped much too suddenly.
• Comparative: Ines types much faster than her brother.
• As-as form: Please answer as briefly as possible.

Adverb Phrase Examples for Everyday Use

An adverb and its modifiers state how, when, or where an action happens, as in “very carefully”, “very politely”, and “very soundly”.

1. Kenji opened the box very carefully.
2. The bus arrived much too early for the tour.
3. Tom drives quite carefully on icy roads.
4. We finished the project surprisingly quickly.
5. My grandmother walks rather slowly but never stops.
6. The children played so happily that nobody wanted to leave.
7. He answered very politely and then sat down.
8. The doctor arrived almost immediately after the call.
9. Nina sings remarkably well for her age.
10. The rain fell quite heavily all night.
11. We parked quite far away from the entrance.
12. I see my cousins fairly often in summer.
13. Please speak a little more slowly.
14. The kitten slept very soundly on the sofa.
15. Hana works much harder than anyone else.
16. The film we watched on Friday ended rather suddenly.
17. You should finish as soon as possible.
18. He plays the cello extremely well.
19. The guests left very late last night.
20. She answered so clearly that everyone understood.

Manner Sentences with Adverb Phrases

Adverbs of manner state how an action is done, as in “quite slowly”, “remarkably sweetly”, and “really attentively”.

1. The old man walked quite slowly down the hill.
2. She closed the door so quietly that the baby slept on.
3. The team played extremely badly in the first half.
4. He answered the question rather clumsily.
5. The girl sang remarkably sweetly at the festival.
6. Dad drove quite dangerously on the wet road.
7. Please carry the vase extremely gently.
8. The chef cut the vegetables very neatly.
9. They argued quite politely for an hour.
10. She danced so gracefully that the audience fell silent.
11. The students listened really attentively to the guest.
12. The kitten moved very cautiously across the ledge.
13. Dr Mensah explained the plan unusually clearly.
14. Aisha folded the letter rather carefully before she sealed it.

Time and Place Sentences with Adverb Phrases

Both when and where an action happens are stated, as in “only a little further”, “right there”, and “fairly early”.

Adverb Phrase Examples of Time

Time phrases state when an action happens, as in “very soon”, “only yesterday”, and “unusually late”.

1. The parcel will arrive very soon.
2. We moved to Leeds quite recently.
3. My alarm rang much too early on Sunday.
4. Ayo got home rather late last night.
5. She called me only yesterday about the party.
6. The guests arrived very early on Sunday.
7. The workers started almost immediately after lunch.
8. The doctor will see you quite shortly.
9. The shop opens fairly early on weekdays.
10. Mum woke up unusually late this morning.
11. My phone broke only recently, so it is almost new.
12. Snow fell so early that the apples froze on the trees.
13. The letter came surprisingly late in the week.
14. Please come here right now and bring your bag.

Adverb Phrase Examples of Place

Place phrases state where an action happens or how far away it is, as in “quite far away”, “fairly near”, and “straight ahead”.

1. They live quite far away in a small village.
2. The lost dog was found very close by.
3. Put the heavy box right there by the door.
4. The cafe is fairly near the station.
5. We camped much too far from the water.
6. Sit a bit closer to the stage.
7. The children were playing just outside when the rain began.
8. Go straight ahead until you reach the bakery.
9. The hikers climbed much higher than the hut.
10. Our seats were quite far back.
11. The post office is only a little further along this road.

Frequency and Degree Sentences with Adverb Phrases

Frequency phrases state how frequently an action happens, and degree phrases state how far or how strongly it happens.

Adverb Phrase Examples of Frequency

With frequency adverbs, the phrase states how frequently an action happens, as in “quite often”, “hardly ever”, and “fairly frequently”.

1. We visit my grandparents quite often.
2. She very rarely misses a training session.
3. The bus runs fairly regularly on Sundays.
4. They eat out not very often.
5. It snows here so frequently that the roads need clearing twice a week.
6. The cat hardly ever sits still.
7. Ravi almost never forgets a birthday.
8. The shop closes early more and more often.
9. We meet fairly frequently to plan the event.
10. My neighbour practises the drums very occasionally.
11. Maria goes swimming really often in summer.
12. Our train almost always arrives on time.

Adverb Phrase Examples of Degree

Degree phrases state the extent of an action or a state, as in “very nearly”, “only slightly”, and “much more”.

1. She very nearly missed the last train.
2. The garden was almost entirely flooded.
3. The soup was nearly completely cold.
4. He was fairly badly hurt in the fall.
5. The film was only slightly funnier than the book.
6. They were really quite pleased with the result.
7. She almost completely forgot the question.
8. It rained fairly heavily all morning.
9. The ice is very nearly thick enough to skate on.
10. The students were much more nervous than usual.
11. I am just a little tired after the walk.
12. The baby was hardly even awake when we arrived.

Modifier Sentences with Adverb Phrases

Each phrase adds a word before the adverb or a result after it, as in “too fast”, “too slowly”, and “very hard”.

Adverb Phrase Examples with Intensifiers

Very, quite, so, and too come before the adverb, as in “very fast”, “extremely quickly”, and “fairly nervously”.

1. He ran very fast to catch the bus.
2. She spoke too quickly for the class to follow.
3. The bus came so late that we missed the film.
4. The meeting in the hall ended quite abruptly.
5. Lena replied extremely quickly to my email.
6. The lights went out really suddenly.
7. You drive much too fast for this road.
8. They sang rather loudly at the party.
9. The team trained very hard all winter.
10. He laughed fairly nervously at the joke.
11. The tea cooled far too slowly.
12. You answered so cleverly that the teacher smiled.
13. The students worked quite quietly in the library.
14. She jumped incredibly high for her age.

Adverb Phrase Examples with Enough and Too

With enough, too, or so that, a result follows the adverb, as in “fast enough”, “so softly that nobody heard”, and “clearly enough”.

1. Mina ran fast enough to win.
2. He did not speak loudly enough for the back row.
3. You arrived early enough to get a seat.
4. The soup cooled too slowly for us to eat.
5. She sang so softly that nobody heard.
6. The plane flew high enough to clear the clouds.
7. The students answered quickly enough for the teacher.
8. The door closed too quietly to wake anyone.
9. He spoke clearly enough for everyone to follow.
10. She stood close enough to touch the painting.
11. The team worked so efficiently that they finished early.
12. It happened too fast for me to see.

Comparison Sentences with Adverb Phrases

Degree is described with -er, more, most, and as.

Comparative Adverb Phrase Examples

A higher or lower degree uses -er, more, less, and better, as in “more carefully than before”, “much better than I do”, and “less neatly than her sister”.

1. She drives more carefully than before.
2. Omar runs faster than his brother.
3. Please come a little earlier tomorrow morning.
4. The baby sleeps less soundly than usual.
5. Mia sings much better than I do.
6. He speaks more clearly than he used to.
7. The new bus runs far more often than the old one.
8. Please walk a bit more slowly.
9. Our team plays much better every week.
10. She writes less neatly than her sister.
11. The river flows more quickly in spring.
12. They worked harder than ever before the final.
13. Speak a little more loudly, please.
14. The wind blew even harder during the night.

Superlative Adverb Phrase Examples

The highest or lowest degree uses -est, most, least, and best, as in “earliest of all the guests”, “most gracefully”, and “least often”.

1. Ravi arrived earliest of all the guests.
2. Mei performed best of the three singers on Saturday.
3. She works hardest of all when the deadline is close.
4. Of all the dancers, Ines moves most gracefully.
5. The youngest child spoke most clearly.
6. Our team trains the longest of all the squads in the league.
7. That route is used least often.
8. Paolo answered the most politely of all the candidates.
9. The winner finished fastest of all the runners by three seconds.
10. Of everyone, Jin listens most carefully.

Adverb Phrase Examples with As-As Structures

As comes before the adverb and again after it, as in “as soon as possible”, “as early as you like”, and “as patiently as he could”.

1. Please reply as soon as possible.
2. Run as fast as you can.
3. He cooked as carefully as a professional.
4. She spoke twice as quickly as her teacher.
5. Come as early as you like.
6. They worked just as hard as the others.
7. The boy waited as patiently as he could.
8. Walk as quietly as possible past the nursery.
9. Karim writes as neatly as his mother.
10. The train arrived almost as quickly as the bus.

Position Sentences with Adverb Phrases

Adverb phrases come after the verb, at the start of a sentence, or before the main verb.

Adverb Phrase Examples at the End of a Sentence

After the verb or the object, the phrase ends the sentence, as in “very politely”, “very proudly”, and “remarkably smoothly”.

1. The students answered the visitor very politely.
2. The children waited in line quite patiently.
3. He drove home through the fog rather slowly.
4. Zara packed her bag unusually quickly.
5. The soldiers marched through the square very proudly.
6. She replied to the angry customer fairly calmly.
7. We walked back much more slowly.
8. Ali laughed quite loudly at the story.
9. The plane landed in the storm remarkably smoothly.
10. The baker on our street works extremely early.
11. They finished the job surprisingly fast.
12. The youth orchestra played exceptionally well last night.

Adverb Phrase Examples at the Start of a Sentence

Beginning the sentence, the phrase is followed by a comma, as in “quite suddenly”, “rather unexpectedly”, and “almost immediately”.

1. Quite suddenly, the lights went out.
2. Very slowly, the old gate opened.
3. Surprisingly quickly, the crowd left the square.
4. Rather unexpectedly, Mia won the prize.
5. Quite honestly, I preferred the first version.
6. Most carefully, the surgeon removed the splinter.
7. Slowly and carefully, he lifted the lid.
8. Almost immediately, the phone rang again.
9. Very soon, the guests will arrive.
10. Remarkably quietly, the children left the hall.
11. Extremely reluctantly, Lena signed the form.

Adverb Phrase Examples in Mid-Sentence Position

Before the main verb, the phrase takes mid-sentence position, as in “very carefully”, “very rarely”, and “fairly regularly”.

1. She very carefully closed the door behind her.
2. The manager quite often forgets his keys.
3. Tom almost always walks to school.
4. We very rarely eat meat at home.
5. The old man quite suddenly stood up.
6. They rather reluctantly accepted the offer.
7. My sister fairly regularly sends us postcards.
8. The cat very quietly crept under the table.
9. The students quite happily left early.
10. He quite rarely takes a holiday.

Coordinated Sentences with Adverb Phrases

Two adverbs join with and, but, yet, or or, as in “slowly and carefully”, “hard and steadily”, and “calmly and quite politely”.

1. She worked on the model slowly and carefully.
2. The thieves moved quickly but quietly.
3. He answered the reporter politely yet firmly.
4. The wind blew hard and steadily all night.
5. You may arrive early or late, but call us first.
6. The choir sang softly and very clearly.
7. She replied calmly and quite politely.
8. They walked slowly and rather sadly home.
9. The kettle boiled quickly and quite noisily.
10. Mia solved the puzzle quickly and very neatly.

Negative Sentences with Adverb Phrases

Not, nobody, and never appear with the adverb phrase.

1. She did not answer very politely.
2. Nobody spoke very loudly in the library.
3. He does not drive fast enough for the race.
4. The team did not play particularly well.
5. The train does not run very often on Sundays.
6. He could not speak clearly enough to be understood.
7. She did not react as quickly as I expected.
8. We do not visit them very frequently.
9. The oven does not heat evenly enough for baking bread.
10. Tom never speaks too loudly in the library.

Question Sentences with Adverb Phrases

Questions contain an adverb phrase, as in “how quickly”, “very late”, and “how well”.

1. How quickly can you finish the report?
2. How often do you visit your grandparents?
3. How far away is the nearest hospital?
4. Do you work very late on Fridays?
5. How carefully did the workers check the bridge?
6. Did she answer the judge quite honestly?
7. How soon will the parcel arrive?
8. How well does your brother speak Spanish?
9. Why did he leave so early?
10. Can you run fast enough to catch the bus?
11. Is the train running much later than usual?

Reported Speech Sentences with Adverb Phrases

In reported speech, a statement, a question, or a warning from another speaker contains the adverb phrase, as in “too fast”, “extremely hard”, and “very early”.

1. She said that he drove too fast for the narrow road.
2. He told us the baby slept very soundly.
3. Tom explained that he had worked extremely hard all week.
4. The coach claimed that the team had played remarkably well.
5. My aunt said they lived quite far away.
6. The teacher announced that the exam would start very early.
7. Nadia asked whether the shop closed unusually late.
8. The guide warned us to walk as quietly as possible.

Command Sentences with Adverb Phrases

Commands put the adverb phrase after the verb, as in “very carefully”, “quite gently”, and “rather more neatly”.

1. Drive very carefully on the mountain road.
2. Please speak a little more slowly for the visitors.
3. Walk as quietly as possible past the sleeping baby.
4. Stir the sauce quite gently for five minutes.
5. Close the gate very firmly behind you.
6. Answer the questions as clearly as you can.
7. Write your name rather more neatly on the form.
8. Hold the ladder very steadily while I climb up to the roof.
9. Cut the paper very straight along the line.
10. Come home much earlier tonight than you did yesterday.

Passive Sentences with Adverb Phrases

A form of be and a past participle come before the adverb phrase, as in “remarkably quickly”, “rather late”, and “much too quickly”.

1. The bridge was built remarkably quickly.
2. The letters were sorted very carefully by hand.
3. The old tower was repaired surprisingly cheaply.
4. The winners were announced rather late in the evening.
5. The patient was examined extremely thoroughly.
6. The festival is held quite far away from the town.
7. The tickets were sold much too quickly for us to buy any.
8. The mistake was noticed very soon after the exam.
9. The old coins were found fairly close to the surface.
10. The report was written so carefully that nobody found an error.

Context Sentences with Adverb Phrases

The settings range from homes and classrooms to offices, journeys, newsrooms, stories, sports, and clinics.

Adverb Phrase Examples for Home Life

At home, the adverb phrases describe cooking, tidying, sleeping, and dinner time, as in “very slowly”, “surprisingly quickly”, and “quite loudly”.

1. Grandma stirs the soup very slowly.
2. The kids tidied their room surprisingly quickly.
3. Dad sleeps rather lightly these days.
4. The kettle whistled quite loudly in the empty kitchen.
5. We eat dinner fairly late on weekends.

Adverb Phrase Examples for School Life

In the classroom, the adverb phrases describe pupils, teachers, tests, and the bell, as in “extremely carefully”, “quite clearly”, and “far too early”.

1. The pupils listened extremely carefully to the story.
2. Our teacher speaks quite clearly to the whole class.
3. Aisha finished the test much sooner than the others.
4. The bell rang far too early.
5. Students must write as neatly as possible.

Adverb Phrase Examples for Work

At the office, the adverb phrases describe teams, managers, printers, and engineers, as in “remarkably efficiently”, “very promptly”, and “rather early”.

1. The team completed the audit remarkably efficiently.
2. Our manager replies very promptly to emails.
3. The new printer works much faster than the old one.
4. The office closes rather early on Fridays.
5. The engineers tested the bridge extremely thoroughly.

Adverb Phrase Examples for Travel

During journeys, the adverb phrases describe flights, trains, ferries, and drivers, as in “ridiculously early”, “quite slowly”, and “fairly often”.

1. Our flight left ridiculously early, before breakfast.
2. The train moved quite slowly through the mountains.
3. We arrived very late at the hotel.
4. The ferry runs fairly often in summer.
5. The driver turned carefully but quickly around the bend.

Adverb Phrase Examples for News Reports

News reports use adverb phrases for prices, rescues, ministers, voters, and fires, as in “quite sharply”, “extremely fast”, and “unusually early”.

1. Prices rose quite sharply last month.
2. The rescue team worked extremely fast after the flood.
3. The minister answered the reporters very briefly.
4. Voters turned out unusually early on election day.
5. The fire spread alarmingly quickly through the old market.

Adverb Phrase Examples for Stories

Stories use adverb phrases for princesses, captains, clocks, and rain, as in “very softly”, “quite steadily”, and “quite slowly”.

1. The princess spoke very softly to the dragon.
2. Rain fell quite steadily over the silent village.
3. The captain waited rather impatiently on the deck.
4. The old clock struck quite slowly at midnight.
5. She smiled faintly but warmly at the stranger.

Adverb Phrase Examples for Sports

On the field, the adverb phrases describe strikers, goalkeepers, teams, and runners, as in “incredibly fast”, “remarkably well”, and “very quickly”.

1. The striker ran incredibly fast down the wing.
2. Our goalkeeper dives remarkably well for his age.
3. The team played much better in the second half.
4. The runners started very quickly but tired near the end.
5. She serves quite accurately under pressure.

Adverb Phrase Examples for Health

At the clinic, the adverb phrases describe patients, doctors, nurses, and exercise, as in “surprisingly quickly”, “a little more slowly”, and “very gently”.

1. The patient is recovering surprisingly quickly.
2. Doctors advise you to eat a little more slowly.
3. Her heart beats fairly regularly now.
4. Stretch very gently before you run.
5. The nurse spoke quite calmly to the frightened boy.

Kids and Student Sentences with Adverb Phrases

The range runs from short sentences for beginners to formal sentences for exam answers.

Adverb Phrase Examples for Kids

For kids, the adverb phrases describe animals, play, and family life, as in “very slowly”, “a little more quietly”, and “very happily”.

1. The turtle walks very slowly.
2. I ran really fast to the gate.
3. She sings so sweetly in the choir.
4. Please talk a little more quietly.
5. The baby slept quite soundly.
6. My dog barks very loudly at the postman.
7. We played very happily in the garden.
8. The cat jumped extremely high.
9. Mum drives quite carefully in the rain.
10. He ate his lunch rather quickly.

Short Adverb Phrase Sentences for Beginners

Beginners start with short statements or commands that contain an adverb phrase of two words, as in “very fast”, “very late”, and “very carefully”.

1. She runs very fast.
2. Walk quite slowly, please.
3. He sings so well.
4. We eat very late.
5. Dogs bark too loudly.
6. Birds sing very early.
7. Draw very carefully.
8. It ended quite quickly.
9. I swim really well.

Adverb Phrase Examples for Exams

Exam answers use formal wording, as in “considerably faster than wages”, “very rigorously”, and “quite independently”.

1. The committee reviewed the proposal far more thoroughly than in previous years.
2. Prices have risen considerably faster than wages over the past decade.
3. The narrator speaks surprisingly calmly about the loss.
4. The data were analysed very rigorously by an independent team.
5. The disease spread much more rapidly than experts had predicted.
6. Citizens voted almost unanimously for the reform.
7. The experiment was repeated quite independently in three laboratories.
8. The two economies developed so differently that comparison became pointless.
9. The speaker argued extremely persuasively against the proposal.
10. The glacier is retreating faster than any model suggested.

FAQs

Related:

• Prepositional Phrase Example Sentences
• Noun Phrase Examples
• Infinitive Phrase Examples
• Participial Phrase Examples
• Time Clause Examples
• Dependent Clause Examples