There are many rules for using adverbs, and these rules often depend upon which type of adverb you are using. Remember these basics and using adverbs to make sentences more meaningful will be easier for you.
Adverbs can always be used to modify verbs. Notice that the second of these two sentences is much more interesting simply because it contains an adverb:
The dog ran. (You can picture a dog running, but you don’t really know much more about the scene.)
The dog ran excitedly. (You can picture a dog running, wagging its tail, panting happily, and looking glad to see its owner. You can paint a much more interesting picture in your head when you know how or why the dog is running.)
Adverbs are often formed by adding the letters “-ly” to adjectives. This makes it very easy to identify adverbs in sentences. There are many exceptions to this rule; everywhere, nowhere, and upstairs are a few examples.
An adverb can be used to modify an adjective and intensify the meaning it conveys. For example:
He plays tennis well. (He knows how to play tennis and sometimes he wins.)
He plays tennis extremely well. (He knows how to play tennis so well that he wins often.)