What does an adverb modify?

Study for the GACE Middle Grades Language Arts Test. Prepare with multiple choice questions, flashcards, and detailed explanations. Ace your exam!

An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, which is why this choice is the correct one. In the English language, adverbs serve the function of providing more detail about how, when, where, or to what extent an action is performed or to clarify the degree or intensity of an adjective or another adverb.

For instance, in the sentence "She runs quickly," the adverb "quickly" modifies the verb "runs," specifying the manner in which she runs. Similarly, in "He is very tall," the adverb "very" modifies the adjective "tall," enhancing its meaning. In the phrase "She sings quite beautifully," the adverb "quite" modifies the adverb "beautifully," indicating the extent of beauty in her singing.

Adverbs are versatile in their descriptive capabilities, which distinguishes them from parts of speech like nouns, conjunctions, or prepositions, which have distinct functions. This versatility is what makes understanding adverbs particularly essential in grasping the complexities of sentence structure and improving language skills.

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