Grammar Focus

Adverbs (Επιρρήματα)

Adverbs (επιρρήματα) give more information about verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. They often tell us how, when, where or how often something happens.

1. What are Adverbs? (Τι είναι τα επιρρήματα;)

An adverb can describe a verb: She sings beautifully. It can also describe an adjective: very tall, or another adverb: very quickly.

QuestionAdverb typeExamples
How?Manner (τρόπος)slowly, carefully, happily
When?Time (χρόνος)today, yesterday, soon
Where?Place (τόπος)here, there, outside
How often?Frequency (συχνότητα)always, usually, often, sometimes, never

2. Formation (Σχηματισμός)

Many adverbs are formed by adding -ly to an adjective.

  • quick → quickly
  • slow → slowly
  • careful → carefully
  • happy → happily

Careful: some adverbs are irregular: good → well, fast → fast, hard → hard.

3. Comparison of Adverbs (Σύγκριση επιρρημάτων)

Adverbs ending in -ly

Use more and the most.

  • carefully → more carefully → the most carefully
  • slowly → more slowly → the most slowly

Short adverbs

Some short adverbs use -er and -est.

  • fast → faster → the fastest
  • hard → harder → the hardest

Irregular adverbs

  • well → better → the best
  • badly → worse → the worst

4. Examples

  • She runs quickly. → Τρέχει γρήγορα.
  • He speaks more slowly than his brother. → Μιλάει πιο αργά από τον αδερφό του.
  • Maria sings the most beautifully in the class. → Η Μαρία τραγουδάει πιο όμορφα από όλους στην τάξη.
  • He plays football well. → Παίζει ποδόσφαιρο καλά.

5. Practice

Exercise 1 – Change the adjectives into adverbs

  1. quick → __________
  2. happy → __________
  3. careful → __________
  4. slow → __________

Exercise 2 – Adjective or adverb?

  1. She is a careful / carefully driver.
  2. She drives careful / carefully.
  3. The music is loud / loudly.
  4. He speaks quiet / quietly.

Exercise 3 – Comparison of adverbs

  1. fast → __________ → the __________
  2. carefully → __________ → the __________
  3. well → __________ → the __________
✅ Show answers

Exercise 1

  1. quickly
  2. happily
  3. carefully
  4. slowly

Exercise 2

  1. careful
  2. carefully
  3. loud
  4. quietly

Exercise 3

  1. fast → faster → the fastest
  2. carefully → more carefully → the most carefully
  3. well → better → the best