We were all taught in elementary school that adverbs modify verbs and adjectives modify nouns: Happy adults sing happily. That’s true, but there’s more to the story.

Save guides, add subjects and pick up where you left off with your BBC account. Ah, the adverb train station. If you want to find out about adverbs, there is no better place. An adverb tells you ...

Use adverbs sparingly. At their best, they spice up a verb or adjective. At their worst, they express a meaning already contained in the sentence: The blast completely destroyed the church office.