[header] How to use adverbs [title] Use an adverb to describe a verb. [step] One use of an adverb is to modify a verb. The verb is the action in the sentence, and so an adverb tells when, why, to what extent, where, or how you did the action. 
You might have done the action quickly, calmly, or quietly, for instance. When using an adverb with a verb, the adverb often goes before the verb, though not always.