Adverb is the name of a word class; adverbial is the name of a clause element (‘setningsledd’). A modifier is part of a clause element.

An adverbial

may describe the action expressed in the verb.
He speaks French fluently.
She was warmly allowed into the house.
may give the speaker’s view on a situation.
Luckily, all the students passed their exams.
This is obviously not enough.
may refer to the connection between sentences in a text.
Furthermore, the team had played an excellent away game.
Nothing, however, will convince me to change my mind.

A modifier

may give the degree of an adjective head.
The house was extremely nice.
The captain was badly shaken.
may give the degree of an adverb head.
She speaks Norwegian very well.
Quite soon, a crowd had gathered outside.

Adverbs in general

Adverbs often end in –ly and are then formed from an adjective:
perfect - perfectly, nice - nicely, probable - probably

Many adverbs have no ending:
often, seldom, never, always

If an adjective ends in –y, the –y turns into an –i when the adjective forms an adverb.
easy - easily, lucky - luckily

Regular comparison

Adverbs consisting of one syllable have the ending –er in the comparative and –est in the superlative.

POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
fast	faster	fastest
hard	harder	hardest

Adverbs consisting of more than one syllable are compared by using more in the comparative and most in the superlative.

POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
nicely	more nicely	most nicely
quietly	more quietly	most quietly

Irregular comparison

POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
well	better	best
far	farther	farthest
far	further	furthest
badly	worse	worst
little	less	least
much	more	most

Placement

Adverbials that refer to how an action is carried out are placed in front of the main verb or at the end of the clause. Adverbials of frequency are placed in front of the main verb.

‘I like it’, she answered enthusiastically.
They slowly walked over to the shop.
I seldom go to the cinema

Adverbials that give the speaker’s view of a situation are typically placed first or early in the clause.

Luckily, all the students passed their exam.
This is obviously not enough.

Adverbials that link the sentences in texts together are placed first or early in the clause.

Furthermore, the team had played an excellent game.

Modifiers of adjectives and adverbs are placed immediately in front of the head.

The house was extremely nice.
Quite soon a crowd had gathered outside.

If the adverbial is a long phrase or clause, it is placed first if it gives the background, the setting for the rest of the clause, but last if it provides the new information.

How did you recognize your father? I recognised him by his funny walk.

Every Saturday our neighbour washes his car and takes the family for a ride.

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