Adjectives
and
Adverbs
What is an adjective?
An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or a
pronoun.
He seems strange. “Strange” is an adjective that
describes the pronoun “he.”
The response was quick. “Quick” is an adjective that
describes the noun “response.”
Be careful on Friday, the “Careful” is an adjective that
13th. describes the implied pronoun
“you.”
Mostafa is a good
student.
When should I use an adjective?
Use adjectives with these verbs:
Be-verbs
is are were being
am was be been
Sense Verbs
look feel taste smell sound
Linking Verbs
become remain appear seem
– This class feels interesting.
What is an adverb?
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or
another adverb. Most adverbs are formed with the
addition of the –ly suffix to an existing adjective:
He behaves strangely. “Strangely” is an adverb that
describes the verb “behaves.”
They responded “Extremely” is an adverb that
extremely quickly. intensifies the adverb “quickly.”
Be particularly careful “Particularly” is an adverb that
on Friday, the 13th. describes the adjective “careful.”
When should I use an adverb?
Use adverbs with these verbs:
Action Verbs
swing swat swear blink
blast beware
Sense Verbs Used as Action Verbs
look feel taste smell sound
That seems simple enough.
Knowing the difference between adjectives and adverbs seems
fairly simple when you know what the word is intended to
modify, but be careful; a sense verb might signal either an
adjective or an adverb.
Greg looked sympathetic.
Greg looked sympathetically at the mourners.
In the first sentence, “sympathetic” is describing the noun
“Greg,” so it’s an adjective. In the second example,
“sympathetically” is describing the verb “looked,” so we added
–ly to “sympathetic” make it an adverb.
Wait! Sense verbs are on both lists?
A side-by-side comparison will help clarify when sense verbs require
adjectives and when they require adverbs.
Use an Adjective to Modify a Use an Adverb to Modify a verb:
Noun: She looked coldly at the heckler.
She looked cold.
I felt carefully for the switch.
I felt sick.
I will gladly taste your homemade ice
Your homemade ice cream tastes cream.
delicious.
My dog enthusiastically smells
Her perfume smelled floral. everything he finds in the park.
The alarm sounded loudly to warn us
That country song sounded to leave the building.
depressing.
What should I watch for?
People often confuse the meanings of “real”
and “really.”
The admiral has real charm (genuine charm).
Real is an adjective meaning "genuine."
He is really charismatic (very charismatic).
Really is an adverb meaning “very.”
What else should I watch for?
People often confuse the meanings of sure and
surely.
I am sure the food will taste good (I am certain).
Sure is an adjective meaning “certain.”
The food surely smells good (certainly smells good).
Surely is an adverb meaning “certainly.”