2. What is an adjective?
An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a
noun or a pronoun.
He seems strange.
The response was quick.
Be careful on Friday, the
13th.
“Strange” is an adjective that
describes the pronoun “he.”
“Quick” is an adjective that
describes the noun “response.”
“Careful” is an adjective that
describes the implied pronoun
“you.”
3. 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
4. What is an adverb?
An adverb is a word that describes, modifies, or
intensifies 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.
They responded
extremely quickly.
Be particularly careful
on Friday, the 13th.
“Strangely” is an adverb that
describes the verb “behaves.”
“Extremely” is an adverb that
intensifies the adverb “quickly.”
“Particularly” is an adverb that
describes the adjective “careful.”
5. 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
6. 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.
7. 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 Adverb to Modify a verb:
She looked coldly at the heckler.
I felt carefully for the switch.
I will gladly taste your homemade ice
cream.
My dog enthusiastically smells
everything he finds in the park.
The alarm sounded loudly to warn us
to leave the building.
Use an Adjective to Modify a Noun:
She looked cold.
I felt sick.
Your homemade ice cream tastes
delicious.
Her perfume smelled floral.
That country song sounded
depressing.
8. 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.”
9. 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.”
What else should I watch for?
