Adjectives and Adverbs

Adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon

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.”
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
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. “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 Noun: Use an Adverb to Modify a verb:

She looked cold. She looked coldly at the heckler.

I felt sick. I felt carefully for the switch.

Your homemade ice cream tastes I will gladly taste your homemade ice
delicious. cream.

Her perfume smelled floral. My dog enthusiastically smells

everything he finds in the park.

That country song sounded The alarm sounded loudly to warn us

depressing. to leave the building.
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.”