Adverbs and Adjectives

Adjectives Adjectives are words that modify nouns or pronouns by defining, describing, limiting, or qualifying those nouns or pronouns. An adjective describes how something 'is'. For this reason, we usually use the verb 'to be' when using adjectives. Adjectives are used to describe nouns. Example: He is a good doctor. Rule: Adjectives describe nouns. Example: beautiful trees, they are happy

Adjectives Be careful! Adjectives don't have a singular and plural form OR a masculine, feminine and neuter form. Adjectives are always the same! Never add a final -s to an adjective. Adjectives can also be placed at the end of a sentence if they describe the subject of a sentence. Example: My doctor is excellent. NOT!!: difficults books

Adjective Rules Rule: Adjectives are placed before the noun. Example: a wonderful book; very interesting people Be careful! Don't place an adjective after the noun

Adverbs Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs and that express such ideas as time, place, manner, cause, and degree. They tell you How something is done. Example: How does he she sing? - She sings beautifully. Rule: Adverbs are often formed by adding -ly to an adjective Example: beautiful - beautifully, careful – carefully

Adverb Rules Be Careful! Some adjectives don't change in the adverb form. The most important of these are: fast - fast, hard - hard Good is probably the most important exception. The adverb form of 'good' is 'well'. Unfortunately, this is a common mistake that many of us make! NOT!!: He plays tennis good.

Adverb Rules Rule: Adverbs can also modify an adjective. In this case, the adverb is placed before the adjective. Example: She is extremely happy. They are absolutely sure. Be Careful! Do not use 'very' with adjectives that express an increased quality of a basic adjective Example: good - fantastic NOT!!: She is a very beautiful woman

Adverb Rules Rule: Adverbs of frequency (always, never, sometimes, often) usually come before the main verb Example: Do you always eat in a restaurant? They don't usually travel on Fridays. Be Careful! Adverbs of frequency expressing infrequency are not usually used in the negative or question form. NOT!!: Does she rarely eat fish? They don't seldom go to the cinema. Adverbs of frequency are often placed at the beginning of a sentence. Example: Sometimes, he likes to go to museums. Adverbs of frequency follow - come after - the verb 'to be'. Example: He is sometimes late for work.

Adverb and Adjective Use Use adjectives as subject complements with linking verbs; use adverbs with action verbs. Examples: The old man's speech was eloquent. (ADJ) Mr. Potter speaks eloquently. (ADV) Please be careful. (ADJ) Drive carefully. (ADV)

He looks good to be an octogenarian. The quiche tastes very good. Good and Well Good is an adjective; its use as an adverb is colloquial or nonstandard. Correct: He looks good to be an octogenarian. The quiche tastes very good. He gets along well with his co-workers. Colloquial: He gets along good with his co-workers. NOT ACCEPTABLE!

Good and Well Well may be either an adverb or an adjective. As an adjective, well means "in good health." Correct: He plays well. (Well is an adverb.) My mother is not well. (Well is an adjective.)

Bad and Badly BAD OR BADLY Bad is an adjective used after sense verbs such as look, smell, taste, feel, or sound or after linking verbs (is, am, are, was, were, and other forms of to be). Example: I feel bad about the delay. Badly is an adverb used after all other verbs. It doesn't hurt so badly now.

Real or Really REAL OR REALLY Real is an adjective meaning "genuine"; its use as an adverb is colloquial or nonstandard. Nonstandard: He writes real well. Have a real nice day. The company is real pleased with your work. Correct: This is real leather. (ADJ) Really is an adverb. Examples: He writes really well. Have a really nice day. The company is very/really pleased with your work.

Sort of and Kind of SORT OF AND KIND OF Sort of and kind of are often misused in written English by writers who actually mean rather or somewhat. Incorrect: Lannie was kind of saddened by the results of the test. Correct: Lannie was somewhat saddened by the results of the test