Adverbs and Adjectives in the English Language

In this article, we'll talk about everything you need to know about adjectives and adverbs. Specifically, we will define an adjective and an adverb.

What is an adverbs?

An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, a clause, or even another adverb.

Adverbs answer how, when, where, why, or to what extent—how often or how much:

Adverbs rules:

1. To form an adverb you often just add the suffix -ly to the adjective:

2. Adverbs can also be formed from nouns by adding only –y:

See: Opposites of Adjectives by Adding Prefixes

3. Not all adverbs follow these rules, some don’t follow any pattern and simply have to be learned:

An adjective is a word that modifies a noun or pronoun (people, places, or things). Adjectives may come before the word they modify.

In general, the purpose of an adjective is to describe a noun or pronoun by stating its characteristics or by providing more information about it:

Adjectives rules:

1. If the adjective ends in a –y, change it to an -i and then add -ly.

2. If the adjective ends in -le, change the -e to a -y. An exception to this method is the adjective "vile," which becomes "vilely."

See: Adjectives List in English

3. If an adjective ends in -ic, add -ally. An exception to this method is the adjective public, which becomes publicly.

Examples that show the difference between adjectives and adverbs:

Examples that show the difference between irregular adjectives and adverbs:

Common Errors Examples that show the difference between adjectives and abnormal adverbs:

Correct	Incorrect
very good weather.	very well weather.
Ingrid feels bad about the news.	Ingrid feels badly about the news.
Chocolate or vanilla: which do you like better?	Chocolate or vanilla: which do you like best?
Terry spoke more quickly than Nguyen did.	Terry spoke quicker than Nguyen did.
Talk more quietly.	Talk quieter.
Alfredo is the most efficent assembly worker in the unit.	Alfredo is the more efficent assembly worker in the unit.
I feel bad that he is not taking part in the game.	I feel badly that he is not taking part in the game.
Sometimes Hollywood romance ends badly.	Sometimes Hollywood romance ends bad.
She appeared calm after the accident.	She appeared calmly after the accident.
She tried to be brave and take the bad news calmly.	She tried to be brave and take the bad news calm.
The assignment looked easy.	The assignment looked easily.
The players were moving easily around the field.	The players were moving easy around the field.
It felt good to score an A on the final.	It felt well to score an A on the final.
My friend plays the piano well.	My friend plays the piano good.
Students did really well on the midterm.	Students did real well on the midterm.
Students took a real midterm last week.	Students took a really midterm last week.
He has been slowly recovering from his knee injury.	He has been slow recovering from his knee injury.

See: Adjectives Usages and Examples in English

__________

References

grammarbook - thesaurus - preply - niu