Adjective or Adverb
The difference between adjective and adverb
An adjective tells us more about a noun.
Examples:
He bought an expensive car last week. - We describe a thing.
Her friend Zoe is a clever girl. - We describe a person.
They live in an old house. - How is the house? Asking for a thing.
An adverb tells us more about a verb, an adjective or an adverb.
Examples:
He talked nervously. - We describe an action.
It was extremely cold. - We describe a situation.
They always walk quickly. - How do they walk? Asking for an action.
How to form the adverb
Adjective + ly
They looked at their broken vase sadly.
He went quietly into the bedroom.
She opened the letter nervously.
Adjectives ending in y »»» ily
They shouted at the naughty kids angrily.
The children played in the garden happily.
We drank our glasses of orange juice thirstily.
Adjectives ending in -le »»» ly
The children did their maths homework terribly.
He was capably supported by his friends.
She stroke her dog's head gently.
Adjectives ending in -ly
friendly - in a friendly way / manner
lively - in a lively way / manner
lonely - in a lonely way / manner
lovely - in a lovely way / manner
silly - in a silly way / manner
daily - daily
early - early
monthly - monthly
weekly - weekly
yearly - yearly
Irregular forms
good - well
fast - fast
hard - hard
long - long
low - low
straight - straight
extra - extra
doubtless - doubtless
Double forms
hard - hard / hardly = barely
near - near / nearly = almost
late - late / lately = recently
How to use the adverb
1. Verb + adverb - the adverb describes a verb.
He drove carefully on the highway.
They could sell her house quickly.
Our neighbours's dog always barks at us loudly.
2. Adjective + adverb - the adverb describes an adjective.
He bought her a necklace which was horribly expensive.
She was terribly sorry for being late again.
3. Adverb + adverb - the adverb describes an adverb.
They played terribly badly last weekend.
He usually does his homework absolutely correctly.
No adverb with the following verbs:
Forms of to be (am, is, are, was, were, will be,...), seem, get, turn, grow, sound, feel, taste, become, smell, remain, stay, look (in the meaning of look like)
Some of these verbs can be used with an adverb, but the meaning is different (e.g.: feel well, taste well).
EXERCISES
Adjective or Adverb Exercise 1
Adjective or Adverb Exercise 2
Adjective or Adverb Exercise 3
Adjective or Adverb Exercise 4
Adjective or Adverb Exercise 5
Adjective or Adverb Exercise 6
Adjective or Adverb Exercise 7
Adjective or Adverb Exercise 8
Adjective or Adverb Exercise 9
Adjective or Adverb Exercise 10
Adjective or Adverb Exercise 11
Adjective or Adverb - Multiple Choice Exercise
Adjective or Adverb - Multiple Choice Exercise 2
Adjective or Adverb - Multiple Choice Exercise 3
Adjective or Adverb - Grammar Test