Is the word an adjective or adverb?

Key Notes :

Definition and Function:

• Adjectives describe or modify nouns and pronouns. They answer the questions “What kind?”, “Which one?”, or “How many?”
• Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They answer the questions “How?”, “When?”, “Where?”, “To what extent?”, or “Why?”

Identifying Adjectives:

• Adjectives are often found directly before the noun they describe.
• They can also follow linking verbs like “be,” “seem,” or “become.”
• Example: The tall building, She is happy.

Identifying Adverbs:

• Adverbs can appear in various positions in a sentence and often end in “-ly” (but not always).
• They modify how an action is performed or provide more information about an adjective or another adverb.
• Example: She ran quickly., He is very tall.

Commonly Used Adverbs without ‘-ly’:

• Some adverbs do not end in “-ly” and can be confused with adjectives, such as “hard,” “fast,” “late,” and “early.”
• Example: He works hard. (adverb) vs. He is a hard worker. (adjective)

Position in a Sentence:

• Adjectives usually come before the noun or after a linking verb.
• Adverbs can be placed before or after the verb, at the beginning of the sentence, or at the end.
• Example: She sings beautifully. (after the verb) vs. Yesterday, she sang beautifully. (beginning of sentence)

Test for Adjectives and Adverbs:

• Replace the word with a different adjective or adverb and see if the sentence makes sense.
• Remove the word. If the sentence still makes sense, it might be an adverb.

Adjectives vs. Adverbs in Sentences:

• Adjectives: The quick fox jumped over the lazy dog. (“quick” and “lazy” modify the nouns “fox” and “dog”)
• Adverbs: The fox jumped quickly. (“quickly” modifies the verb “jumped”)

Special Cases:

• Be aware of words like “good” (adjective) and “well” (adverb when describing actions, adjective when describing health).
• Example: She is a good dancer. (adjective) vs. She dances well. (adverb)

Let’s practice!🖊️