Adjectives and Adverbs

Adverbs

1. Adjectives and adverbs

It is important to know when to use an adjective and when to use an adverb of manner in a sentence.
ADJECTIVE
IMG UNIT 34-01
This brain teaser is very easy.
ADVERB
IMG UNIT 34-02
I solved the Rubik’s cube easily.

2. Adjectives in English

Adjectives are words that accompany a noun and modify it, since they give us information about something or someone.
  • An adjective usually goes before a noun.

    IMG UNIT 34-03
    There is an interesting talk on Wednesday.
    IMG UNIT 34-04
    He is a very skillful barman.
  • We can also put the adjective after the verb to be or a verb related to the five senses such as look, smell, taste, sound and feel, among others.
    IMG UNIT 34-05
    He is so good-looking!
    IMG UNIT 34-06
    This smells awful.

3. Adverbs in English

Adverbs are invariable words that modify a verb, an adjective or another adverb.
  • Adverbs of manner will usually go either after the verb or the direct object.
    IMG UNIT 34-07
    She is working hard on her project.
    IMG UNIT 34-08
    You've done the work correctly.

Adverbs of manner give us information about how an action is performed. It is very important to distinguish them from adjectives, as most are derived from them:

Rule Adjective Adverb
Most adverbs of manner are formed from an adjective by adding the particle -LY Quick
Easy
Careful
Quickly
Easily
Carefully
Some adverbs do not follow this rule and keep the same form of the adjective              Hard
Late
Early
Hard
Late
Early
Other adverbs totally change the form of the adjective Good Well

Remember!

An adjective will go before a noun or after certain verbs (be, look, smell, taste, sound, feel, etc.). An adverb of manner, on the other hand, will go after a verb or a direct object.
IMG UNIT 34-10
There is heavy rain in the north of Spain.
IMG UNIT 34-11
It is raining heavily in Bilbao.