Transcript Adjective or Adverb? - Christian Brothers High School

Adjective or Adverb?
Adjective? or Adverb?
• Adjectives answer the following questions:
– Which one?
– What kind?
– How Many?
• Adverbs answer the following questions:
– When?
– Where?
– How?
– To What Extent?
Bad (adjective) vs. Badly (adverb)
• Example:
– That was a bad joke they played on the man.
(answers the question what kind of a joke--adjective)
– The program was badly printed. (answers the
question how It was printed---adverb)
Bad (adjective) vs. Badly (adverb)
Examples:
The ball was thrown so badly it hit a window.
(answers the question how badly it was
thrown---adverb)
Use the adjective bad with a linking verb:
Examples: The weather outside looked bad.
That milk in that plastic jug smells bad.
Good (adjective) vs. Well (adverb)
• Examples:
– The baseball team gave a good performance.
(answers the question “what kind” of a
performance---adjective)
– They played especially well during the ninth
inning. (answers the question “how” they
played---adverb)
Additional Use for Well
• Use well when it refers to health:
– Example:
• He feels well.
• Sue doesn’t seem well.
– Note: Well can be used as an adjective or as
an adverb. However, only use well when it
refers to health.
Slow (adjective) vs. Slowly (adverb)
• Example:
– We took a slow drive through the countryside.
(answers the question what kind of drive--adjective)
– Although Terry is a slow worker, she does a good
job. (answers the question what kind of worker--adjective)
– The train slowly came to a stop in front of the
station. (answers the question how the train came
to a stop---adverb)
– Drive slowly on slippery roads. (answers the
questions how to drive---adverb)
Real (adjective) vs. Really (adverb)
• Example:
– Incorrect: He played real good in the game.
– Correct: He played really well in the game.
(tells how he played---adverb)
– Incorrect: The fireworks exploded with a
real loud bang.
– Correct: The fireworks exploded with a
really loud bang. (answers the question how
loud---adverb)
Summary
• Adjectives must modify nouns and
pronouns.
• Adjectives answer the questions:
Which one?
What kind?
How Many?
Summary
• Adverbs must modify verbs, adjectives, and
other adverbs.
• Adverbs answer the following questions:
– When?
– Where?
– Why?
– To what extent?
Note: When you use well to refer to health, well
is an adjective---He feels well (not good).
Summary
• Use words such as good, bad, sure, real,
slow as adjectives to modify nouns or
pronouns.
• Use words such as well, badly, surely,
really, slowly.
• Use well when it refers to health.
• Memorize the questions adjectives
answer.
• Memorize the questions adverbs
answer.