Understanding Adjectives and Adverbs

Definition - Adjectives are words that describe nouns or pronouns. They may come before the word they describe (That is a cute puppy.) or they may follow the word they describe (That puppy is cute.). Adverbs are words that modify everything but nouns and pronouns. They modify adjectives, verbs, and other adverbs. A word is an adverb if it answers how, when, or where.

The only adverbs that cause grammatical problems are those that answer the question how, so we will focus on these.

Rule 1

Generally, if a word answers the question how, it is an adverb. If it can have an ly added to it, place it there.

Rule 2

A special ly rule applies when four of the senses - taste, smell, look, feel - are the verbs. Do not ask if these senses answer the question how to determine if ly should be attached. Instead, ask if the sense verb is being used actively. If so, use the ly.

Rule 3

The word good is an adjective while well is an adverb answering the question how.

Rule 4

When referring to health, always use well.

Rule 5

A common error in using adjectives and adverbs arises from using the wrong form for comparison. For instance, to describe one thing we would say poor, as in, "She is poor." To compare two things, we should say poorer, as in, "She is the poorer of the two women." To compare more than two things, we should say poorest, as in, "She is the poorest of them all."

Rule 6

Never drop the ly from an adverb when using the comparison form.

Rule 7

When this, that, these, and those are followed by nouns, they are adjectives. When they appear without a noun following them, they are pronouns.

Rule 8

This and that are singular, whether they are being used as adjectives or as pronouns. This points to something nearby while that points to something "over there."

Rule 9

These and those are plural, whether they are being used as adjectives or as pronouns. These points to something nearby while those points to something "over there."

Rule 10

Use than to show comparison. Use then to answer the question when.

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