Adjectives are words that describe a person, an object, a place, or an idea embodied in a noun, noun phrase, noun clause, or pronoun. Generally, an adjective comes before the word or words it describes. However, this is not the case when an adjective follows either a form of the verb to be or a verb that refers to appearance or the senses (seem, appear, feel, taste, smell, sound).

The old man wore a green sweater, torn pants, and a dirty overcoat.

The jam tart tasted delicious.

Adverbs are words that describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs in terms of time (frequently, rarely), place (here, there), and manner (quickly, slowly). Adverbs are frequently formed by adding -ly to adjectives. When adverbs describe verbs, they often immediately precede or follow the verb, but sometimes they may be separated from the verb.

The team left the field silently.

When an adverb describes an adjective, it places greater emphasis on the adjective.

The dog who attacked that child is really vicious and should be put down.

When an adverb describes another adverb, it places greater emphasis on the second adverb.

She played the piano concerto very rapidly.

Sometimes the same word (e.g., fast, late, hard) can be either an adjective or an adverb, depending on its function in the sentence.

The patient arrived late for surgery. [Late describes the verb, arrived; therefore, it is an adverb.]

The patient was late. [Late describes the patient; therefore, it is an adjective.]

An adjective may be used as a subject complement or object complement. A subject complement is a word or phrase (commonly an adjective phrase, noun phrase, or pronoun) that follows a linking verb and describes or renames the subject of a sentence. An object complement is a word or phrase that follows a direct object, renaming, describing, or locating it.

The abandoned farmhouse looked ready to fall down. [The adjective phrase looked ready to fall down describes the farmhouse.]

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Good is always an adjective and well is the corresponding adverb.

Incorrect She plays the piano good enough to be a star.

Correct She plays the piano well enough to be a star.

Real is always an adjective and really is always an adverb.

Incorrect Even though he played the trumpet good, he was real disappointed in his performance.

Correct Even though he played the trumpet well, he was really disappointed in his performance.

In addition to their simple forms, adjectives and adverbs have two other forms: comparative and superlative, both of which are used to make comparisons. In comparing two things, we want to identify which one is the greater; in comparing more than two things, we want to identify which one is the greatest. The key to comparatives is in the previous sentence. We use the term comparative to distinguish which of two things is better; the term superlative distinguishes between three or more things.

Form the comparative of most adjectives by adding -er to the word and the superlative by adding -est to the word.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was the taller of the two basketball players in the interview, but he was not the tallest on the team.

The comparative and superlative of many adjectives with multiple syllables are formed by placing more and most before the adjective rather than -er and -est at the end of the word.

Robert Downey Jr.’s performance was the most powerful of his career.

Comparative and superlative forms of many adverbs are formed by placing more and most before the adverb. However, short adverbs that end in -ly usually take -er and -est in the comparative and superlative.

Enrique built his model airplane more carefully than Jonathan.

Jamal arrived earlier than the other applicants.

Use the comparative less and the superlative least to construct negative comparisons.

Students are committing errors with adverbs less frequently than they did a week ago.

Among the members of the JV soccer team, Hugo was the least ready to join varsity.

Some adjectives and adverbs, such as more and most, already suggest comparatives and superlatives. Therefore, the words more and most should be omitted in sentences with adjectives and adverbs (good, better, best) that are already comparative and superlative.

Incorrect Antoine and Michael are both excellent soccer players, but Antoine is more better.

Correct Antoine and Michael are both excellent soccer players, but Antoine is better.