OVERVIEW

Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns.

Adverbs describe adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs. Many adverbs end in -ly.

WATCH EXAMPLES

This video demonstrates the differences between adjectives and adverbs by showing which words are being described.

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READ EXAMPLES

Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns, as shown in this example.

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Dangerous and lethal explain what kind of drug heroin is. For the nouns or pronouns they describe, adjectives also tell how many or which ones.

Adverbs describe adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs. The next set of examples shows how adverbs describe several parts of speech.

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In this example, the adverbs—very and quickly—answer the question, how? That is, how dangerous is heroin? It is very dangerous. Adverbs can answer other questions such when, where, and to what extent.

To make your writing clear, use adjectives and adverbs when they are needed.

CONTINUE THROUGH THE UNIT

The study pages discuss more examples of adjectives and adverbs. As you read through the study pages and then practice with LearningCurve, try to connect an adjective or adverb with the word it describes.

Checking the relationship between adjectives or adverbs and the words they describe will help you on the post-test (if assigned) and in your own writing.

Don’t forget to work smartly!