25. Adjectives and Adverbs

25
Adjectives and Adverbs

Adjectives and adverbs frequently add indispensable differences in meaning to the words they modify (describe). In basketball, for example, there is an important difference between a flagrant foul and a technical foul, a layup and a reverse layup, and an angry coach and an abusively angry coach. In each instance, the modifiers are crucial to accurate communication.

Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns; they answer the questions which? how many? and what kind? Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs; they answer the questions how? when? where? and to what extent? Many adverbs are formed by adding -ly to adjectives (slight, slightly), but some are formed in other ways (outdoors) or have forms of their own (very).