Adjectives
* Describe nouns or pronouns. They tell us what kind, how many, or which one.
* Answer questions like:
* What kind? (e.g., *blue* car, *delicious* food)
* How many? (e.g., *five* apples, *several* books)
* Which one? (e.g., *that* house, *this* pen)
* Typically placed before the noun they modify.
* Examples: *bright* sun, *heavy* bag, *old* house, *wooden* table.
Adverbs
* Modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They tell us how, when, where, or to what extent.
* Answer questions like:
* How? (e.g., run *quickly*, sing *beautifully*)
* When? (e.g., arrive *early*, leave *later*)
* Where? (e.g., walk *here*, sit *there*)
* To what extent? (e.g., *very* tired, *extremely* happy)
* Often end in "-ly" but not always (e.g., *fast*, *well*, *never*, *always*).
* Examples: He ran *quickly*. She sang *beautifully*. They arrived *early*. The book was *extremely* interesting.
Key Differences
* What they modify: Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns; adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
* The questions they answer: Adjectives answer questions about *what kind*, *how many*, or *which one*; adverbs answer questions about *how*, *when*, *where*, or *to what extent*.
Examples
* Adjective: The red car is fast. (Red describes the noun "car".)
* Adverb: The car drives fast. (Fast describes how the car drives.)
Tricky Cases
Some words can function as both adjectives and adverbs depending on their context:
* Hard: "He has a hard heart." (adjective) vs. "He works hard." (adverb)
* Fast: "The fast train arrived." (adjective) vs. "He runs fast." (adverb)
If you are unsure, try replacing the word with a clear adjective or adverb. If it still makes sense, you have the correct word type.