Adjective vs. Adverb

An adjective is a word used to modify a noun. An adverb is a word used to modify a verb. Note that adverbs can also modify adjectives and other adverbs.

• The team did not play (verb) well (adverb) last season. (NOT … did not play good last season.)
• We have not picked nearly (adverb) enough (adjective) yet. (NOT … near enough yet.)
  (Enough is an adjective. To modify an adjective we use an adverb, not an adjective.)
• We had a really (adverb) excellent (adjective) time at the party. (NOT … real excellent time.)
  (Excellent is an adjective. To modify an adjective, we use an adverb. )
• Alice won (verb) her race easily (adverb). (NOT … won her race easy.)

Adjective vs. Adverb Worksheet

Fill in the blanks with an adjective or adverb whichever is appropriate.

1. Radha sings really ………………………….. (well / good)
2. You ate ………………………… anything. (hard / hardly)
3. She works really …………………………. (hard / hardly)
4. The constable ran …………………………… but he could not catch the thief. (fast / fastly)
5. She recognized him ……………………………… (instant / instantly)
6. I have been watching a lot of movies of ………………………….. (late / lately)
7. She is ………………………….. waiting to hear from her brother. (eager / eagerly)

Answers

1. Radha sings really well. (Here the adverb well modifies the verb sings.)
2. You ate hardly anything. (Hardly means scarcely; hard can be an adjective or an adverb.)
3. She works really hard.
4. The constable ran fast but he could not catch the thief. (Fast can be an adjective or an adverb.)
5. She recognized him instantly.
6. I have been watching a lot of movies of late.
7. She is eagerly waiting to hear from her brother. (Here the adverb eagerly modifies the verb is waiting.)