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Adjectives vs Adverbs - English Grammar Basics | Verbal Ability (VA) & Reading Comprehension (RC) - CAT PDF Download

Key Difference:

Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns.
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.

 

 

Adjectives vs Adverbs Examples
 

  1. Adverbs and Adjectives are both modifiers, so it is easy to confuse them with each other. And even more confusingly, some words sometimes act as adjectives, and sometimes act as adverbs. 

    Hint: Ask yourself which word is being described: adjectives always modify nouns or pronouns, but adverbs never do. 

    Sarah was a little sleepy. (adverb modifying adjective sleepy)
    Sarah took a little nap. (adjective modifying noun nap) 

     
  2. Use the comparative degree of an adjective or an adverb when speaking of two thingsand the superlative degree when speaking of three or more

    This is the larger of the two rooms.
    This white one is the smallest of the three puppies. 
     

Good vs well


Good is an adjective. The adverb is well

Ex: My father is a good driver -> He drives well.
Your English is good -> You speak English well. 

I feel good. (psychologically / morally)
I feel well. (healthy / well being) 

 

Adjectives vs Adverbs - English Grammar Basics | Verbal Ability (VA) & Reading Comprehension (RC) - CAT

 

Fast / Hard / Late


These words are both adjectives and adverbs: 

Adjectives vs Adverbs - English Grammar Basics | Verbal Ability (VA) & Reading Comprehension (RC) - CAT

 

Lately = recently 
Have you seen Tom lately? 

Hardly = very little, almost not 
Sarah was rather unfriendly to me at the party. She hardly spoke to me.(she spoke to me very little, almost not at all) 

George and Hilda want to get married but they've only known each other for a few days. I don't think they should get married yet. They hardly know each other. (they know each other very little) 



We cannot form adverbs from adjectives ending in ly. 

Common adjectives: friendly, lively, ugly, lonely. We add the pattern in a … way/manner or fashion to make them adverb.

Friendly: In a friendly way/manner/fashion He behaves in a friendly way. 
Lively : In a lively way / manner / fashion 

The document Adjectives vs Adverbs - English Grammar Basics | Verbal Ability (VA) & Reading Comprehension (RC) - CAT is a part of the CAT Course Verbal Ability (VA) & Reading Comprehension (RC).
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FAQs on Adjectives vs Adverbs - English Grammar Basics - Verbal Ability (VA) & Reading Comprehension (RC) - CAT

1. What is the difference between adjectives and adverbs?
Ans. Adjectives and adverbs are both parts of speech that describe or modify other words. The main difference is that adjectives modify nouns or pronouns, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Adjectives provide more information about the noun or pronoun, whereas adverbs provide more information about the action, verb, or adjective.
2. Can adjectives be used as adverbs and vice versa?
Ans. Yes, sometimes adjectives can be used as adverbs and vice versa. Adjectives can be used as adverbs to modify verbs or adjectives, but their form does not change. For example, "She sings loud" uses the adjective "loud" as an adverb to describe how she sings. Adverbs can also be used as adjectives to describe nouns, but their form does not change either. For example, "She is a highly skilled dancer" uses the adverb "highly" as an adjective to describe the dancer.
3. How can I identify whether a word is an adjective or an adverb?
Ans. To identify whether a word is an adjective or an adverb, you can look at its placement and function in the sentence. Adjectives often come before the noun they modify, while adverbs usually come after the verb or adjective they modify. Additionally, adjectives answer the questions "What kind?", "Which one?", or "How many?", while adverbs answer the questions "How?", "When?", "Where?", "To what extent?", or "Why?".
4. Can you provide examples of adjectives and adverbs?
Ans. Certainly! Here are examples of adjectives and adverbs: - Adjectives: beautiful, tall, intelligent, blue, delicious - Adverbs: slowly, quickly, carefully, well, loudly Please note that these examples can be used to modify different parts of speech. For example, "The beautiful flower" uses the adjective "beautiful" to describe the noun "flower," while "She sings beautifully" uses the adverb "beautifully" to describe how she sings.
5. What are some common mistakes to avoid when using adjectives and adverbs?
Ans. Some common mistakes to avoid when using adjectives and adverbs include: - Using an adjective instead of an adverb or vice versa. For example, saying "She sings good" instead of "She sings well." - Placing the adverb in the wrong position in the sentence. For example, saying "She well sings" instead of "She sings well." - Overusing intensifying adverbs. For example, saying "very, very, very good" instead of "excellent" or "superb." - Forgetting to use adjectives or adverbs to provide necessary information in the sentence. It's important to use descriptive words to enhance the meaning and clarity of your sentences.
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