ADJECTIVE AND ADVERB USAGE

Adjectives are words that describe nouns or pronouns. They may come before the word they describe (That is a cute puppy.) or they may follow the word they describe (That puppy is cute.).

Adverbs are words that modify everything but nouns and pronouns. They modify adjectives, verbs, and other adverbs. A word is an adverb if it answers how, when, or where.The only adverbs that cause grammatical problems are those that answer the question how, so focus on these.

Rule 1

Generally, if a word answers the question how, it is an adverb. If it can have an -ly added to it, place it there.

Examples:
She thinks slow/slowly.
She thinks how? slowly.

Rule 2

A special -ly rule applies when four of the senses - taste, smell, look, feel - are the verbs. Do not ask if these senses answer the question how to determine if -ly should be attached. Instead, ask if the sense verb is being used actively. If so, use the -ly.

Examples:
Roses smell sweet/sweetly.
The woman looked angry/angrily.

Rule 3

The word good is an adjective, while well is an adverb.

Examples:
You did a good job.
Good describes the job.

Rule 4

When referring to health, use well rather than good.

Example:
I do not feel well. You do not look well today.

Rule 5

A common error in using adjectives and adverbs arises from using the wrong form for comparison. For instance, to describe one thing we would say poor, as in, "She is poor." To compare two things, we should say poorer, as in, "She is the poorer of the two women." To compare more than two things, we should say poorest, as in, "She is the poorest of them all."

Examples:

One                                             Two                                                 Three or More

sweet                                         sweeter                                                sweetest

bad                                             worse                                                  worst

efficient                                      more efficient                                        most efficient

Rule 6

Never drop the -ly from an adverb when using the comparison form.

Correct:
She spoke quickly.

Incorrect:
She spoke quicker than he did.

Correct:
Talk quietly.

Incorrect:
Talk quieter.

Rule 7

When this, that, these, and those are followed by nouns, they are adjectives. When they appear without a noun following them, they are pronouns.

Examples:
This house is for sale.
This is an adjective here.

Rule 8

This and that are singular, whether they are being used as adjectives or as pronouns. Thispoints to something nearby while that points to something "over there."

Examples:

This dog is mine.
That dog is hers.

Rule 9

These and those are plural, whether they are being used as adjectives or as pronouns.These points to something nearby while those points to something "over there."

Example:
These babies have been smiling for a long time.

Rule 10

Use than to show comparison. Use then to answer the question when.

Example:
I would rather go skiing than rock climbing.