When to Use Modifiers

Recognizing adjectives and adverbs

Adverbs often end in - ly ( remarkably, quickly, happily, slowly), but not always ( here, there, fast, late, hard) . And some adjectives end in - ly (a lively child, friendly dog , hilly area). The lesson to be learned from these examples is that to decide whether a word is an adjective or an adverb, look not at the word itself but at what the word modifies: Adjectives will always modify nouns and pronouns, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Review these examples.

In the following example, old and red are adjectives modifying the noun barn.

• The old red barn needs repairs.

In the next sentence, very is an adverb modifying the adjective old, not the noun barn.

• The very old red barn needs repairs.

Hard is an adverb modifying the verb worked.

• He worked hard all afternoon.

Here, hard is an adjective modifying the noun work.

• The hard work took all afternoon.

Using adjectives after linking verbs

It's natural to associate adverbs rather than adjectives with verbs; adverbs modify verbs. But with linking verbs such as be, become, smell, taste, seem, and look, use adjectives (called predicate adjectives).

• The substance tastes sweet. ( not sweetly)

• They were joyful. ( not joyfully)

Notice the use of adjectives or adverbs in the following sentences, depending on whether a verb is functioning as a linking verb or an action verb.

In the following example, grow is an action verb meaning to develop, increase in size, and its modifier should be an adverb (beautifully).

• Flowers grow beautifully in that climate.

Here, grow is a linking verb meaning to become, so the complement should be an adjective (beautiful).

• Bronze grows beautiful as it ages.

In the next example, smells is a linking verb and takes an adjective; that is, the dog's odor is unpleasant.

• The dog smells bad.

Here, smells is an action verb and takes an adverb; that is, something is wrong with the dog's sense of smell.

• The dog smells badly.

Problem adjectives and adverbs

Some adjectives and adverbs seem interchangeable but are not. You will need to remember a few rules to distinguish how they are used.

Good, well . Good is always an adjective: good bread; good vibrations; dinner was good Don't use good as an adverb. Use well, an adverb meaning to perform capably.

• She sings well.

• not  She sings good.

• He listens well.

• not  He listens good.

Some confusion arises between good and well because well can also be used as an adjective meaning in good health.

• Mother was well in time for the play.

• not  Mother was good in time for the play.

To see the distinction between well used as an adjective and good used as an adjective, look at the following sentences, both with the linking verb looked.

• Jerome looked good at the party tonight. (Jerome looked attractive.)

• Jerome looked well at the party tonight. (Jerome looked to be in good health.)

Bad, badly . Bad is an adjective and badly is an adverb. They are often used incorrectly for each other.

• I feel bad about his losing the election.

• not  I feel badly about his losing the election.

Here, feel is a linking verb and should be followed by an adjective, not an adverb. In the next examples, badly is an adverb describing how the team played.

• The soccer team played badly in the last game.

• not  The soccer team played bad in the last game.

In the following sentence, the adjective bad follows a linking verb, so the appearance of the faucet is being discussed.

• The faucet looked bad.

When the adverb badly follows the action verb, it explains how seriously the faucet leaked.

• The faucet leaked badly.

Most, almost. Most is an adjective meaning the greatest in number, amount.

• Most people agree that exercise is good for you.

• Most crimes go unpunished.

But most is an adverb when it is used to form the superlative of an adjective:

• She is the most intelligent woman in the group.

• He is the most appealing when he first wakes up.

Almost is always an adverb. It means nearly. Almost modifies the adjectives every and all. Most cannot be used to modify every and all.

• Almost every person agreed.

• not   Most every person agreed.

• Almost all the people came.

• not   Most all the people came.