Is It an Adverb or an Adjective?

Determining when -ly is needed on the end of a word can be tricky. When choosing between adjectives and adverbs, remember what each is supposed to do. Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns and can come before or after the words they describe. Adverbs modify adjectives, verbs, and other adverbs. If an adverb answers “how” and can have an -ly on it, use the -ly suffix.

Example: She thinks quickly. (Quickly answers “How does she think?”)

Example: She thinks fast. (Although fast answers how she thinks, there is no such word as fastly.)

 

Also, use -ly when making a comparison and add more or less.

Example: Answer the questions more quickly to win the prize.

 

When talking about the senses of taste, smell, look, and feel, don’t ask “how”; ask “Is it being actively used?” If it is, use -ly.

Example: Daisies smell sweet. (There is no -ly because daisies don’t smell with noses.)

Example: She feels badly since slamming her fingers in the door. (Use -ly because she is feeling with her fingers.)

 

Keep these rules in mind when writing and your adverbs will be correct!

 

TRY IT!

Choose the correct form of the word in italics, and check your answers below.

1. She sang sweet/sweetly at the concert.

2. Get dressed quick/more quickly to get to work on time.

3. Jim plays soccer aggressive/aggressively.

4. The students answered the test questions easy/easily.

5. The theater sold out of tickets rapid/rapidly.

6. Tom arrives late/lately to class every Monday.

7. My cousin is living with us permanent/permanently.

8. John writes careful/carefully.

9. My mom’s pumpkin pie tastes delicious/deliciously.

10. Sam appeared excited/excitedly today.

 

Answers: 1. sweetly; 2. more quickly; 3. aggressively; 4. easily; 5. rapidly; 6. late; 7. permanently; 8. carefully; 9. delicious; 10. excited