Adjectives and Adverbs: Definitions and DifferencesAdjectives Adjectives describe or modify nouns and pronouns. They tell us about the quality, quantity, size, color, shape, or condition of a noun.
For example:
The house is beautiful (La casa es hermosa).
He is a happy boy (Él es un niño feliz).Adjectives often answer the questions: What kind?, Which one?, or How many?
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They explain how, when, where, why, or to what extent an action is performed.
For example:
She sings beautifully (Ella canta hermosamente).
He runs quickly (Él corre rápidamente). Most adjectives add "-ly" to form adverbs:
Quick → Quickly (rápido → rápidamente).
Careful → Carefully (cuidadoso → cuidadosamente). Adjectives ending in "-y" change "y" to "i" before adding "-ly":
Happy → Happily (feliz → felizmente).
Angry → Angrily (enojado → enojadamente). Adjectives ending in "-ic" often add "-ally" to form adverbs:
Basic → Basically (básico → básicamente).
Tragic → Tragically (trágico → trágicamente). Some words remain the same as both adjectives and adverbs:
Fast → Fast (rápido → rápido/rápidamente).
Hard → Hard (duro → duro/duramente). Irregular transformations:
Good → Well (bueno → bien).
Beautiful → Beautifully (hermoso → hermosamente).
Brave → Bravely (valiente → valientemente).
Bright → Brightly (brillante → brillantemente).
Careless → Carelessly (descuidado → descuidadamente).
Calm → Calmly (tranquilo → tranquilamente).
Angry → Angrily (enojado → enojadamente).
Happy → Happily (feliz → felizmente).
Easy → Easily (fácil → fácilmente).
Quick → Quickly (rápido → rápidamente).
Careful → Carefully (cuidadoso → cuidadosamente).
Quiet → Quietly (silencioso → silenciosamente).
Honest → Honestly (honesto → honestamente).
Polite → Politely (cortés → cortésmente).
Loud → Loudly (fuerte → fuertemente).
Sad → Sadly (triste → tristemente).
Slow → Slowly (lento → lentamente).
Basic → Basically (básico → básicamente).
Tragic → Tragically (trágico → trágicamente).
Hard → Hard (duro → duramente).
Fast → Fast (rápido → rápidamente).
Good → Well (bueno → bien).
Use adjectives to describe nouns and pronouns.
Examples:
Use adverbs to describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Examples:Ana and Carlos were a young couple from a small village in Guatemala. They had always dreamed of moving to the United States to build a better future. Life in their hometown was difficult (difícil), but they worked hard (duramente) and saved every penny.
Carlos was a brave (valiente) and determined (decidido) man. He faced every challenge boldly (con valentía). Ana, on the other hand, was a careful (cuidadosa) planner who thought about every detail thoroughly (a fondo).
When they finally arrived in the U.S., everything felt strange (extraño) and overwhelming (abrumador). However, they adapted quickly (rápidamente) and learned English diligently (diligentemente). Ana found a job in a bakery, and Carlos worked in construction.
Despite the hardships, they raised their children in a loving (amoroso) environment. They taught them to work honestly (honestamente) and to face life’s challenges courageously (valientemente). Years later, their sacrifices paid off as their children graduated proudly (con orgullo) and found stable careers.
Ana and Carlos often looked back at their journey with joyful (alegre) hearts. They had turned their dreams into reality, proving that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.
Choose the correct form of the word in parentheses.
She plays the piano (beautiful / beautifully).
He is a (careful / carefully) driver.
The baby is sleeping (quiet / quietly).
The team worked (hard / hardly) to win the championship.
This task is (easy / easily) for me.AdverbsHow to Convert Adjectives into AdverbsExtensive List of Adjectives and Adverbs with TranslationsWhen to Use Adjectives and AdverbsAdjectivesAdverbsShort Story: "A New Beginning"Practice Questions: Adjective or Adverb?
