Adjectives and adverbs

Adjectives describe nouns#

An adjective adds information about a noun or pronoun: a clear explanation, two difficult questions. It can also follow a linking verb: “The explanation seems clear.” Here clear describes the subject, not the action of seeming.

Adverbs add other kinds of detail#

An adverb can modify a verb (“read carefully”), an adjective (“very clear”), another adverb (“quite slowly”), or a whole clause (“Fortunately, the file was saved”).

Many adverbs end in -ly, but not all do. Fast, often, and well can be adverbs. Some -ly words, such as friendly, are adjectives.

Good and well#

Good is normally an adjective: “That is a good explanation.” Well commonly describes how an action is done: “She explains it well.” After a linking verb, well may also describe health: “She feels well.”

Comparisons#

Use comparative forms for two items and superlative forms for three or more: clearer, clearest. Longer adjectives often use more and most: more reliable, most reliable.

The comparison must be complete. “This method is clearer” leaves the listener asking “clearer than what?” when the context does not supply the answer.

Common mistakes#

Using an adverb after a linking verb

Write “The result looks correct,” because correct describes the result. “Looks correctly” would suggest that the result performs the act of looking.

Double comparison

Avoid more easier or most fastest. Use either the inflected form or the helper word.

Improve precision#

Modifiers are most useful when they add meaningful detail. Prefer one exact adjective or adverb over a stack of vague intensifiers.