Introduction to the differences between ...
What does the adjective do?
An adjective describes things, people, qualities, situations, etc.
The house is red The red houses is beautiful The woman is young The young woman is clever The orange is ripe The ripe orange is sweet The meeting was successful The successful meeting was interesting
What does the adverb do?
An adverb describes how, where, when something is/was done.
How does the young woman sing?
She sings beautifullyWhere did they spend the night?
They spent the night outsideWhen do they milk the cows?
They milk the cows earlyAn adverb reinforces the function of other adverbs and adjectives.
How beautifully does the young woman sing?
She sings extremely beautifullyHow successful was the meeting?
The meeting was unusually successful
A practical learning approach?
Learn to ask these four key questions:
What is it like?
The orange is ripe (adjective)How ... is ... ?
The orange is really ripe (adverb + adjective)How does it, he, they, etc. ...?
It moves silently (adverb)How ... does ...?
It moves incredibly silently (adverb + adverb)Note that many adverbs are formed from adjectives by adding -ly:
beautiful - beautifully nice - nicely Note that it is the "how" adverbs in -ly that are difficult.
Learn the most important irregular forms, e.g.:
good - well late - late/lately