Adverbs – Part Two
What Words Serve as Both Adjectives & Adverbs?
Yes, some words can serve as both adjectives and adverbs.
- He swung hard with a right hook.
Here, hard serves as an adverb which modifies the verb swung.
- When he fell, his head hit the hard concrete.
Here, hard is an adjective modifying the noun concrete.
Occasionally, some adverb-adjective pairs create problems for writers.
good – well
Good is an adjective, while well is an adverb.
The adjective good can modify only nouns and pronouns.
While the adverb well can modify only adjectives and verbs.
Examples:
- Samantha always cooks good omelets.
The adjective good modifies the noun omelets.
- Samantha always prepares omelets well.
Here, the adverb well modifies the verb prepare.
Exception alert!!!
Well can also be an adjective, but only in regards to a person’s health.
- Eamon didn’t feel well after gorging on bacon lobster.
Here, well is an adjective referring to the noun (Eamon’s) health.
bad – badly
Remember, adverbs must follow or modify action verbs, while adjectives must follow non-action or linking verbs
All the be verbs are linking or non-action verbs – be, been, being, am, is, was, are, were, – and as such, should be followed by an adjective
- Liora tested (bad? badly?) on her calculus exam.
Badly, since it follows the action verb tested.
- Liora felt (bad? badly?) when she saw the starving kitten outside in the rain.
Here, felt is a linking verb, linking the noun, Liora, with what?
Remember, since an adverb cannot modify a noun, we need an adjective. Liora felt bad when she…
