Difference Between Adjective and Adverb

Introduction

Adjectives and Adverbs, both fall in parts of the speech category. Different kinds of words are divided into different categories or classes, and that is known as parts of speech. Therefore, these are parts of speech, and both possess their meaning and the reason for their existence; they are also divided into different parts and many more. This article is going to be about elaboration on "Adjective" and "Adverb '' how they differ from each other, and how they act differently in a sentence. Hence, let us move further.

Adjective vs Adverb 

A word used with a noun to describe its quality or quantity is known as Adjective; whereas a word that is formed from the combination of adjective and verb is known as Adverb.

Difference between Adjectives and Adverbs in Tabular Form

	Adjective	Adverb
	Adjective describes the quality or quantity of noun.	Adverb is almodified version of adjective and noun.
	It has eight types	Adverb has seven types.
	It is formed from nouns, verbs and other adjectives.	It is formed from adjective, verbs and other adverbs.
	For example - The food is hot.	For example - Bring the tablet quickly.

What is an Adjective?

A word used with a noun to describe or point out the person, animal, place, or thing with the noun names, or to tell the number or quantity, is known as an Adjective.

For examples-

• Sita is a clever girl. 

(In this sentence, "clever" shows what kind of girl Sita is; or, in other words, cleverly describes the girl Sita)

• I do not like that boy.

(In this sentence, "that" points out which boy is meant)

• He gave me five mangoes. 

(In this sentence, "five" shows how many mangoes he gave me)

• There is little time for preparation.

(In this sentence, "little" shows how much time there is for preparation)

So, we may define an Adjective is a word used with a noun to add something to its meaning.

Look at the following sentences :

• The lazy boy was punished.

(In this sentence, the adjective "lazy" is used for the noun, "boy" as an attribute. It is, therefore, said to be used attributively)

• The boy is lazy.

(In this sentence, the adjective "lazy" is used along with the verb "is", and is a part of the predicate. It is, therefore, said to be used predicatively.)

Some adjectives can be used only predicatively; as,

• She is afraid of ghosts.
• I am quite well.

Kinds of Adjective

Adjectives may be divided into the following classes :

Adjectives of quality (or Descriptive Adjective)

It shows the kind or quality of a person or thing; as,

• Kolkata is a large city.
• He is an honest man.
• The foolish old crow tried to sing.
• He is so tall that no one can match his height.

Proper Adjectives

Adjectives formed from "Proper Nouns" are sometimes called "Proper Adjectives".

For examples -

• French wines
• Turkish tobacco
• Indian tea
• American accent
• French toast
• Indian cuisine
• African animal

Adjective of Quantity

It shows how much of a thing is meant.

For examples -

• I ate some rice.
• He showed much patience.
• He has little intelligence.
• We have had enough exercise.
• He has lost all his wealth.
• You have no sense.
• He did not eat any rice.
• Take great care of your health.
• He claimed his half share of the profit in business.
• There has not been sufficient rain this year.
• The whole sum was expended.

Adjectives of Number (or Numeral Adjectives)

It shows " how many" persons or things are meant, or "in what order" a person or thing stands.

For examples -

• I have five mangoes.
• Few people like to drink cold water.
• I have taught you many things.
• All people must die.
• Here are some oranges.
• Most girls like badminton.
• There are several mistakes in your exercise.
• Sunday is the first day of the week.
• I bought two dozen bananas.

Adjectives of Number (or Numeral Adjectives) are of three kinds

• Definite Numeral Adjectives - These denote an "exact" number. Such as -

One, two, three etc. ( These are called "Cardinals")

First, second, third etc. ( These are called " Ordinals")

• Indefinite Numeral Adjectives - These do not denote an exact number. Such as -

All, no, many, few, several, any, certain, sundry etc.

• Distributive Numeral Adjectives - These refer to each one of a number. Such as -

"Each boy must take his turn."

"India expects every man to do his duty."

"Either pen will do."

"Neither accusation is true."

Demonstrative Adjectives

These point out which person or thing is meant. Such as -

• This boy is stronger than Hari.
• That boy is industrious.
• These mangoes are sour.
• Those rascals must be punished.
• Yonder fort once belonged to Shivaji.
• Don't be in such a hurry.
• I hate such things.

Interrogative Adjectives

When interrogative words like - "what", " when" and "whose" are used with nouns, are called "Interrogative Adjectives".

For examples -

• What manner of man is he?
• Which way shall we go?
• Whose book is this?
• Where are you from?
• How is your health now?

Emphasising Adjectives

The words own and very are used as " Emphasising Adjectives".

For examples - 

• I saw it with my own eyes.
• He was beaten at his own game.
• That is the very thing we want.

Exclamatory Adjectives

These adjectives contain explanatory words like - what!

For examples- 

• What a genius!
• What a folly!
• What an idea!
• What a blessing! 

Many adjectives are formed from nouns. Such as - 

• "Boy" becomes "boyish".
• "Fool" becomes "foolish".
• "Care" becomes "careful".
• " Play" becomes "playful".
• " Sense" becomes "senseless".

Many adjectives are formed from verbs. Such as -

• " Tire" becomes "tireless".
• " Talk" becomes "talkative".
• " Cease" becomes "ceaseless".
• " Move" becomes "moveable"

Some adjectives are formed from other adjectives. Such as - 

• "Tragic" becomes "tragical".
• " Whole" becomes "wholesome".
• " Three" becomes "threefold".
• " Black" becomes "blackish".

Comparison of Adjectives

Adjectives change in form to show some comparison. They are called " Degrees of Comparison".

There are three kinds of degrees of comparison. They are -

• Positive degree - Positive degree of an Adjective is the Adjective in its simple form. It is used to denote the mere existence of some quality of what we speak about. It is used when no comparison is made.

For examples -

1. This mango is sweet.
2. You are cute.
3. This cake is yummy.
4. He is so tall.

• Comparative Degree - The comparative degree of an Adjective denotes a higher degree of quality than the positive degree, and is used when two things are compared.

For examples - 

1. The boy is stronger than that.
2. Which of these two pens is better?
3. Apples are dearer than oranges.
4. He is taller than Rohit.

• Superlative Degree - The superlative degree of an Adjective denotes the highest degree of the quality and is used when more than two things are compared.

For examples - 

1. This boy is the strongest in the class.
2. Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
3. Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world.
4. The tortoise is the slowest animal on Earth.

What is an Adverb?

A word that modifies the meaning of a verb, an adjective or another adverb is called an Adverb.

For examples-

• Rama runs quickly.
• She goes to the temple frequently.
• Govind reads novel clearly.
• She follows her routine religiously.
• She always does that deliberately.
• We lost the match unfortunately.
• We got it luckily.

Kinds of Adverbs

Adverbs of time - It shows when the work has been done.

For examples - 

• I have heard this before.
• We shall now begin to work.
• He comes here daily.
• The end soon came.
• I hurt my knee yesterday.

Adverbs of frequency - These show how often the work has been done.

For examples - 

• I have told you twice.
• He often makes mistakes.
• I have not seen him once.
• He seldom comes here.

Adverbs of place - It shows where the work has been done.

For examples - 

• Stand here.
• The little lamb followed Mary everywhere.
• Go there.
• Walk backward.

Adverbs of Manner - It shows how or in what manner the work has been done.

For examples -

• The child slept soundly.
• The story is well written.
• Slowly and sadly we laid him down.
• The Sikhs fought bravely.

Adverbs of degree of quantity - These show how much or in what degree or to what extent the work has been done.

For example - 

• He was too careless.
• These mangoes are almost ripe.
• I am fully prepared.
• The sea is very stormy.

Adverbs of reason - These show the reason or why the work has been done.

For examples - 

• He is hence unable to refute the charge.
• He, therefore, left school.
• Since it was too hard, he was unable to do it.

Major Difference Between Adjectives and Adverbs in Points

• Adjective describes the condition of the noun; whereas an adverb is a modification of adjective and verb.
• Adjective consists of eight types - Adjective of quality, adjective of quantity, adjective of number, demonstrative adjective, interrogation adjective, a proper adjective, emphasizing adjective and exclamatory adjective; whereas adverb consists of seven types - adverbs of time, adverbs of frequency, adverbs of place, adverbs of manner, adverbs of degree, adverbs of affirmation and negation and adverbs of reason.
• An adjective can be formed from other parts of speech like - nouns, verbs, and other adjectives; whereas adverbs is already modified version of adjective and verb and can also be formed from other adverbs.
• Examples of adjectives include - three, hot, cold, tall, beautiful etc; whereas examples of adverbs include - frequently, quickly, clearly, daily, etc.

Conclusion

These two parts of speeches have their own significance, respectively. We all must categorize them properly or appropriately with an appropriate sentence. This was the article on the difference between Adjectives and Adverb. This might help most of people to understand the concept thoroughly.