Adjective vs. Adverb: What's the Difference?
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Both are describing words, but they describe different things. An adjective describes a noun — a person, place, or thing — telling you what kind, which one, or how many ('a quick runner'). An adverb describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb — telling you how, when, where, or to what degree ('she runs quickly'). The quick test: if it's describing a thing, it's an adjective; if it's describing an action or a quality, it's an adverb.
At a glance
| Adjective | Adverb | |
|---|---|---|
| Describes | A noun (or pronoun) | A verb, adjective, or adverb |
| Answers | What kind? Which? How many? | How? When? Where? How much? |
| Example | a quick runner | she runs quickly |
| Typical ending | Various | Often '-ly' |
| Position | Before a noun / after 'is' | Near the verb it modifies |
Which should you use?
Use an adjective when you're describing a thing — its colour, size, or quality, like 'a loud noise' or 'a happy child'.
Use an adverb when you're describing an action or a quality — how something is done, like 'spoke loudly' or 'very happy'.