Adjectives and Adverbs
Grade 2 · English · Study Guide
Learn how adjectives describe nouns and adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Words help us paint pictures with language. Two special kinds of words that make our sentences more interesting are adjectives and adverbs.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun. Nouns are people, places, or things. Adjectives tell us what something looks like, feels like, sounds like, tastes like, or smells like. They can also tell us how many or which one. For example, in the phrase "the red apple," the word "red" is an adjective because it describes the apple. Other adjectives include words like big, happy, soft, three, and shiny.
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Verbs are action words. Adverbs often tell us how, when, where, or how much something happens. Many adverbs end in the letters -ly. For example, in the sentence "She ran quickly," the word "quickly" is an adverb because it tells us how she ran. Other adverbs include words like very, always, here, and soon.
A good trick to remember the difference: adjectives describe nouns (things), and adverbs describe verbs (actions) and other describing words.
Key terms
- adjective
- A word that describes a noun, telling what kind, how many, or which one
- adverb
- A word that describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb, often telling how, when, or where
- noun
- A word that names a person, place, or thing
- verb
- A word that shows action or a state of being
- -ly ending
- A common ending added to adjectives to form adverbs, like quickly or softly
Flashcards
- adjective
- A describing word for a noun — example: tall, red, happy
- adverb
- A describing word for a verb — example: quickly, loudly, soon
- noun
- A person, place, or thing — example: dog, school, apple
- verb
- An action word — example: run, jump, eat
- fluffy (adjective)
- Describes what something feels like — the fluffy pillow
- quietly (adverb)
- Describes how something is done — she spoke quietly
- -ly words
- Many adverbs end in -ly, like slowly, carefully, kindly
- How many adjectives?
- Adjectives can tell how many — three cats, one book
Questions
Which word is an adjective in the sentence: "The fluffy cat sat on the mat"?
- sat
- fluffy
- mat
- on
Show answer
Answer: fluffy
Fluffy describes the noun 'cat,' making it an adjective.
Adverbs can describe verbs.
Show answer
Answer: True
Adverbs describe verbs by telling how, when, or where an action happens.
The word 'slowly' is an _______ because it describes how someone moves.
Show answer
Answer: adverb
Slowly tells how someone moves, so it describes the verb — that makes it an adverb.
Which sentence uses an adverb correctly?
- The loud dog barked.
- She sang beautiful.
- He ran quickly to the door.
- The sky is blue.
Show answer
Answer: He ran quickly to the door.
'Quickly' describes how he ran — the verb — so it is an adverb used correctly.
Adjectives describe verbs.
Show answer
Answer: False
Adjectives describe nouns (people, places, things), not verbs. Adverbs describe verbs.
Get a personalized course on Adjectives and Adverbs built around your child.