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Adjectives and adverbs
1 Tick the correct sentence in each pair.
1 a
b
2 a
b
This difference can be explained quite easy.
This difference can be explained quite easily.
It is clearly that people without money do not have as much freedom.
It is clear that people without money do not have as much freedom.
Adjectives are used to describe a noun: Today life is very complicated. (complicated
describes the noun life)
To describe a whole idea or situation, we can use It is + adjective + that-clause or It is
+ adjective + to + infinitive:
It is essential that you bring back all of your books before the end of term.
It is important to begin studying several weeks before the exam.
Adverbs can be used to describe a verb: We must act quickly. (quickly describes the
verb act) or an adjective: This chart is significantly different. (not significant different)
(significantly is an adverb describing the adjective different).
We use adverbs such as unfortunately to show how we feel about something:
Unfortunately, he’s not well. (unfortunately shows I feel this is a bad thing)
Some adverbs are irregular, e.g. fast, hard, well: He ran as fast as he could. (not fastly)
2 Correct the mistake below.
Michael’s studying
hardly for his exams.
Michael’s studying ........................................ .
3 Underline the correct words.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
I didn’t play very good / well in our last football match.
In 1980, this figure increased sharp / sharply to 75%.
There was a gradual / gradually increase in numbers between 1990 and 1995.
It is clear / clearly that people with experience can find a job more easy / easily.
I strong / strongly agree with this point of view.
Severe / Severely punishments may not help to reduce crime.
Unfortunate / Unfortunately, I am unable to attend the meeting this Saturday.
It is vital / vitally important to address these problems before it is too late.
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23
Noun or adjective?
1 Tick the correct sentence in each pair.
1 a
b
2 a
b
Tourism can be very benefit to poorer areas.
Tourism can be very beneficial to poorer areas.
In my job, you need the confidence to address large groups of people.
In my job, you need the confident to address large groups of people.
Sometimes it is easy to confuse a noun with its adjective. Look at the following list of
commonly confused nouns and adjectives:
Noun
Adjective
Noun
Adjective
age
aged
noise
noisy
development
developed
responsibility
responsible
difference
different
significance
significant
education
educational
silence
silent
happiness
happy
sport
sports
health
healthy
truth
true
maturity
mature
value
valuable
nature
natural
youth
young
Note that invaluable means very valuable!
Men and women can only be used as nouns: More men than women work here.
Male and female are used as adjectives: The number of female employees is increasing
each year. (not women employees)
You should refer to either men and women or male and female. Do not use the two
different terms together: Male employees far outnumber the women.
2 Correct the mistake below.
I’m looking for a good
pair of sport shoes.
I’m looking for a ........................................ .
3 Correct the mistakes in the sentences below.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
I can’t tell the different between the fake designer goods and the real ones.
The advice my tutor gave me was unvaluable in the exam.
It is important to eat a health diet when you are studying or exercising hard.
In some countries, there are no women members of parliament.
I can’t study in silent; I need to have music in the background.
A child who is loved is a happiness child.
Both women and males need to be included in these decisions.
The landlord complained because we were making too much noisy.
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