Friday, July 14
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Friday, July 14

Todd Marshall
1 min
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Grammar tips

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Today we will take a look at some rules regarding adjectives and adverbs, and when to add -ly at the end of each one. 

Adjectives: describe nouns and pronouns. 

  1. Adjectives may come before the word they describe: "This is a poor country", or they may also follow the word they describe: "This country is poor."
  2. Adjectives, in some cases, can also end in -ly. In this case, the formation is a noun + ly = an adjective.

Adverbs: modify adjectives, verbs, and other adverbs. If an adverb answers how and can have an -ly attached to it, place it there.

  • Examples:

Most adverbs have the following form: adjective + ly = adverb.

  • Example: “The global economy has been recovering slowly after the COVID-19 pandemic.”


Basic rule: English grammar has one tricky caveat that seems like an exception to these easy rules: if the verb has one of these four senses—taste, smell, look, feel—don’t ask how. Instead, ask if the sense verb is used actively. If so, attach the -ly. If the sense verb is not used actively, which is more common, don’t attach -ly.

Stay tuned for more of Todd's grammar tips in our CACD English Newsletter!!