Parts of speech & sentence parts · Topic 3 of 17

Adjectives, Adverbs & Comparisons

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Grammar · adjectives & adverbs

Adjectives, Adverbs & Comparisons

Adjectives describe nouns and follow linking verbs; adverbs describe actions. Compare two with -er or more, three or more with -est or most.

01 · Which oneNoun → adjective; action → adverb

02 · Comparing2 = -er/more; 3+ = -est/most

03 · Linking verbsLinking verb + adjective: feel bad

What it is

Not every adverb ends in -ly: fast · often · very — and friendly is an adjective

The rules

Adjective → a noun; adverb → a verb, adjective or adverb: a quick reply · replied quickly must know

Two things: -er/more · three or more: -est/most: the taller twin · the tallest of five must know

After a linking verb, use an adjective: feels bad · smells fresh · looks calm must know

Short words add -er/-est; long words use more/most: safer, busiest · more helpful

Irregular: good/better/best · bad/worse/worst · many/more/most · little/less/least

The pairs

good = adjective · well = adverb, or "healthy": a good nurse · works well · feel well

bad describes a noun or follows feel · badly describes an action: felt bad · slept badly

fewer + things you count · less + amounts: fewer pills · less pain

Right vs wrong

✗ The incision is healing good → ✓ The incision is healing well

✗ Of the two pairs, the blue ones are nicest → ✓ …the blue ones are nicer

✗ I feel badly about missing it → ✓ I feel bad about missing it

Don't confuse

Sense verb as an action takes an adverb: looked angrily at it · but looked angry

good or well?

Commonly confused

	good	well
Part of speech	adjective	adverb (or adjective meaning healthy)
Describes	a noun: a good plan	an action: planned well
After feel/look	how something seems: The food looks good	only for health: I feel well today
Comparison	good → better → best	well → better → best

Common mistakes

Use -er or more, never both — ✗ more healthier · ✗ most fastest

Two items take the comparative — ✗ the best of the two plans · ✓ the better

Actions need the adverb — ✗ She answered quick · ✓ She answered quickly

In a sentence

Show 3 example sentences

good / well: The new aide did a good job and handled the busy shift well, despite not feeling well.

bad / badly: The patient slept badly last night and still feels bad this morning.

fewer / less: The unit had fewer admissions this week, so the staff spent less time charting.

More detail

Show 4 more facts

-ly adverbs compare with more/most: more quietly · most carefully

Irregular adverbs: well/better/best · badly/worse/worst

little (size): littler/littlest · little (amount): less/least · elder/eldest for family

less than + a measured amount (time, money, distance): less than 20 minutes

Pearl

Ask what the word describes: a thing or a linking verb gets an adjective, an action gets an adverb.

Sources · GrammarBook.com — Adjectives and Adverbs · Excelsior OWL — Types of Adjectives (comparatives and superlatives) · OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook — Handbook (H2 Transitions, H5 Words, H7 Subject-Verb Agreement, H8 Pronoun Case) · Dictionary.com — Comparatives vs. Superlatives · Saylor Academy Handbook for Writers §21.12 Irregular Adjectives · GrammarBook.com — Fewer vs. Less · Union Test Prep — HESI A2 Grammar study guide p1: nouns, pronouns, adjectives · Union Test Prep — HESI A2 Grammar study guide p2: verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions · Union Test Prep — HESI A2 Grammar study guide p6: commonly confused words · Built from the verified NurseSavvy HESI A2 fact map (facts reviewed 2026-10-16). HESI is a trademark of Elsevier; NurseSavvy is not affiliated with Elsevier.

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