What is the Basic Rule for Adjectives and Adverbs?

In English, adjectives and adverbs have different jobs.

• Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns. They tell you what kind oder which one.
• Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They tell you wie, when, wobei, oder to what extent.

For example, in She is a quick runner, quick (adjective) describes the noun runner. In She runs quickly, quickly (adverb) describes the verb runs.

When Do We Use Adjectives After Verbs?

Sometimes, verbs are followed by adjectives, not adverbs. This happens with 'linking verbs'.

Linking verbs connect the subject of the sentence to a word that describes or renames the subject. They do not describe an action.

• Common linking verbs include be (am, is, are, was, were), seem, appear, become, grow, remain, stay.
• Sense verbs can also be linking verbs: look, sound, taste, feel, smell.

When these verbs are linking, they are followed by an adjective that describes the subject.

How Do Sense Verbs Work with Adjectives and Adverbs?

Sense verbs (look, sound, taste, feel, smell) are special. They can be linking verbs or action verbs.

• As linking verbs: They describe the subject's quality or state. They are followed by an adjective. For example, The music sounds loud (describes the music).
• As action verbs: They describe an action performed by the subject. They are followed by an adverb. For example, He looked carefully at the map (describes how he looked).

The meaning of the verb changes depending on whether it's followed by an adjective or an adverb.

What About Verbs of Change?

Verbs like become, get, und grow often describe a change in state. They are linking verbs and are followed by an adjective.

• She became famous. (Describes her new state)
• It's getting dark. (Describes the changing condition)
• He grew tired of waiting. (Describes his changing feeling)

Beispiele

• The cake smells wonderful.
• She looked happy after receiving the news.
• The idea sounds interesting.
• This fabric feels soft.
• He remained calm despite the pressure.
• The situation appears difficult.
• The food tasted strange.
• He looked angrily at the person who pushed him.
• She felt her way carefully in the dark room.
• The band played loudly.

Übung

Häufige Fehler bei Spanischsprechern

Spanish speakers often make these mistakes:

• Using an adverb after a linking verb: For example, saying The soup tastes well statt The soup tastes good. Denk daran, good is an adjective, well is usually an adverb (except when referring to health).
• Confusing linking verbs with action verbs: For instance, He looked quick (meaning he appeared fast) is different from He looked quickly (meaning he glanced fast). Pay attention to the verb's role in the sentence.
• Direct translation of 'parecer': Translating 'parecer' directly can lead to using an adverb after seem oder appear, wie It seems obviously. The correct form is It seems obvious.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

What is the difference between 'good' and 'well'?

Good is an adjective, meaning 'of high quality' or 'pleasant.' For example, The food is good. Well is usually an adverb, meaning 'in a good way' or 'skillfully.' For example, She sings well. However, well can also be an adjective meaning 'in good health,' as in I feel well today.

Can 'feel' be followed by an adverb?

Ja, feel can be followed by an adverb when it describes the manner of touching or exploring. For example, She felt carefully for the light switch. Hier, carefully describes wie she performed the action of feeling. When feel describes an emotion or a physical sensation, it's a linking verb and takes an adjective: I feel happy oder My hand feels cold.

How can I remember when to use an adjective or an adverb?

Ask yourself: Is the verb describing an action, or is it connecting the subject to a description of itself? If it describes wie an action is done, use an adverb. If it describes Was the subject is like or what state it is in, use an adjective (especially with linking verbs and sense verbs).

Is this grammar point important for the B2 First (FCE) exam?

Yes, understanding the correct use of adjectives and adverbs after verbs is crucial for the B2 First (FCE) exam. You might encounter this in the Use of English Part 2 (Open Cloze) or Part 3 (Word Formation), where you need to choose the correct part of speech. It also helps you write more accurately in the Writing paper and speak more naturally in the Speaking paper.