We use adjectives and adverbs to qualify or limit the meaning of other words, but we can't substitute an adverb for an adjective in a sentence. Each one has its own specific job to do.

1

Limit or qualify your nouns by using adjectives with them. For example, "The apple is green" and "the green apple" use the adjective "green" to describe the apple. The noun "apple" has been limited to the color green.

2

Place adjectives after the linking verb or before the noun. Because you may want to describe or limit several nouns in one sentence, keep their adjectives close by. For example, "The yellow apples are in the red basket" means that the apples are yellow and the basket is red.

3

Use adjectives to describe opinion, size, age, shape or texture, color, origin, material and purpose.

4

Use adverbs to limit or describe everything but nouns. Adverbs tell us when, where, how, why and to what extent. Many adverbs end in "ly," as in 'gladly," "quickly," "slowly" and "creatively." "Today, I happily baked a cake" tells us when (today) and how (happily) the subject (I) baked a cake.

5

Pay attention to what the adjective and adverb are describing. Using the wrong one can change the meaning. "I smell badly" means that your sense of smell is not working properly. However, "I smell bad" means that your body has a bad smell.

Don't misuse the words "good" and "well." "Good" is an adjective and "well" is both an adverb and an adjective, depending upon the meaning. You can feel good and feel well. However, you can't do good on a test, although you may do well on a test.