Question

What is the adverb and adjectives in these following sentences? What is the difference between adjectives and adverbs?

Mary lightly dusted the shelf.
He sang very loudly.
I like green dresses.
Those wonderful Gleasons are coming.
The ice cream was eaten too quickly.

Answer 1

Mary `color(blue)("lightly ") underline("dusted")` the shelf.
`color(white)("XXX")color(blue)("lightly")` is an adverb modifying/describing the verb `underline("dusted")`.

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He `underline("sang")" " color(blue)("very "underline"loudly")`.
`color(white)("XXX")color(blue)("loudly")` is an adverb modifying the verb `underline("sang")`.

`color(white)("XXX")color(blue)("very")` is an adverb modifying the adverb `underline("loudly")`.

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I like `color(red)("green")" "underline("dresses")`.
`color(white)("XXX")color(red)("green")` is an adjective modifying the noun `underline("dresses")`.

Those `color(red)("wonderful")" "underline("Gleasons")` are coming.
`color(white)("XXX")color(red)("wonderful")` is an adjective modifying the (proper) noun `underline("Gleasons")`.

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The `color(red)("ice")" "underline("cream")` `underline("was eaten")" "underline(color(blue)("too"))" "color(blue)("quickly")`.
`color(white)("XXX")`Note that this first one is debatable. "ice cream" could be regarded as a "compound noun". (This would be my personal preference).
`color(white)("XXX")color(red)("ice")` could be considered an adjective modifying the noun `underline("cream")`.

`color(white)("XXX")color(blue)("quickly")` is an adverb modifying the verb #underline("was eaten").

`color(white)("XXX")color(blue)("too")` is an adverb modifying the adjective `underline("quickly")`.

`color(brown)("====================================")`

Adverbs are words which describe (or "modify") verbs, or other adverbs, or (although not demonstrated in these examples; see below) adjectives.

Adjectives are words that describe ("modify") nouns.

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`color(white)("XXX")`Here is an example that includes an adverb (`color(blue)("very")`) modifying an adjective (`color(red)("pretty")`).
`color(white)("XXXXX")`A `color(blue)("very ")color(red)("pretty")` girl sat on the lawn tearing petals off a daisy.