Adjectives and Adverbs

• 2nd grade
• CCSS L.2.1e

Adjectives describe nouns: a quick fox. Adverbs describe verbs: the fox ran quickly. Many adverbs end in -ly.

What is an adverb?

Kids already know adjectives, which describe people, places and things. An adverb describes an action instead. It tells how (slowly, loudly), when (today, soon) or where (outside, here).

Many adverbs are made by adding -ly to an adjective: quiet → quietly, sad → sadly. That pattern is a handy clue, but it isn't a rule. Fast, soon and here are adverbs too.

The 2nd grade Common Core standard (L.2.1e) asks kids to use both and to choose between them depending on what's being described. That choice is the skill this page practices.

Adjective to adverb

Read across each row. The left side describes a person or thing. The right side describes how someone does something.

Two spelling notes: a final y changes to i (happy → happily, easy → easily), and good doesn't take -ly at all. Its adverb is well.

Adjectives and adverbs in sentences

Adjectives and adverbs are highlighted. Ask your child: is it describing a thing or an action?

1. The sleepy cat yawned. (adjective)
2. The cat yawned sleepily. (adverb)
3. Mia is a neat writer. (adjective)
4. Mia writes neatly. (adverb)
5. The loud thunder scared us. (adjective)
6. The thunder boomed loudly. (adverb)
7. We will go tomorrow. (adverb: when)
8. The kids played outside. (adverb: where)
9. Leo is a fast swimmer. (adjective)
10. Leo swims fast. (adverb)

Sentences 9 and 10 use the same word. Fast describes Leo the swimmer in one and how he swims in the other. That's why the test below asks what is being described, not how the word is spelled.

Adjective or adverb? The one-question test

Ask: What is this word describing?

• A person, place or thing? Use an adjective. "She is a careful painter." (careful describes painter)
• An action? Use an adverb. "She paints carefully." (carefully describes paints)
• Good or well? Good describes nouns (a good game). Well describes verbs (you played well). Say "You did well," not "You did good."

How to teach adjectives and adverbs

Five short steps, about 10 minutes each.

1. Act out adverbs. Your child walks across the room slowly, quickly, sadly, proudly. You guess the adverb.
2. Add -ly. Write five adjectives. Your child adds -ly and uses each in a sentence: quiet → quietly.
3. Point to the word it describes. In "The dog barked loudly," draw an arrow from loudly to barked.
4. Practice good and well. Ask about their day: "Did you play well?" "Was it a good game?"
5. Rewrite with both. Your child writes "The ___ bird sang ___." and fills in an adjective and an adverb.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

Practice: adjectives and adverbs quiz

10 questions. Your child can tap the speaker to hear a question read aloud. The first try on each question counts toward the score.

1. 1.The turtle moves ___.

   🔈
   slowly slow
   Show answer

   slowly.

2. 2.She has a ___ voice.

   🔈
   quiet quietly
   Show answer

   quiet.

3. 3.Tap the adverb.

   🔈

   The baby slept peacefully.

   Show answer

   peacefully. It describes slept.

4. 4.Which word is an adverb?

   🔈
   loudly loud cloud
   Show answer

   loudly.

5. 5.You did ___ on your test.

   🔈
   well good
   Show answer

   well.

6. 6.Tap the adjective.

   🔈

   The tired dog lay down.

   Show answer

   tired. It describes dog, a noun.

7. 7.What does the adverb tell? We will go to the park tomorrow.

   🔈
   when how where
   Show answer

   when.

8. 8.Which sentence is correct?

   🔈
   He ran quick. He ran quickly.
   Show answer

   He ran quickly.

9. 9.Add -ly to happy.

   🔈
   happyly happily
   Show answer

   happily.

10. 10.Tap the adverb.

    🔈

    Kim sang softly.

    Show answer

    softly.

Adjectives and Adverbs worksheet (free PDF)

Adjectives and Adverbs Worksheet, 2nd grade

Choose between adjectives and adverbs, add -ly, fix good and well and write about how you do things. Prints on US Letter paper, with an answer key.

Download the PDF

Try it at home

• In the hallway: call out adverbs for your child to walk: slowly, sneakily, proudly.
• After a game: "You played well!" Point out well, not good.
• At dinner: describe how people eat: quickly, neatly, noisily.
• In the car: "Is that a fast car, or is it driving fast?"
• When your child writes: add one adverb to a sentence about an action.

What comes next

Next, kids learn the small words a, an and the, then where-and-when words in prepositions. See all 2nd grade skills on the 2nd grade page, or browse all grammar lessons.

Last reviewed: November 11, 2026

Questions parents ask