Adjective or Adverb

Adjectives usually modify nouns; adverbs usually modify verbs.  Often an adverb is formed by adding -ly to an adjective:

Example
Richard is careless.  (Adjective modifies Richard.)
Richard talks carelessly.  (Adverb modifies talks.)

It's easy to remember that adverbs can't modify nouns:
He is a quietly man.
I have a happily dog.

But it's trickier not to use an adjective to modify a verb when we write:

Example
He talks careless about your wife.  (should be carelessly)
He is breathing normal again.  (should be normally) 

Note:  Whenever you have the verb "to be", an adjective always follows.

Example
I was nervous.
They were careful about their scores.

Also, whenever you have sense verbs, to feel, taste, smell, sound, and look, followed by a modifier which describes the subject, the modifier is an adjective.

Example
Henry's cough sounds bad.  (not badly)
Castor oil tastes awful.  (not awfully) 

Be careful that the word modifies the subject and not the verb in the sentence.

Example
The apple smells sweet.  (sweet modifies apple)
The dog smells carefully.  (carefully modifies smells)

REMEMBER:
Bad or Badly?   You always feel bad.  Saying you feel badly is like saying you feel gladly.

Good or Well?   Good is an adjective, so you do not do good or feel good, but you do well and feel well.

Double-negatives? Scarcely and hardly are already negative adverbs.  To add another is redundant.

Example
I have scarcely any paper.  (NOT I have scarcely no paper)
Hardly anyone came.  (NOT Hardly no one came.)

Remember to use the adverbial form:

Example
Sure or Surely?  He is surely ready.
Real or Really?  She did really well.       

Near or Nearly? We are nearly finished.

Carefully save this sheet and refer to it as frequently as necessary.