10 structures · CEFR A1–B2

English adjectives and adverbs

Adjectives describe nouns; adverbs describe verbs, adjectives and whole sentences. English puts an adjective BEFORE its noun, never after, and it puts several adjectives in a fixed order native speakers follow without knowing the rule. Adverbs of frequency — always, usually, never — sit in a specific slot around the verb, and moving them is one of the most audible non-native signals there is.

Common adjectives & adverbs mistakes

Every one of these is a sentence Indian-English speakers genuinely produce — not a textbook example.

Commonly said	Correct English
I go always by bus.	I always go by bus. Frequency words sit before the main verb. Adverbs of frequency →
He speaks very good English fluent.	He speaks English fluently. Describing the verb needs the -ly form. Adverbs of manner →
A red big bag.	A big red bag. Size comes before colour. Adjective order →
She speaks fluently English.	She speaks English fluently. An adverb never comes between the verb and its object. Where an adverb goes →
We arrived yesterday at the office.	We arrived at the office yesterday. Place first, then time. Place before time →
I am very boring in this job.	I am very bored in this job. "Boring" would mean you bore other people — the feeling is "bored". bored or boring? →
The water was very freezing.	The water was absolutely freezing. "Freezing" is already extreme, so it takes "absolutely" rather than "very". very or absolutely? →
The film was too good.	The film was very good. "Too" means it was a problem — for praise, use "very". too / enough →