Final answer:
An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, while an adjective modifies a noun. Both provide additional details in a sentence but should be used effectively to avoid wordiness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Adverbs and Adjectives
An adverb is a descriptive word used to modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, providing additional information about the manner, timing, frequency, certainty, or other aspects of the action or situation. For example, in the sentence 'Pierre quickly ran through the main points of his argument,' the adverb 'quickly' modifies the verb 'ran,' indicating the speed at which Pierre ran through the points.
Conversely, an adjective modifies or describes a noun. For instance, 'I need to find an affordable car,' where 'affordable' is the adjective modifying the noun 'car.' Adjectives can also be used in comparative forms, as in 'Ms. Chu needs to find a more reliable car,' where 'more reliable' forms an adjective phrase that describes the noun 'car.'
In both instances, adverbs and adjectives enhance the meaning of the sentences by providing extra details. It's essential for concise writing to use these parts of speech effectively and sparingly, to avoid wordiness and maintain the strength of the core sentence structure.