Adverbs
* Function: Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They tell us *how*, *when*, *where*, *to what extent*, or *why* something happens.
* Examples: *quickly*, *yesterday*, *here*, *very*, *happily*
Interrogative Pronouns
* Function: Interrogative pronouns introduce questions. They are used to ask about people, places, things, or ideas.
* Examples: *who*, *whom*, *whose*, *what*, *which*, *where*, *when*, *why*
Key Differences
1. Role in Sentence:
* Adverbs: Modify other words, providing additional information.
* Interrogative Pronouns: Initiate questions, serving as the subject or object of the question.
2. Placement:
* Adverbs: Can appear in various positions within a sentence.
* Interrogative Pronouns: Typically appear at the beginning of a question.
3. Meaning:
* Adverbs: Express a manner, time, place, degree, or reason.
* Interrogative Pronouns: Seek information about specific entities or concepts.
Examples
Adverb: *The cat ran quickly across the yard.* (modifies the verb "ran")
Interrogative Pronoun: *Who is coming to the party?* (asks about a person)
Overlap (Noteworthy):
The words *where*, *when*, and *why* can act as both adverbs and interrogative pronouns. The distinction lies in their function within the sentence.
* Adverb: *We went where the river flowed.* (modifies "went")
* Interrogative Pronoun: *Where did you go?* (asks about location)
In Summary
To differentiate, consider:
* What does the word modify? (If it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, it's likely an adverb)
* Does it introduce a question? (If it does, it's an interrogative pronoun)
Let me know if you'd like to explore more examples!