Questlove is a very good drummer.
This question came from the first question on this show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKUhS81fBtI
Isn't it an adjective? How is it an adverb?
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2 Answers
It's an adverb because it modifies an adjective - adverbs modify anything that isn't a noun. In this case, the adjective is 'good'. Very can be used as an adjective, however, in such phrases as 'the very soul of man'; here it lends weight to the noun.
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There are a few instances where adverbs can modify nouns and noun phrases.– BillJMay 28, 2016 at 21:40
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2In Virtually his only friend, the adverb "virtually" is modifying the noun phrase his only friend, and in He ate almost the whole pie, the adverb "almost" is modifying the NP the whole pie. And in A shortage of timber internationally led to a steep rise in prices, the adverb "internationally" is modifying the noun "shortage". Interesting, eh?– BillJMay 29, 2016 at 6:07
"Very" is acting as an adverb in your sentence because it is describing the adjective "good."
An adjective describes something.
You can't say, "Questlove is a very drummer," so you see it cannot act as an adjective in this sentence.
A good rule of thumb is to put a noun right after the word you are wondering is an adjective. If it makes sense, it's most likely an adjective.
Hope this helps you. =)
