Distinguishing adverbs from adjectives in French

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Distinguishing adverbs from adjectives

An adjective clarifies or describe a noun (usually an object or a person). It must agree in gender and number with that noun.

Des femmes mystérieuses.  (mystérieuses porte sur le nom femmes) Some mysterious women (mystérieuses refers to the noun femmes).
Des cheveux courts Short hair.

An adverb clarifies or describes a verb, an adjective or another adverb. It is invariable (it never agrees).

Elles partent ensemble. (ensemble porte sur le verbe partent) They leave together (ensemble refers to the verb partent).
Ils se sont couchés très tard They went to bed very late.

Don't confuse the adverbs or adjective that might follow the verb être.

Ils sont loin. (loin est un adverbe) ; Ils sont éloignés. (éloigné est un adjectif) They are far away (loin is an adverb); They are far away (éloigné is an adjective)
Elles sont debout. (debout est un adverbe) ; Elles sont assises. (assis est un adjectif) They are standing (debout is an adverb); They are sitting down (assis is an adjective)

Some other common adverbs: beaucoup, partout, souvent, bien...

Les Français sont partout. (et pas partouts) The French are everywhere (not partouts)
Nous sommes très bien. (et pas biens) We are very well (not biens)

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