Is Real Adjective, Noun Or Adverb? 5 Facts (When & Examples)

Factual, genuine, original, etc. are the words that can describe the word “real” in the best manner. Let us check the role that “real” can play in a sentence.

The word “real” can play the role of an adjective in a sentence. It can also play the role of a noun as well, but the adverbial form is “really”. Here, we can make the point that the word “real” can be used as an adverb in some rare situations.

Let us check important facts related to the use of the word “real” as an adjective, noun and adverb.

When is “real” an adjective?

Attribution of a noun or noun equivalent is important to being called an adjective. Let us check when we can use “real” as an adjective.

We can use the adjective “real” when it performs any of the below listed roles to depict meanings like; factual, genuine, bona fide etc.

  • Modification of a single noun or plural noun can be done with the help of the adjective “real”.
  • Modification of a single pronoun or plural pronoun can be done with the help of the adjective “real”.
  • Modification of a single noun phrase or plural noun phrase can be done with the help of the adjective “real”.
  • Alikeness between two or more than two aspects can be shown with the help of the adjective “real”.
  • Comparison among two or more perspectives can be done with the help of the adjective “real”.
  • Superiority in any particular aspect can be shown with the help of the adjective “real”.

Is “real” a descriptive adjective?

We already know that the word “real” is an adjective. Let us see if the adjective “real” belongs to the group of descriptive adjectives or not.

The adjective “real” comes under the group of descriptive adjectives as it describes or modifies feelings, emotions or the state of any noun or noun equivalent. The adjective “real” mainly explains whether a feeling, emotion or fact is genuine or false.

When we can use the descriptive adjective “real”?

The descriptive adjective “real” can be used to perform any of the following roles:

  • An aspect which has true physical existence instead of an imaginary presence can be described with the help of the adjective “real”.
  • An aspect or entity that is original and not false can be described with the help of the adjective “real”.
  • The true qualities of any person can be marked with the help of the adjective “real.”
  • The adjective “real” can be used to indicate that a story, fiction, book, or other work is true to fact.

Examples and explanations which are framed with the descriptive adjective “real” have been given below.

ExampleExplanation
1. Stories in the book “Aesop’s Fable” seem real to children, but we know that those stories have been framed to give moral education to children.The adjective “real” is used to show that stories in the book “Aesop’s Fable” are not disputable.
2. Your personality and appearance seem real, but you must keep these throughout the interview.The adjective “real” is used to show that the personality and appearance of the addressed person are genuine.
3. The handbook given to me by my friend on my birthday is made with real feathers.The adjective “real” is used to show that the feather in the handbook of the speaker’s friend is authentic.
4. I bought a diamond ring from a nearby jewelry shop, but I think the diamonds on that ring are not real.The adjective “real” is in use to show that the diamond on the ring of the speaker is not a genuine diamond.
5. The pen in the book-pocket of my boss looks expensive, but all the employees know that the pen is not real.The adjective “real” is used to show that the pen in the pocket of the speaker’s boss is not dubious.
6. I have lots of friends to have fun with, but none of them are real friends as I never find them when I need them.The adjective “real” is used to show that none of the friends of the speaker are sincere and honest.
7. Photographs taken by my friend on their trip to the Himalayas seem real and not edited.The adjective “real” is used to show that photographs of the Himalayas are original and have physical existence.
Examples of the descriptive adjective “real”

Is “real” a noun?

Nouns are nothing but the names of various entities. Let us check if the word “real” is a noun or not.

The word “real” can not play the role of a noun in parts of speech as the noun form of the word “real” is “reality”. It is in use as an entity in a sentence instead of playing the role of the adjective “real” in that specific sentence.

When we can use the noun “reality”?

We can use the word “reality” as a noun when we use it as a name for the entity of the aspects, like; evident, honest, legitimate, concrete, valid, perceptible, etc.

Which type of noun “reality” is?

The noun “reality” comes under the group of “abstract nouns” in English parts of speech. It is so because it is only a situation that has no physical existence. The term “reality” mainly describes an abstract concept which can not be physically touched or sensed but can only be felt.

Examples of the noun “reality” –

Here are five examples which are structured with the noun “reality”.

ExampleExplanation
1. You must understand the reality that the situation is not conducive to going mountain trekking.The noun “reality” is in use to show the true color or matter of a situation where the addressed person can not go trekking.
2. Sandip offered me lots of clay-made fruits, but I understand the reality that those are not original.The noun “reality” is in use to show the originality of fruits.
3. Pijush never accepts the reality that he went to boarding school as he became a very ill-behaved person.The noun “reality” is in use to show an authentic fact, for which Pijush went to boarding school.
4. The reality of the conflict is that share holders are not interested in investing money in the project in which the CEO has an interest.The noun “reality” is in use to show the true reason behind a conflict between shareholders and the CEO.
5. The book “Eighty-Four Days Around the World” is not based on reality but on a fiction story that has some true instances.The noun “reality” is used to show the true physical existence of the stories in the book “Eighty-Four Days Around the World.”
Examples of the noun “reality”

Is “real” an adverb?

It is not mandatory that an adverb will only modify the verb, but adjectives can also be modified. Let us check if the word “real” is an adverb.

The adverbial form of the word “real” is “really, though the word “real”” can be used as an adverb in some special situations. Normally the adverb “really” is used to put emphasis on the specific verb, adjective, or other adverb.

When we can use “really” as an adverb?

We can use “really” as an adverb in a sentence when we need to modify any verb, adverb, or adjective instead of being a naming entity or without being an adjective. The purpose of using the adverb “really” is to convey the meaning “extremely” or “in a true manner.”

Which type of adverb “really” is?

The adverb “really” belongs to the group of adverbs of manner. Adverbs of manner are those adverbs that elaborate on the way a particular action has been done or a feeling has been felt in a specific manner.

Now we are going to learn various usages of the adverb “really” with related explanations.

ExampleExplanation
1. I am really interested in going and watching horror movies with my cousins to enjoy the chilling thrill of a good horror movie.The adverb “really” is used to describe the action that the speaker was feeling about watching the horror movie.
2. Yesterday I had vegan food at a marriage ceremony, and it tasted really awesome.The adverb “real” is in use to describe the action of tasting vegan food, which was served yesterday.
3. I am really exhausted due to my visiting duty and I need to really rest to refresh myself.The adverb “really” is used to describe the adjective exhausted in the first clause, and again, the same adverb is used to describe the action rest in the sentence.
4. The vegetables in our local market are really fresh as they come from nearby farms.The adverb “really” is in use to describe the adjective ‘fresh,’ which refers to the vegetables from the local market.
5. The book “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare is really interesting and thoughtful while interpreting the same.The adverb “really” is in use to describe the perspective ‘interesting’, which is referred to in the book “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare.
Examples of the adverb “really”

Conclusion

Some of the words which are contradictory to the word “real” are fake, artificial, not original, false, etc.