Adjectives

Adjectives

Adverbs

Adjectives modify nouns. To modify means to change in some way Adjectives change nouns by limiting them,

or distinguishing them from other nouns. Example: Cookie is a noun.

We limit or change it when we modify it with an adjective: chocolate cookie

enormous cookiecharlie’s cookie

Adjectives

Adjectives answer the following

questions:

Which one? What kind? How many?

Adjectives

Finally! Here comes the last bus. That child is something else. These pretzels are making me thirsty. The tall girl has no interest in basketball. Joe’s bicycle only weighs three pounds. We are a little worried about the smell

emanating from your locker.

Which one?

I would like to give her a silver platter. They found lots of little bumps on the screen Something wicked this way comes. These southern counties are suffering from

severe drought.

**As you can see, adjectives frequently immediately precede the noun they modify.**

What kind?

I ate three pieces of pizza last night. He had some thoughts he wanted to share

with me. Many voters waited in line for hours to vote. Thanks, but I already have enough hot

chocolate. Twelve children got perfect scores on their

tests.

How many?

AdjectivesDegrees of Comparison

Adjectives can describe degrees of comparison. Something can be cold, colder, or coldest.

Comparative is used to compare TWO things Superlative is used to compare THREE or more things. We usually use THAN with the comparative and THE

with the superlative.

Positive Comparative Superlativerich richer richestlovely lovelier loveliestbeautiful more beautiful most beautiful

Irregular Comparative and Superlative Forms

good better best

bad worse worst

little less least

muchmanysome

more most

far Further/farther Furthest/farthest

Adjectives

When making comparisons with THAN, do you

end with the subject form or the object form? Is she taller than me? Or is she taller than I? “She is taller than I” is the correct answer.

Why? The complete thought is “She is taller than I am.” We just leave out the verb in the second clause leaving us with the subject “I”

Adjectives

Adjectives

Some adjectives DO NOT allow for comparisons for reasons that should become obvious as you read the incomplete list below: Fatal Preferable Complete Impossible Adequate Ideal Unique

Fewer or Less? When comparing amounts, you have a

choice between fewer or less. If the amount is countable, use fewer.

Fewer drops of water (I can count drops.) Less water (I can’t count water.) Fewer minutes left (I can count minutes.) Less time left (I can’t count time.)

Adjectives

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and other

adverbs. Adverbs answer the following questions:

When? (which includes how often?) Where? How? (which includes under what

conditions?) Why? To what extent?

Adverbs

Many adverbs end in –ly

slowly, cautiously, ferociously

However, many adverbs DO NOT end in –lyyesterday, now, very, quite

Also, some words that end in –ly are not adverbslovely, friendly, lonely (these are all adjectives)

SO BE CAREFUL!

Adverbs

She danced beautifully. Beautifully tells us

how she danced.

They failed spectacularly. Spectacularly tells us to what degree they failed.

They arrived in New York yesterday. Yesterday tells us when they arrived.

Adverbs that Modify Verbs

The arrow came alarmingly close to the

audience. Alarmingly is an adverb that modifies the adjective close.

It was terribly hot in the upper deck of the stadium. Terribly is an adverb that modifies the adjective hot.

The boldly spoken words would return to haunt the rebel. Boldly is an adverb that modifies the adjective spoken.

Adverbs that Modify Adjectives

We frantically urged him to open the

door more quickly. More is an adverb modifying the adverb quickly.

No one noticed her as she moved quite stealthily down the hall. Quite is an adverb that modifies the adverb stealthily.

Adverbs that Modify Other Adverbs

If you are actively smelling or feeling something, use

“well”. “Your dog smells really well considering he’s

not a hound dog.” If you are referring to a state of being and not the

active sense of smelling, use “good.”“Your dog smells good after going to the

groomer.” If you are referring to your health, use “well”.

“I am feeling well again, after taking a few days off work.” If you are describing your state of mind, use “good”.

“I feel good about my performance yesterday.”

Good or Well

If you are actively smelling or feeling something, use

“badly”. “Your dog smells badly considering he’s a

bloodhound!” If you are referring to a state of being and not the

active sense of smelling, use “bad.”“Your dog smells bad after swimming in the

pond.” If you are referring to the act of feeling something, use

“badly”.“Ever since I burned my fingertips, I feel

badly.” If you are describing your state of mind, use “bad”.

“I feel bad about what I said yesterday.”

Bad or Badly