Adjectives and Adverbs

Using Adjectives and Adverbs Correctly

What are adjectives?Adjectives modify nouns or pronounsThese words are all adjectivesA hot dayA happy camperA silly twit A big, bloody mess (both big and bloody modify mess)She is creative (creative is a subject complement that follows the linking verb is)A boring course (present participle used as an adjective

So what are adverbs?Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbsMany adverbs end with lyMany adverbs answer the question How?These are adverbsEating quickly (modifying a verb)Trying very hard (modifying an adverb)A really big show (modifying an adjective)

Recognizing Adjectives & AdverbsMany words have both an adjective and adverb form

AdjectiveAdverbHappy kidsPlaying happilySmooth rockRunning smoothlyGood nightEating WellEfficient workersWorking efficientlyCasual dressDressing casuallyQuick meetingTalking quicklyhopeful childrenWaiting hopefullyReal butterReally hot

Comparatives and SuperlativesMost adverbs and adjectives also have a comparative and superlative formUse the comparative form to compare two thingsSally is the larger of the twins (not largest) Use the superlative form to compare three or moreAugust was the hottest month of the year

SimpleComparativeSuperlativeHotHotterHottestGoodBetterBestExcitingMore excitingMost excitingCarefulLess carefulLeast careful

Double ComparativesDont use more or most with er or estYesterday was more hotter than todayThat was the most dirtiest story I ever heardYou are the bestest teacher

Absolute ConceptsDont use comparatives or superlatives with absolute conceptsAbsolutes have only two possibilities, on or off, yes or no, with nothing in betweenThe most perfect student in the classA very unique idea (say very unusual instead)These words express absolute concepts that cannot be modified

More pricelessSort of deadQuite onA little bit pregnantVery unanimous Extremely perfectQuite uniqueCompletely anonymous

Dont use adjectives when adverbs are neededYou did a real nice job(an adjective cant modify another adjective)You did a really nice job(the adverb really modifies nice)He did goodHe did well orHe did a good jobFuel injection helps the car run efficientFuel injection helps the car run efficientlyCome quick!Come quickly!Hopefully, it wont rain(an adverb explains how something will happenI hope that it wont rain

Dont use needless adverbsBefore using any of these words, check to see if they add anything to the sentenceReally, very, absolutely, extremely, quite, actually, somewhat, ratherI am really happy to see youGrammar is very boringYou are absolutely correctHer language was extremely crudeYou are quite intelligentContext will help you decide whether to retain the underlined wordsKeep them only if they add to the meaningBill Gates is very rich. I hope he gives me some money.Most college instructors are poor; their students are very poor.Note: the terms good success and real good success have been reserved for sports broadcasters; do not use them

Compound AdjectivesTwo or more adjectives often appear together separated with commasBrads tiny, tight swimsuit showed off his hairy bellyThe words tiny and tight each work separately to modify swimsuitConnect the words with a hyphen when they function together before a nounBrads gold-plated piercings stood out against his bright-red sunburnGold-plated and bright-red are compound adjectives

Compound AdjectivesBrad was well known along the boardwalk (no hyphen)

His SUV was fully equipped

Brad worked full time on his tanBrad was a well-known jerk (hyphenated)

He drove a fully-equipped SUV

Brad was a full-time chick magnet

Do not hyphenate the words when they come after the noun they modifyNotice the difference in these examples

Misplaced ModifiersPut adjectives and adverbs close to the words they modifyNotice how the meaning is affected by the improper placementAn old pile of clothes is on the floorA pile of old clothes is on the floorI almost believe you are finishedI believe you are almost finishedThe winners will only be contactedOnly the winners will be contactedI cant quite do this as well as FredI cant do this quite as well as Fred