Chapter 5: Adjectives and Adverbs 8 th Grade English.

Chapter 5: Adjectives and Adverbs8th Grade English

5.1 What Is an Adjective?An adjective is a word that modifies, or

describes, a noun or a pronoun. Extraordinary weather can cause strange events.

Adjectives help you see, feel, taste, hear, and smell all the experiences you read about. During a storm, a boat capsized in the waves. During a violent storm, a large boat capsized in

the enormous waves.

5.1 What Is an Adjective?Adjectives answer the questions what kind,

which one, how many, and how much.

Adjectives

What Kind?

A sudden blizzard

A brisk wind

A destructive flood

Which one or ones?

The first warning

The Mexican earthquake

The last weather report

How many or how much?

Several tornadoes

A few drifts More ice

5.1 What Is an Adjective?The most commonly used adjectives are the

articles a, an, and the. A and an are forms of the indefinite article.

The indefinite article is used before a noun that names an unspecified person, place, thing, or idea. A weather radar can predict an unusual storm.

Use a before a word beginning with a consonant sound.

Use an before a word beginning with a vowel sound.

5.1 What Is an Adjective?The is the definite article.

It points to a particular person, place, thing, or idea. The six-o’clock news predicted the tornado.

5.1 What Is an Adjective?Proper Adjectives

Many adjectives are formed from common nouns.

Nouns and Adjectives

Common Noun Common Adjective

Cloud Cloudy

Nation National

Statue Statuesque

Friend friendly

5.1 What Is an Adjective?A proper adjective is formed from a proper

noun.

Proper adjectives are always capitalized.

Proper Nouns Proper Adjectives

Honduras Honduran

Olympus Olympian

North America North American

(Queen) Elizabeth Elizabethan

5.2 Predicate Adjectives

A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the verb’s subject. The linking verb connects the predicate adjective

with the subject. Some people are extraordinary. They are very energetic or calm.

Predicate adjectives can follow linking verbs other than forms of be. Forms of taste, smell, feel, look, become, and seem are often used as linking verbs. You usually feel lucky to know such a person.

5.3 Other Words Used as Adjectives In addition to their usual uses, many pronouns

and nouns can be used as adjectives.

They can modify nouns to make their meanings more specific.

5.3 Other Words Used as AdjectivesPronouns as Adjectives

Demonstrative pronouns This, that, these, and those are demonstrative

pronouns that can be used as adjectives. This fingerprint is a loop. That fingerprint is a whorl.

5.3 Other Words Used as AdjectivesPossessive Pronouns

My, our, your, her, his, its, and their are possessive pronouns that are used as adjectives. My thumbprint is a double loop, but your

thumbprint is a tented arch.

5.3 Other Words Used as Adjectives Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns such as all, each, both, few, most, and some can be used as adjectives. All fingerprints fit one of seven patterns. But each fingerprint is unique.

5.3 Other Words Used as AdjectivesNouns as adjectives

Like pronouns, nouns can be used as adjectives. In the expression “crime story,” for example, the

word crime (normally a noun) is used to modify story. The fingerprint evidence convicted the murderer. She was convicted on murder charges.

5.4 What is an Adverb?An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an

adjective, or another adverb. Teenagers often make a unique impression. They wear very creative clothing. They nearly always have their own way of talking.

Adverbs answer the questions how, where, when, or to what extent.

How? When? Where? To What Extent?

Successfully

soon inside nearly

Quietly later close completely

Terribly now together quite

5.4 What is an Adverb?Adverbs can appear in several different

positions. Shari completed the exam quickly. Shari quickly completed the exam. Quickly, Shari completed the exam.

5.4 What is an Adverb? Intensifiers

Intensifiers are adverbs that modify adjectives or other adverbs.

They are usually placed directly before the word they modify.

Intensifiers usually answer the question to what extent. How does Shari work so quickly?

Intensifiers: almost, especially, extremely, nearly, quite, really, so, too, usually, very

5.4 What is an Adverb?Forming Adverbs

Many adverbs are formed by adding the suffix –ly to adjectives.

Sometimes a base word’s spelling changes when –ly is added. strong -> strongly True -> truly Happy -> happily

5.5 Making Comparisons Special forms of modifiers are used to make

comparisons. Use the comparative form (-er or more) form of an

adjective or adverb when you compare one person or thing with one other person or thing. Earth is larger than Venus. Earth orbits the sun more slowly than Venus.

Use the superlative form (-est or most) when you compare someone or something with more than one person or thing. Which of the four inner planets is the hottest? Which of the five outer planets rotates most

quickly?

5.5 Making Comparisons Regular Forms of Comparison

For most one-syllable words, add –er to form the comparative and –est to form the superlative.

Base Form Comparative

Superlative

Adjective LightSlow

LighterSlower

LightestSlowest

Adverb CloseSoon

CloserSooner

Closestsoonest

5.5 Making Comparisons You can also add –er and –est to some two-

syllable adjectives.

With other two syllable adjectives, and with ALL two-syllable adverbs, use the words more and most.

Base Form Comparative

Superlative

Adjective WindyMassive

Windier More massive

Windiest Most massive

Adverb BrightlyQuickly

More brightlyMore quickly

Most brightlyMost quickly

5.5 Making Comparisons With adjectives and adverbs having three or

more syllables, use more and most.

Base Form Comparative Superlative

Adjective SuccessfulMysterious

More successfulMore mysterious

Most successfulMost mysterious

Adverb Awkwardly

eloquently

More awkwardlyMore eloquently

Most awkwardlyMost eloquently

5.5 Making Comparisons Irregular Forms of Comparisons

The comparatives and superlatives of some adjectives and adverbs are formed in irregular ways

Base Form Comparative

Superlative

Adjectives GoodBad

BetterWorse

Best Worst

Adverbs MuchLittle Well

More LessBetter

Most Least Best

5.6 Adjective or Adverb?Some pairs of adjectives and adverbs are often

a source of confusion and mistakes in speaking and writing.

5.6 Adjective or Adverb?Good or Well

Good is always an adjective. It modifies a noun or a pronoun.

Well is usually an adverb, modifying a verb, an adverb, or an adjective.

Poetry is a good way to express your individuality. Good poems can communicate ideas well.

Well can be an adjective if it refers to health. You can write poems even when you don’t feel

well.

5.6 Adjective or Adverb?Real or Really

Real is always an adjective. It modifies a noun or a pronoun.

Really is always an adverb. It modifies a verb, an adverb, or an adjective

Reciting poetry is a real talent. If you really work at it, you can become good at

it.

5.6 Adjective or Adverb?Bad or Badly

Bad is always an adjective. It modifies a noun or a pronoun.

Badly is always an adverb. It modifies a verb, an adverb, or an adjective.

That wasn’t a bad poem, but you read it badly. Oh, I feel bad about that.