Grammar - Adverb + Adjective; Noun + Noun

adverb + adjectivenoun + noun

adverbs can indicate strength

We can use an adverb (e.g. very) before an adjective (e.g. cold) to make

the adjective stronger

We can use an adverb (e.g. very) before an adjective (e.g. cold) to make

the adjective stronger

It was cold.

We can use an adverb (e.g. very) before an adjective (e.g. cold) to make

the adjective stronger

It was cold. It was very cold.

We can use an adverb (e.g. very) before an adjective (e.g. cold) to make

the adjective stronger

It was cold. It was very cold.

We get a better understanding of just how cold it was by using an

adverb

We can use an adverb (e.g. very) before an adjective (e.g. cold) to make

the adjective strongerstronger

We were very tired after the trip.I felt extremely nervous after the exam.I’m really angry with you.

examples:

adverbs can show weakness

We can use an adverb (e.g. quite) before an adjective (e.g. tired) to

make the adjective weaker

We can use an adverb (e.g. quite) before an adjective (e.g. tired) to

make the adjective weaker

She was tired.

We can use an adverb (e.g. quite) before an adjective (e.g. tired) to

make the adjective weaker

She was tired. She was quite tired.

We can use an adverb (e.g. quite) before an adjective (e.g. tired) to

make the adjective weaker

She was tired. She was quite tired.

We get a better understanding of just how tired she was by using an

adverb

We can use an adverb (e.g. quite) before an adjective (e.g. tired) to

make the adjective weaker

Our car is fairly old. (It’s old, but isn’t very old.)

The meal was quite nice. (It was nice, but not wonderful.)

It was rather late when we arrived. (It was late, but not extremely late.)

examples:

multiple adjectives may be used

When we use multiple adjectives together, we always put the opinion adjectives (e.g.

wonderful, beautiful, etc.) before any others (e.g. new, warm)

When we use multiple adjectives together, we always put the opinion adjectives (e.g.

wonderful, beautiful, etc.) before any others (e.g. new, warm)

a wonderful new producta lovely warm daya beautiful little cottagea horrible green shirt

opinionexamples:

size adjectives give more details

We use size adjectives (e.g. big, tall) before an adjective that gives other

information, for example its age (new, old), its color, or its shape (thin, round)

a big new producta small warm daya huge little cottagea large green shirt

sizeexamples:

We use size adjectives (e.g. big, tall) before an adjective that gives other

information, for example its age (new, old), its color, or its shape (thin, round)

finally

nouns can act like adjectives

We can use two nouns together. The first noun is like an adjective and give information about the second noun.

a cardboard boxa cassette tapea check bookan alarm clock

noun + nounexamples:

We can use two nouns together. The first noun is like an adjective and give information about the second noun.

works citedCoe, Norman, Mark Harrison, and Ken

Paterson. Oxford Practice Grammar Basic with Answers. Oxford, England: Oxford

University Press, 2006.