Adjectives & Adverbs

1. Adjectives & Adverbs The Brenham Writing Room Created by D. Herring

2. Adjective vs. Adverb • An adjective describes or modifies a noun or a pronoun. • Adds info about what kind, which one, or how many • Describes how things look, smell, feel, taste, sound • An adverb describes or modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. • Adds info about how, how much, when, where, or to what extent. • Often ends in –ly.

3. Which one do I use? • It is critical to identify which word is being modified in order to determine whether to use an adjective or an adverb as the modifier. • I: She runs slow. • C: She runs slowly. • I: He is real tall. • C: He is really tall.

4. Adj. & Adv. With Same Form • Some adjectives and adverbs have the same form. • early, far, fast, hard, high, late, often, past, right, soon • The only way to distinguish them is to identify what they modify. • Adj: The fastcar drove around the curve. • Adv: The car drovefast around the curve.

5. Comparative Form • When comparing two nouns, use the comparative form of an adjective or adverb. • If adjective or adverb is one syllable, add –er to form the comparative. • I am taller than my mother. • She is smarter than me. • Use this same pattern for adjectives that end in –y, but change the –y to –i before adding –er. • She is happier than he is. • That show is funnier than the other one.

6. Comparative Form cont. • If adjective or adverb is more than one syllable, add the word more to form the comparative. • I am more impressed with your skills than he is. • She is even more beautiful than she used to be. • Follow the guideline and use –er or more, but never use both! • I am more taller than my mother. • That show is more funnier than the other one. • She is so much more happier than she used to be.

7. Superlative Form • When comparing three or more nouns, use the superlative form of an adjective or adverb. • If adjective or adverb is one syllable, add –est to form the superlative. • I am the tallest person in my family. • She is the smartest person in the class. • Use this same pattern for adjectives that end in –y, but change the –y to –i before adding –est. • She is the happiest person I’ve ever met. • That show is the funniest sitcom on TV.

8. Superlative Form cont. • If adjective or adverb is more than one syllable, add the word most to form the superlative. • He is the most selfish person in our company. • She is the most beautiful actress on television. • Follow the guideline and use –est or most, but never use both! • He is the most luckiest person I know. • That is the most funniest show I have ever seen! • She is the most happiest person I have ever met!

9. Fewer vs. Less • In the comparative form • Use less to compare non-count nouns (nouns that cannot be divided). • They play less music and more commercials on the radio than ever before. • I have less money in my bank account than my sister has in hers. • Use fewer to compare count nouns. • There are fewer students in our class than when the semester began. • I have fewer pennies in my jar than my brother has in his.

10. Irregular Adjectives & Adverbs • Four common adjectives & adverbs have irregular forms: good, well, bad, badly. • Good vs. Well • Good is an adjective, so use it to describe a noun or pronoun. • She has a goodjob. • Well is an adverb, so use it to describe a verb or an adjective. • She writeswell. • (Wellcan also be used as an adjective when it is describing someone’s health.) • I am not well today. (adjective) • She does not feelwell. (adverb)

11. Irregular Adjectives & Adverbs • Bad vs. Badly • Bad is an adjective, so use it to describe a noun or pronoun. • She has a badreputation. • Badly is an adverb, so use it to describe a verb or an adjective. • He behavedbadly in school today.

12. Irregular Adjectives & Adverbs • Comparative and Superlative forms of the irregular adjectives and adverbs are also irregular. • Good & Well have the same comparative & superlative forms: • Better (comparative) • I have a bettercar than she does. (adjective) • I feelbetter today than I did yesterday. (adverb) • Best (superlative) • He is the bestteacher at Blinn. (adjective) • I writebest when I’m not under pressure. (adverb)

13. Irregular Adjectives & Adverbs • Bad & Badly have the same comparative & superlative forms: • Worse (comparative) • She has a worsecold than I do. (adjective) • She feelsworse than I do. (adverb) • Worst (superlative) • He had the worst grade in the class. (adjective) • She feels the worst she has ever felt. (adverb)