GRAMMARMini Lessons

Correct order of adjectives Comparative Adjectives Superlative Adjectives

DAY 1: CORRECT ORDER OF ADJECTIVES

*Sometimes you can use more than one adjective in the same sentence to describe just one noun. For example, “The lion ate three, juicy steaks.” The words three and juicy describe the steaks. (Three tells HOW MANY? and juicy tells WHAT KIND?)

Try it-- Turn and describe your partner’s shirt using two adjectives in the same sentence.

*Discuss – is it correct to say, “I love your green, soft sweater?” How does that sound? Is there a better way to say this sentence?

STRATEGY!

How will I know if adjectives are in the correct order in a sentence when I read or write?

Be a good listener. Your

ears will lead the way. If adjectives are out of place, the sentence will sound awkward to the trained ear.

Billy’s hamster did long, four laps on his hamster wheel. (BOOOOOO! That’s awkward!)

 Sometimes, adjectives do not come before the noun they are describing. Sometimes adjectives come after a linking verb.

FOR EXAMPLE—I would not say, “I have an ill teacher.”

INSTEAD—I would say, “My teacher is ill.” *the linking verb is comes before the

adjective ill*

ALSO, KEEP IN MIND…

TRY IT OUT!

For each set of sentences shown, hold up a #1 or #2 to show your teacher which sentence shows correct order of adjectives.

Ex.

1--The sneaky, black cat crept through the alley.or2--The black, sneaky cat crept through the alley?

HERE WE GO!

1– Mrs. McHugh likes Chinese, yummy food.

2—Mrs. McHugh likes yummy, Chinese food.

KEEP GOING!

1– Miss Z. cannot wait to swim in the peaceful, blue waters of Sanibel Island.

2—Miss Z. cannot wait to swim in the blue, peaceful waters of Sanibel Island.

ONE MORE TIME!

1--Mr. Welsh and Mr. Massucci kicked the red, giant ball while they were playing kickball with their students.

2– Mr. Welsh and Mr. Massucci kicked the giant, red ball while they were playing kickball with their students.

DAY 2: COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES

Dad tells me interesting things.

Mom’s stories are a little interestinger.

SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE. Let’s find a way to make this better!

COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVESCOMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES ARE USED TO COMPARE

2 PEOPLE, PLACES, ANIMALS, OR THINGS. Examples: Roger is younger than Teresa.

Grandma’s cookies are better than Aunt Amy’s.

Gianna’s giraffe is taller than Ted’s giraffe.

The fiction story is more interesting than the non-fiction story.

SPECIAL RULES:

**If an adjective has 1 or 2 syllables, you add er to the end to make it comparative.

tall taller**If an adjective has 1 or 2 syllables and has a c-v-c pattern, you double the final consonant, then add –er.

thin thinner**If an adjective has 1 or 2 syllables and ends in –e, you drop the –e and add –er. nice nicer **If an adjective has 1 or 2 syllables and ends in a –y, drop the y, change it to an -i and add –er.

friendly + i+ er friendlier

TRY SOME!

Take out your dry erase boards. Form the comparative form of each adjective:

sillythincoldweteasybright

ADJECTIVES WITH MORE THAN 2 SYLLABLES

Which sounds better?

*The blue bird is beautifuler than the red bird. *The blue bird is more beautiful than the blue bird.

DISCUSS. Come up with a rule to follow whenever an adjective has more than 2 syllables and you want to make it comparative.

*Adjectives with more than 2 syllables have the word more (or less) added in front to make the comparative form.

TRY IT!! HOLD UP 1 FINGER TO CHOOSE CHOICE A, 2 FINGERS TO CHOOSE CHOICE B.

Mrs. Butera saw a _________________________dress at Macy’s than the one she saw at Target.

A—more fashionableB—fashionabler

Mrs. Athanas was ___________________________ than Mrs. Ewonce about the science video. A– excitederB—less excited

LAST BUT NOT LEAST!

Some comparative adjectives are IRREGULAR.

not regular

So, they will NOT follow the rules you just learned.

EXAMPLES*good better*bad worse*far farther

MORE!!

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/grammar/partsofspeech/adjectives/comparatives.shtml

http://pbskids.org/lions/games/trampolini.html

http://www.eslgamesplus.com/comparatives-superlatives-wild-zoo-animals-vocabulary-grammar-interactive-monkey-fun-activity

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