Using Adjectives and Adverbs Correctly

What are adjectives?• Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns• Answers Which? What kind? or How

Many?• These words are all adjectives

A hot day A happy camper A 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

Find the Adjectives!• Circle all adjectives and underline the

words they modify

1. A distant coyote howled at the pale moon.

2. Crowded and dusty, the bookstore has an excellent

selection.

3. The cars looked clean and shiny.

4. The sky, blue and cloudless, held no hope of rain.

So what are adverbs?• Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and

other adverbs• Many adverbs end with ly• Many adverbs answer the question

How?, When?, Where?, How Often?, or To What Extent?

• These are adverbs

Eating quickly (modifying a verb)Trying very hard (modifying an adverb)A really big show (modifying an

adjective)

Find the Adverbs!• Circle all adverbs and underline the

words they modify

1. The dog walked quickly.

2. The play was immediately successful.

3. The subway takes you anywhere.

4. Francine seldom loses at chess.

5. Aunt Jessica seemed entirely sincere in inviting us to stay.

How did it walk?

When was it successful?

Where does it take you?

How often does she lose?

To what extent was she sincere?

Recognizing Adjectives & Adverbs

• Many words have both an adjective and adverb form

Adjective AdverbHappy kids Playing happilySmooth rock Running smoothlyGood night Eating WellEfficient workers Working efficientlyCasual dress Dressing casuallyQuick meeting Talking quicklyhopeful children Waiting hopefullyReal butter Really hot

Comparatives and Superlatives

• Most adverbs and adjectives also have a comparative and superlative form

Positive Comparative

Superlative

Hot Hotter HottestGood Better BestExciting More exciting Most excitingCareful Less careful Least careful• Use the comparative form to compare two

thingsSally is the larger of the twins (not largest)

• Use the superlative form to compare three or more

August was the hottest month of the year

Hints to Make Your Life Easier:

• One and Two-Syllable Modifiers:Add –er to form the comparativeAdd –est to form the superlative

• Modifiers of Three or More SyllablesAdd more (or less) to form the

comparativeAdd most (or least) to form the

superlative

late, later, latestnarrow, narrower, narrowest

critical, more critical, most criticalclear, less clear, least clear

Try It Here1. Nails are the __________ used fasteners for wood.

(widely – superlative)

2. The ______ nails were made more than five thousand

years ago in Mesopotamia (early – superlative)

3. Nails are measured in _____units known as pennies.

(small – positive)

4. A resin coating makes a nail hold __________.

(tightly – comparative)

most widely

earliest

small

more tightly

Double Comparatives• Don’t use “more” or “most” with –er or –

estX Yesterday was more hotter than todayX That was the most dirtiest story I ever

heardX That is the biggest bear I have ever seen

Absolute Concepts• Don’t use comparatives or superlatives with

absolute concepts• Absolutes have only two possibilities, on or off,

yes or no, with nothing in betweenXThe most perfect student in the classXA very unique idea (say “very unusual”

instead)• These words express absolute concepts that

cannot be modified

More priceless Sort of deadQuite on A little bit pregnantVery unanimous Extremely perfectQuite unique Completely anonymous

Don’t use adjectives when adverbs are neededXYou did a real nice job

– (an adjective can’t modify another adjective)You did a really nice job

– (the adverb “really” modifies “nice”)XHe did good

He did well orHe did a good job

XFuel injection helps the car run efficient

Fuel injection helps the car run efficientlyXCome quick!

Come quickly!XHopefully, it won’t rain

– (an adverb explains how something will happenI hope that it won’t rain

Don’t use needless adverbs• Before using any of these words, check to see if

they add anything to the sentence• Really, very, absolutely, extremely, quite, actually,

somewhat, rather• I am really happy to see you• Grammar is very boring• You are absolutely correct• Her language was extremely crude• You are quite intelligent

• Context will help you decide whether to retain the underlined words

• Keep them only if they add to the meaningXBill 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 Adjectives• Two or more adjectives often appear

together separated with commasBrad’s tiny, tight swimsuit showed off his hairy

belly• The words “tiny” and “tight” each work

separately to modify “swimsuit”• Connect the words with a hyphen when

they function together before a nounBrad’s gold-plated piercings stood out against

his bright-red sunburn• “Gold-plated” and “bright-red” are

compound adjectives

Compound Adjectives

Brad was well known along the boardwalk (no hyphen)

His SUV was fully equipped

Brad worked full time on his tan

Brad 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 modify

• Notice the difference in these examples

Misplaced Modifiers• Put adjectives and adverbs close to the

words they modify• Notice how the meaning is affected by

the improper placementXAn old pile of clothes is on the floor

A pile of old clothes is on the floorXI almost believe you are finished

I believe you are almost finishedXThe winners will only be contacted

Only the winners will be contactedXI can’t quite do this as well as Fred

I can’t do this quite as well as Fred