Transcript Adjectives and Adverbs

Adjectives and Adverbs
By
Alfred Taylor
Adjectives and Adverbs
Using adjectives and adverbs correctly isn’t rocket
science. However, misuse has become so common,
that most college students don’t know the difference
between the adjective “sure” and the adverb “surely”
or the adjective “real” and the adverb “really.”
Misuse has become so common, it is possible that in
the future adverbs may disappear from
the language.
Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjective- a word that limits or describes a noun,
pronoun, or noun phrase. It usually answers the
question which? what kind? how many?
Adverb- a word that describes a verb, adjective, or other
adverb. It usually answers the question how? when?
where? or how much?
Linking Verb- a verb that shows no physical action. All
“be” verbs are linking verbs: am, is, are, was, were,
be, being, and been.
Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjectives modify nouns: giant fish
pronouns: big one
after linking verb: The fish is big.
Adverbs modify verbs: nearly eaten
adverbs: very nearly eaten
adjectives: very sharp teeth
phrases: nearly being eaten
clauses: just able to escape
Sentences: Fortunately, I ran away.
Adjectives and Adverbs
Linking verbs are verbs that show no action. Since
all “be” verbs are linking verbs, the way to test if a
verb may be a linking verb is to substitute a known
linking verb for the word in question. If the sentence
makes sense, then the word is a linking verb.
She looked unhappy.
She was unhappy.
Linking Verb
She looked at the cloud.
She was at the cloud
Action Verb.
Adjectives and Adverbs
Use an adjective not an adverb after a linking verb.
The linking verb only serves to connect the subject
to the adjective modifying it.
She looked unhappy.
“looked” is a linking verb because it shows no action, so the
adjective “unhappy” is employed to describe the noun “she.”
She looked quickly at the cloud.
“looked” in this case is an action verb, so the adverb “quickly”
is employed to modify the verb “looked.”
Adjectives and Adverbs
Use an adverb not an adjective to modify verbs or
other adverbs.
Students who don’t outline will surely regret it.
Students who outline do well on the exit final.
His essay was really badly written.
Adjectives and Adverbs
In common speech, adjectives such as good, bad,
sure, real, slow, and quick are often used as adverbs.
Avoid abusing adjectives and use an adverb instead.
Incorrect Form
Correct Form
He wrote real slow.
He wrote really slowly.
He did good.
He did well.
Think progressive.
Think progressively.
He sure works hard.
He surely works hard.
Adjectives and Adverbs
After a direct object, use an adjective to modify the
object and an adverb to modify the verb.
Drinking Coke made Spock insane.
Spock drank the Coke insanely.
Adjectives and Adverbs
To test if a modifier should be an adjective or an
adverb, separate it from the direct object.
Spock drank Coke insanely.
Spock insanely drank Coke.
If the modifier can be separated, then it is an adverb.
If it can’t be separated, it’s an adjective.
Adjectives and Adverbs
If the modifier can not be separated from the direct
object, then it is an adjective.
Drinking Coke made Spock insane.
Drinking Coke insane made Spock.
Since the modifier can’t logically be moved, it must
be an adjective.
Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjectives and adverbs have three forms: the
positive, the comparative, and the superlative.
These forms indicate the degree of the adjective.
Big Drink
(positive)
Bigger Drink
(comparative)
Biggest Drink
(superlative)
Adjectives and Adverbs
Use the positive degree when there are no
comparisons. Example: My wife is cute.
Use the comparative degree when comparing two
qualities. Example: My wife is cuter than your wife.
Use the superlative degree when comparing more
than two qualities. Example: My wife is the cutest
woman on the planet.
Adjectives and Adverbs
When forming a comparative or a superlative
use either er/est or more/most but not both.
Wrong: My wife is more cuter.
Correct: My wife is more cute.
Wrong: My wife is the most cutest.
Correct: My wife is the cutest.
Adjectives and Adverbs
Some adjectives and adverbs are irregular. Like
irregular verbs, they must be memorized.
Positive
Comparative
good
better
bad
worse
little
less
many, some, much more
well
better
badly
worse
Superlative
best
worst
least
most
best
worst
Adjectives and Adverbs
Because of their meaning, some adjectives and
adverbs can only exist in the positive degree. These
words are already superlative in their meaning. If
they are modified, they become illogical. For
example, unique means one of a kind. It is
impossible to be more unique, very unique, or
mostly unique.
Adjectives and Adverbs
Words such as perfect, unique, excellent, impossible,
parallel, empty, and dead may not have comparative
or superlative forms. However, they may be
modified to suggest a state nearing the absolute
condition implied by the modifier.
The mission was nearly impossible.
Adjectives and Adverbs
Do not use more than one negative modifier in a
sentence. Using two negatives creates a positive.
No students are allowed to not sleep in class.
Adjectives and Adverbs
You are now prepared to use adjectives and adverbs
wisely.
The End