2. 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.
3. What is the job of
adjectives?
•Modify (change)
nouns/pronouns
•Adjectives can precede a
noun (purple boots) or
follow a linking verb (Her
boots arepurple).
•Adjectives tell readers
which, what kind, how
many/how much
4. Adjectives tell readers
• which
•what kind
•how many/how much
Last summer I climbed that mountain (which).
I prefer red apples (what kind).
I want six oranges (how many).
It was a cold, gray, and ominous day (what
kind).
The dawn was bright, clear, and inviting (what
kind) .
5. 1. Juan painted the beautiful
picture.
2. Misty tried a different approach to
math.
3. The quiet picture of rural life is
accurate.
4. She keeps a tidy desk.
5. He tried three times to solvethe
difficultproblem.
6. Adverbs
What is the job of the
adverbs?
•Adverbs modify
(change)
verbs, adjectives, or
other adverbs
• Adverbs tell the
readers
how, when, where, a
nd why
•Adverbs can be an
intensifier (She is
very beautiful).
7. Adverb
Adverbs tell the readers how, when, where,
and to what extent. Adverbs often end in –
ly.
1. Hequicklyjumped the puddle (howdid
he jump).
2. Yesterdaymy friends ate lunch with me
(whendid they eat with me).
3. Our summerhouse is nearby (whereis the
summerhouse).
4. Shevery quickly took control (to what
extentdid she take control of the game)
of the game.
8. Your Turn
1. She ran around the track
comfortably (how).
2. They always arrive a half hour
late (when).
3. Paul goes to the movie
frequently (how often).
4. He has never lost a game
(when).
5. Sometimes I just sit and
daydream instead of write (to
what extent).
9. Use the comparative form to compare two
people, places, things, or ideas; use the
superlative to compare more than two.
Comparative Superlative
Short Shorter shortest
Pretty prettiest
Simpler simplest
fast
10. With longer adjectives and
with adverbs ending in –
ly, use more (for the
comparative) and most (for
the superlative).
Comparative Superlative
Intelligent More intelligent Most intelligent
Carefully Most carefully
Less dangerously
Really??
11. 1. Pedro (carefully, more carefully, most
carefully) sat down in the classroom.
2. Matilda applied for a scholarship, and it
became apparent that she was the
(intelligent, more intelligent, most
intelligent) of all the applicants
3. Hugo thought of himself as the
(qualified, more qualified, most qualified)
candidate for the job.
4. When then results were in, Nathan ran
(fast, faster, fastest) than Ben, receiving first-
place medal.
5. Susan’s new kitchen table was
(pretty, prettier, prettiest) than Madge’s or
Matilda’s table.
13. Your Turn
1. This is a nice cat; in fact it is
________ than my friend’s cat.
2. Emilio is six. Her bother, Herman is
nine, so is _____ than Emilio.
3. You have a very interesting hobby,
but my sister Marie, has __________
in the world.
4. Skateboarding is dangerous hobby.
Bungee jumping is _______ than
skateboarding.
5. We live in a small house, but my
grandparents live in even a _______
house than ours.
6. Yesterday, Juan told me a funny joke.
It was the _____ joke I’ve ever heard.
14. Helga and Herman look
content.
Anadjective always follows a
sense verb (linking verb)
Herman’s old car still sounds
happy.
Linking verbs (sense verbs):
seems, sounds, appears, feels, tastes
, looks, smells, looks
15. Good and well are as
tricky as a cat running a
football through a
football field!
16. Avoid common errors when using familiar
words.
Good or Well
Good is ALWAYS an adjective: You do not do
good, but you do well. Do is a verb and
well is an adverb.
You smell good. Smell is a sense verb
and good is an adjective, which modifies you.
Bad or Badly
Bad is an adjective: Never write, I feel badly. Feel
is a sense verb so the adjective follows the verb.
17. 1. George has a fever and doesn’t look
(good, well).
2. When I got up this morning, Helga felt
(bad, badly) and had to stay home.
3. The mechanic’s tools were (well, good).
The foreman said his work was
(well, good) done.
4. She worked (careful, carefully) with the
sick child. She was a very
(careful, carefully) worker.
5. Andrea knows the material very
(good, well). She always treats us
(good, well).
6. He measured the floor (exact, exactly).
They proved to be (perfectly, perfect)
(exact, exactly) measurements).
