Adjectives and Adverbs

Chapter 29

Part A Defining and Using Adjectives and Adverbs

Adjectives and adverbs are two kinds of descriptive words.

Adjectives describe or modify nouns or pronouns.

Adjectives explain what kind, which one, or how many.

Colors and numbers are adjectives.

Adjectives

Which words are adjectives?

The Spanish city of Madrid has exciting nightlife.

→Spanish exciting

Adverbs

Adverbs describe or modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.

Adverbs tell how, why, when, where, and to what extent.

Many adverbs end in -LY

Adverbs

Which words are adverbs?

The really large Doberman barked angrily all night.

→really angrily all night

Telling Adjectives and Adverbs Apart

Many adverbs are formed when the ending -LY is added to an adjective: Adjective Adverb bad badly

slow slowlynice nicelyquick quicklyquiet quietlyreal really

Telling Adjectives and Adverbs Apart

Some adjectives – for example, lovely, friendly, and lively -- end in –LY. Be careful not to use these words as adverbs.

Remember:

Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns.

Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.

The Trouble Maker One adjective/adverb pair is particularly troublesome: Adjective Adverb

good well

He is a good dancer. (Good describes the noun dancer.)

He dances well. (Well describes the verb dances-how does he dance? He dances well.)

Comparative and Superlative

The comparative of an adjective or adverb compares two people or objects.

The superlative of an adjective or adverb compares three or more people or objects, or one to a group.

Forming comparative and superlative

Add –ER to make an adjective or adverb comparative:

Ben is taller than Julie. (MORE tall)

Add –EST to make an adjective or adverb superlative.

Ben is the tallest in the class. (MOST tall)

Forming comparative and superlative Adjectives and adverbs of more than one syllable usually form

the comparative by using MORE: Donna is more beautiful than Tami. (Beautifuler or more beautifuler is incorrect.)

Adjectives and adverbs of more than one syllable usually form the superlative by using MOST:

Donna is the most beautiful girl on stage. (The same rule applies here. Do not put most and –est words

together. Most beautifulest or beautifulest girl is incorrect grammar.)

Forming comparative and superlative

Note, however, that adjectives that end in –Y, such as lazy, happy, and sunny change the Y to I and add –ER or –EST:

Dane is lazier than Lane.

Gabriel is the laziest of all.

The Trouble MakersAdjective Comparative Superlativegood better best

bad worse worst

Adverb Comparative Superlativewell better best

badly worse worst

Pay attention when using the above words. Good is used as anadjective and well is used as an adverb. Their comparative and superlative forms do not look anything like their original form.

Review Chapter 29 for more on Adjectives and Adverbs.