GrammarModifiers:

Opening Adjectives and Adverbs

ModifiersAdjectives and Adverbs modify nouns and verbs.

These are two types of sentence modifiers you are familiar with.

Adjective Modifiers Adverb Modifiers

“The angry bear attacked me.”

“Crazy Andy chases his brother.”

“The bear ferociously attacked me.”

“Andy always chases his brother.”

ModifiersSometimes longer phrases modify sentences as well. Learning how to use these phrases in

your own writing is the key to developing a mature writing style.

A group of words

Example:

“Without a doubt, Emily, my friend since first grade, is the most important person in my life.”

Adjective PhraseA group of words that describes a noun or pronoun. An adjective phrase acts just like a single adjective.

Adjective Adjective Phrase

A word that describes a noun.

“The angry bear attacked me.”

A phrase (2+ words) that describes a noun.

“The bear is way too scary.”

Adjective Phrase

Examples: 1. The final exams were unbelievably difficult. 2. The extremely tired kitten fell asleep. 3. A dog covered in mud makes a mess in a car. 4. The overly enthusiastic fans painted their bodies. 5. My brother is older than me. 6. The candy was dark chocolate brown.

A group of words that describes a noun or pronoun. An adjective phrase acts just like a single adjective.

Practice 1Directions:

Underline all adjective phrases.

On your note sheet, complete PRACTICE 1.

1. The dancing was exquisitely graceful. 2. A tapestry beautifully stitched by hand is worth

the cost. 3. I wanted to paint it eggplant purple. 4. Superman was faster than a speeding bullet. 5. A person smarter than me needs to figure this out.

Opening AdjectiveAn adjective at the beginning of a sentence, either as the first word of the sentence or as the first word

in an adjective phrase.

You must ALWAYS put a comma after an opening adjective.

Example:

“Speechless, Bryson scanned the small living room.”

Opening Adjective(An adjective at the beginning of a sentence, either as the first word of

the sentence or as the first word in an adjective phrase.)

Examples (With Just Adjectives):

1. Asleep, I heard a shout and a noise that sounded like a cheer, and I woke

immediately. 2. Cruel, she set her gaze at the passing

trees as though Ani did not exist. 3. Powerless, we witnessed the sacking of

our launch.

Opening Adjective(An adjective at the beginning of a sentence, either as the first word of

the sentence or as the first word in an adjective phrase.)

Examples (With Adjective Phrases):

1. Numb of all feeling, empty as a shell, he clung to life and the hours droned by.

2. Afraid that we might not find anything better, we bought the house.

3. Tear-stained and weary, we must have looked like the original ragged survivors of

the Trojan War.

Practice 2Directions:

Underline all opening adjectives.

On your note sheet, complete PRACTICE 2.

1. Bloodthirsty and brutal, the giants brought themselves to the point of extinction by warring amongst themselves.

2. Comfortable, I lay on my back and waited for sleep. 3. Certain of herself, certain of her friends in the

audience, certain of her voice and her success, Carlotta flung herself into her part without restraint.

Practice 3

Directions:

Write your own sentence that includes an opening adjective.

On your note sheet, complete PRACTICE 3.

Adverb PhraseA group of words that describes a verb.

An adverb phrase acts just like a single adverb.

Adverb Adverb Phrase

A word that describes a verb (and sometimes describes adjectives and other parts of speech).

“I accidentally bit my tongue.”

A phrase (2+ words) that describes a verb.

“I bit my tongue so hard that it hurt.”

Adverb:Adverbs answer these questions:

1.Where did the action happen? 2. When did it happen? 3. How did it happen? (or, in what way did it happen?)

4. To what extent did it happen? (or, how often did it happen?)

Adverb:Where?

When?

How?

To What Extent?

She ate the muffin here.

She ate the muffin today.

She quickly ate the muffin.

She completely ate the muffin.

Adverb

Practice 4Directions:

Underline the adverb in each sentence and answer the question that follows.

On your note sheet, complete PRACTICE 4.

1. The moonlight shone wonderfully on the ocean. What question does this adverb answer about the main verb, “shone?”

2. The light twinkled underneath the surface. What question does this adverb answer about the main verb, “twinkled?”

Opening AdverbAn adverb or adverb phrase at the beginning of a

sentence, giving information about an action.

Example:

“Accidentally, I bit my tongue.”

The opening adverb answers the question of HOW. How did I bite my tongue? => accidentally.

Opening Adverb(An adverb or adverb phrase at the beginning of a sentence, giving

information about an action.)

Examples (With Just Adverbs):

1. Unfairly, we poked fun at him. 2. Then, Harry felt as though an invisible pillow

had quite suddenly been pressed over his mouth and nose.

3. Incredibly, the man was still chasing after us. 4. Outside, I found a taxi for her.

Opening Adverb(An adverb or adverb phrase at the beginning of a sentence, giving

information about an action.)

Examples (With Adverb Phrases):

1. Quietly as possible, we crept into the cave. 2. Unlike me, he listened to the monk and

bowed at the appropriate times. 3. After the game, we went to the beach. 4. In silence, my mother sat and waited for me

to respond.

Practice 5Directions:

Underline all opening adverbs.

On your note sheet, complete PRACTICE 5.

1. Suddenly, an eagle swooped over my head.

2. In the dark, headlights illuminate the road.

3. With a nationalistic and forceful tone loud enough to scare anyone, the dictator spoke into the microphone.

Practice 6Directions:

Write your own sentence that includes an opening adverb.

Remember, an adverb modifies the main VERB of your sentence

(not a noun).

On your note sheet, complete PRACTICE 6.

WorksheetComplete the worksheet:

“Opening Adjectives & Adverbs”!

Good Luck!