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Today’s Notes: Jan. 12, 2010. III. Comparatives and Superlatives A. Positive Adjective: Does not compare. B. Comparative Adjective: Compares 2 things 1. Add –er to most words 2. Add “More,” “Less” to some words C. Superlative Adjective: Compares 3+ things
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Today’s Notes: Jan. 12, 2010 III. Comparatives and Superlatives A. Positive Adjective: Does not compare. B. Comparative Adjective: Compares 2 things 1. Add –er to most words 2. Add “More,” “Less” to some words C. Superlative Adjective: Compares 3+ things 1. Add –est to most words 2. Add “Most,” “least” to some words D. Avoid Double Comparisons (most greatest) IV. Demonstrative Adjectives A. When this, that, these, those is used as an adjective B. ALWAYS before a noun.
Comparatives, Superlatives, and Demonstrative Adjectives 8th Grade English Adjectives and Adverbs Unit
So… • What have we learned about adjectives so far?
Review… • An adjective is a word that modifies, or describes, a noun or a pronoun. • An adjective describes a person, place, thing, or idea. • It gives more info about the noun or pronoun. • A predicate adjective follows a linking verb and modifies the subject of the sentence. • A and an are called indefinite articles because they refer to one of a general group of people, places, things, or ideas. • The is called a definite article because it identifies specific people, places, things, or ideas.
Today • Today. We are going to look at three different kinds of adjectives and what they do. • Comparatives • Superlatives • Demonstratives • Sounds like fun, right?
Most adjectives… • Most adjectives that you run into are called positive adjectives. • In general, they are nice little creatures. • They don’t compare things. They just are who they are. • Big, thin, smart, capable, willing, etc…
However… • There are some adjectives that are kind of rude. These adjectives are called comparatives and superlatives.
Comparatives • A comparative adjective is when you compare two things. • (Think couple = two…comparative = two) • For most short adjectives, you are going to add an –er to the word. • For longer adjectives, add either more/less. • Positive big becomes comparative bigger
Comparative Examples: • Mary is thin; Lisa is thinner. • Camilla is smart; Lavonda is smarter. • I am capable; you are more capable. • Kristopher is willing, Eric is less willing.
Superlatives are even worse! • A Superlative form of an adjective compares more than two things or people! • (Think Super = best, most!) • For most short adjectives, you are going to add an –est to the adjective. • If it is longer than two syllables, chances are you will need to use most/least and not change the adjective. • Positive big becomes bigger (c.) and biggest (superlative)
Superlative Examples: • Mary is thin. Lisa is thinner. Katie is thinnest. • Camilla is smart. Lavonda is smarter. Meg is smartest. • I am capable. You are more capable. Maria is the most capable. • Kristopher is willing. Eric is less willing. Rick is the least willing.
Exercise A: Tell me which form of the word in parentheses I need to use. • Michelangelo was one of the (great) artists of all time. • He was also the (famous) artist of his own time. • Are his statues (good) than his paintings? • Which is the (fine) statue, David or the Pieta`? • Michelangelo’s figures were (large) than life. • Few paintings are (beautiful) than the one on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Remember… • The comparative form of an adjective compares two things or people. • The superlative form of an adjective compares more than two things or people.
Demonstrative Adjectives • Demonstrative adjectives are like demonstrative pronouns. • Ah…remember demonstrative pronouns…there were four of them… • What were they?
Demonstratives • This, That, These, Those… • Four little words with a LOT of rude behavior! • Why? Because they point out things (And didn’t your Mama tell you not to point?)
The definition • Demonstrative adjectives point out something and describe nouns by answering the questions which one or which ones. • But wait, isn’t that what demonstrative pronouns do?
Not Quite… • Demonstrative pronouns are always followed by a verb. They take the place of a noun. • Demonstrative adjectives actually hang out with the noun; they come before it. They emphasize which ones you are talking about.
Some rules… • The words here and there should not be used with a demonstrative adjective • Not: This here painting. • The object pronoun them should not be used in place of the demonstrative pronoun those. • Not: I saw them pictures.
Exercise B: Tell me what demonstratives are used in the following sentences. • You can tell that this artist admired Cezanne’s work. • All of these pictures show, in some way, Cezanne’s influence. • This doesn’t mean that the artist copied Cezanne’s work. • Can you see how he uses these colors the same way? • Doesn’t it remind you of those paintings of Cezanne’s we just saw?
Remember… • Demonstrative adjectives point out something and describe nouns by answering the questions which one or which ones.
So, let’s recap everything so far in the unit… • An adjective is a word that modifies, or describes, a noun or a pronoun. • An adjective describes a person, place, thing, or idea. • It gives more info about the noun or pronoun. • A predicate adjective follows a linking verb and modifies the subject of the sentence. • A and an are called indefinite articles because they refer to one of a general group of people, places, things, or ideas. • The is called a definite article because it identifies specific people, places, things, or ideas.
And now… • The comparative form of an adjective compares two things or people. • The superlative form of an adjective compares more than two things or people. • Demonstrative adjectives point out something and describe nouns by answering the questions which one or which ones.
