Using Adjectives and Adverbs Correctly

Using Adjectives and Adverbs Correctly

What are adjectives? • Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns • These words are all adjectives • A hot day • A happy camper • A silly twit • A big, bloody mess (both “big” and “bloody” modify “mess”) • She is creative (“creative” is a subject complement that follows the linking verb “is”) • A boring course (present participle used as an adjective

So what are adverbs? • Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs • Many adverbs end with ly • Many adverbs answer the question “How?” or “To what extent?” • These are adverbs • Eating quickly (modifying a verb) • Trying very hard (modifying an adverb) • A really big show (modifying an adjective)

Comparatives and Superlatives • Most adverbs and adjectives also have a comparative and superlative form • Use the comparative form to compare two things • Sally is the larger of the twins (not largest) • Use the superlative form to compare three or more • August was the hottest month of the year

Double Comparatives • Don’t use “more” or “most” with –er or –est • Yesterday was more hotter than today • That was the most dirtiest story I ever heard • You are the bestest teacher

Recognizing Adjectives & Adverbs • Many words have both an adjective and adverb form

Don’t use adjectives when adverbs are needed • You did a real nice job • (an adjective can’t modify another adjective) • You did a really nice job • (the adverb “really” modifies “nice”) • He did good • He did well or • He did a good job • Fuel injection helps the car run efficient • Fuel injection helps the car run efficiently • Come quick! • Come quickly! • Hopefully, it won’t rain • (an adverb explains how something will happen • Ihope that it won’t rain

Compound Adjectives • Two or more adjectives often appear together separated with commas • Brad’s tiny, tight swimsuit showed off his hairy belly • The words “tiny” and “tight” each work separately to modify “swimsuit” • Connect the words with a hyphen when they function together before a noun • Brad’s gold-plated piercings stood out against his bright-red sunburn • “Gold-plated” and “bright-red” are compound adjectives

Brad was well known along the boardwalk (no hyphen) His SUV was fully equipped Brad worked full time on his tan Brad was a well-known jerk (hyphenated) He drove a fully-equipped SUV Brad was a full-time chick magnet Compound Adjectives • Do not hyphenate the words when they come after the noun they modify • Notice the difference in these examples

Using Adjectives and Adverbs Correctly