UsingAdjectivesandAdverbsCorrectly

1、 FILENAME Adjectives_and_Adverbs.doc PAGE 4 of NUMPAGES 4Using Adjectives and Adverbs CorrectlyWhat are adjectives?Adjectives modify nouns or pronounsThese words are all adjectivesA hot dayA happy camperA silly twit A big, bloody mess (both “big” and “bloody” modify “mess”)She is creative (“creative

2、” is a subject complement that follows the linking verb “is”)A boring course (present participle used as an adjectiveSo what are adverbs?Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbsMany adverbs end with lyMany adverbs answer the question “How?”These are adverbsEating quickly (modifying a verb)

3、Trying very hard (modifying an adverb)A really big show (modifying an adjective)Recognizing Adjectives & AdverbsMany words have both an adjective and adverb formAdjectiveAdverbHappy kidsPlaying happilySmooth rockRunning smoothlyGood nightEating WellEfficient workersWorking efficientlyCasual dressDre

4、ssing casuallyQuick meetingTalking quicklyHopeful childrenWaiting hopefullyReal butterReally hotComparatives and SuperlativesMost adverbs and adjectives also have a comparative and superlative formSimpleComparativeSuperlativeHotHotterHottestGoodBetterBestExcitingMore excitingMost excitingCarefulLess

5、 carefulLeast carefulUse the comparative form to compare two thingsSally is the larger of the twins (not largest) Use the superlative form to compare three or moreAugust was the hottest month of the yearDouble ComparativesDont use “more” or “most” with er or estYesterday was more hotter than todayTh

6、at was the most dirtiest story I ever heardYou are the bestest teacherAbsolute ConceptsDont use comparatives or superlatives with absolute conceptsAbsolutes have only two possibilities, on or off, yes or no, with nothing in betweenThe most perfect student in the classA very unique idea (say “very un

7、usual” instead)These words express absolute concepts that cannot be modifiedMore pricelessSort of deadQuite uniqueQuite onA little bit pregnantCompletely anonymousVery unanimous Extremely perfectMost favouriteDont use adjectives when adverbs are neededYou did a real nice job(an adjective cant modify

8、 another adjective)You did a really nice job(the adverb “really” modifies “nice”)He did goodHe did wellFuel injection helps the car run efficientFuel injection helps the car run efficientlyCome quick!Come quickly!Hopefully, it wont rain(an adverb explains how something will happen)I hope that it won

9、t rain Dont use needless adverbsBefore using any of these words, check to see if they add anything to the sentenceReally, very, absolutely, extremely, quite, actually, somewhat, ratherI am really happy to see youGrammar is very boringYou are absolutely correctHer language was extremely crudeYou are

10、quite intelligentContext will help you decide whether to retain the underlined wordsKeep them only if they add to the meaningBill Gates is very rich. I hope he gives me some money.Most college instructors are poor; their students are very poor.Note: the terms “good success” and “real good success” h

11、ave been reserved for sports broadcasters; do not use themCompound AdjectivesTwo or more adjectives often appear together separated with commasLances tiny, tight swimsuit showed off his hairy bellyThe words “tiny” and “tight” each work separately to modify “swimsuit”Connect the words with a hyphen w

12、hen they function together before a nounLances gold-plated piercings stood out against his bright-red sunburn“Gold-plated” and “bright-red” are compound adjectivesCompound AdjectivesDo not hyphenate the words when they come after the noun they modifyNotice the difference in these examplesNo HyphenHy

13、phenatedLance was well known along the boardwalk Lance was a well-known jerk His SUV was fully equippedHe drove a fully-equipped SUV Lance worked full time on his tanLance was a full-time chick magnetMisplaced ModifiersPut adjectives and adverbs close to the words they modifyNotice how the meaning is affected by the improper placementAn old pile of clothes is on the floorA pile of old clothes is on the f