Download Adjectives and Adverbs Study Guide Adjectives (Modify Nouns)

Adjectives and Adverbs Study Guide
Adjectives
(Modify Nouns)
Example: The computer is new. (“new” modifies what kind of computer it is)
1. Comparative Form of Adjectives—used when comparing only 2 things.
1. add –er to the ending of most comparative adjectives with one syllable
Example: I am a faster runner than you are.
2. add more to the beginning of most comparative adjectives with 2 or more syllables
Example: That performance was more incredible than the one I saw this
morning.
2. Superlative Form of Adjectives—used when comparing more than 2 things.
1. add –est to the endings of most superlative adjectives with one syllable
2. add most to the beginning of most superlative adjectives with 2 or more syllables
Example: I am the fastest runner in the class.
Example: That was the most incredible performance I’ve ever seen.
3. Proper Adjectives—adjectives that are capitalized because they point to a specific kind of thing or
person.
Example: April showers bring May flowers. (April modifies showers and May modifies flowers).
4. Pronouns as Adjectives—pronouns that modify nouns
Example: The club wants to increase its membership. (Its is the pronoun for club and it modifies
membership).
5. Demonstrative Adjectives—the pronouns this, that, these, and those when used as adjectives.
Example: These darts are nicely balanced. (These modifies darts.)
Articles (Special kind of adjective)
1. Indefinite Articles—a, an
a. use when talking about something that is not specific (not definite)
Example: Sit down at a computer to begin your work.
(In this example, you may sit down at any computer you wish because it says to sit at “a”
computer.)]
b. When to use “a” vs. “an”
1. Use “a” when the word following the article begins with a consonant sound.
Example: a dog, a historic, a trip
2. Use “an” when the word following the article begins with a vowel sound.
Example: an elephant, an apple, an hour
2. Definite Article—the
a. use when talking about something specific (definite)
Example: Sit down at the computer to begin your work.
(In this example, you must sit down at the specific computer the speaker refers to).
Adverbs (Modify Verbs, Adjectives, or other Adverbs)
Example: The bird flew swiftly over the treetops. (“swiftly” modifies how the bird flew)
1. Comparative Form of Adverbs—used when comparing only 2 things.
1. add –er to the ending of most comparative adverbs with one syllable
Example: Scott runs quicker than the Carl.
2. add more to the beginning of most comparative adverbs with 2 or more syllables
Example: The first witness spoke more honestly than the second witness.
2. Superlative Form of Adverbs—used when comparing more than 2 things.
1. add –est to the endings of most superlative adverbs with one syllable
Example: That bird flies the quickest of any I have ever seen.
2. add most to the beginning of most superlative adverbs with 2 or more syllables
Example: The fist witness spoke most honestly of any of the witnesses in the
court.
Good/Well & Bad/Badly
1. Good and Bad (adjectives) are used only when describing a noun
2. Well and Badly (adverbs) are used only describing a verb, adjective, or other adverb
Examples:
I am a good at English class. (good modifies the speaker)
I did well on my English test. (well modifies how the speaker did)
Prepositions
A preposition relates a noun or pronoun to another word and is always followed by a noun in the
sentence.
Examples of some commonly used prepositions:
About, above, across, after, at, before, below, between, by, down, during, except, for, from,
in, inside, into, like, near, of, off on, onto out, over, through, to toward, under, up, with, &
without.
Examples: The parking lot is located outside the school.
After the game, the team went to the showers.
Adjective and Adverb Study Guide (II)