Download Grammar Unit 3 Adjectives and Adverbs PowerPoint File

Adjectives and Adverbs
• An adjective is a word that modifies, or
describes, a noun or a pronoun.
Extraordinary weather can cause strange events.
ADJECTIVE
ADJECTIVE
Adjectives help you see, feel, taste, hear, and
smell all the experiences you read about.
Notice how adjectives make the second
sentence in this pair more descriptive.
During a storm, a boat capsized in the waves.
During a violent storm, a large boat capsized in the
enormous waves.
Adjectives answer the questions what kind,
which one, how many, and how much.
Adjectives
What kind?
a sudden
blizzard
a brisk wind
a destructive
flood
Which one or
ones?
the first warning
the Mexican
earthquake
the last weather
report
How many or
how much?
several
tornadoes
a few drifts
more ice
Predicate Adjectives
• A predicate adjective is an adjective that
follows a linking verb and describes the verb’s
subject. The linking verb connects the
predicate adjective with the subject.
Some people are extraordinary.
\
SUBJECT
\
\
LINKING VERB
\
\
PREDICATE ADJECTIVE
/
\
They are very energetic or calm.
Predicate adjectives can follow linking verbs
other than forms of be. Forms of taste, smell,
feel, look, become, and seem are often used as
linking verbs.
You usually feel lucky to know such a person.
\
SUBJECT
\
LINKING VERB
\
PREDICATE ADJECTIVE
Other Words Used as Adjectives
In addition to their usual uses, many
pronouns and nouns can be used as
adjectives. They can modify nouns to make
their meanings more specific.
Pronouns as Adjectives
Demonstrative Pronouns
This, that, these, and those are
demonstrative pronouns that can be used as
adjectives.
This fingerprint is a loop.
That fingerprint is a whorl.
Possessive Pronouns
My, our, your, her, his, its, and there are
possessive pronouns that are used as
adjectives.
My thumbprint is a double loop, but your
thumbprint is a tented arch.
Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns such as all, each, both,
few, most, and some can be used as
adjectives.
All fingerprints fit one of seven patterns.
But each fingerprint is unique.
What is an Adverb?
An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an
adjective, or another adverb.
Teenagers often make a unique impressions.
ADVERB /
\ VERB
They wear very creative clothing.
ADVERB /
\ ADJECTIVE
They nearly always have their own way of talking.
\ ADVERBS /
Adverbs answer the questions how, when,
where, or to what extent.
Adverbs
How?
When?
Where?
To what extent?
successfully
soon
inside
nearly
quietly
later
close
completely
terribly
now
together
quite
Adverbs can appear in several different
positions.
Shari completed the exam quickly. (after verb)
Shari quickly completed the exam. (before verb)
Quickly, Shari completed the exam.(beginning of sentence)
Intensifiers are adverbs that modify adjectives
or other adverbs. They are usually placed
directly before the word they modify.
Intensifiers usually answer the question to what
extent.
How does Shari work so quickly?
Intensifiers
almost
especially
extremely quite
nearly
really
so
too
usually
very
Forming Adverbs
Many adverbs are formed by adding the suffix –ly
to adjectives. Sometimes a base word’s spelling
changes when –ly is added.
ADJECTIVE
RULE
ADVERB
strong
Add –ly
strongly
true
Drop –e, add -ly
truly
happy
Change –ly to –I, add -ly happily
Making Comparisons
Special forms of modifiers are used to make
comparisons.
• Use the comparative form of an adjective or
adverb when you compare a person or thing
with one other person or thing.
Earth is larger than Venus.
Earth orbits the sun more slowly than Venus.
• Use the superlative form of an adjective or
adverb when you compare someone or
something with more than one other person
or thing.
Which of the four inner planets is the hottest?
Which of the five outer planets rotates most quickly?
Regular Forms of Comparisons
For most one-syllable modifiers, add –er to form
the comparative and –est to form the
superlative.
One-Syllable Modifiers
Base Form
Adjective
light
slow
Adverb
close
soon
Comparative
lighter
slower
closer
sooner
Superlative
lightest
slowest
closest
soonest
You can also add –er and –est to some twosyllable adjectives, and with all two-syllable
adverbs, use the words more and most.
Two-Syllable Modifiers
Adjectives
Adverbs
Bases Form
Comparative
Superlative
windy
massive
brightly
quickly
windier
more massive
more brightly
more quickly
windiest
most massive
most brightly
most quickly
With adjectives and adverbs having three or
more syllables, use more and most.
Three-Syllable Modifiers
Base Form
Adjectives successful
mysterious
Adverbs
awkwardly
eloquently
Comparative
more successful
more mysterious
more awkwardly
more eloquently
Superlative
most successful
most mysterious
most awkwardly
most eloquently
*** Use only one sign of comparison at a time.
Don’t use more and –er or most and –est
together.
INCORRECT: Earth is the most greenest planet.
CORRECT: Earth is the greenest planet.
Irregular Forms of Comparisons
The comparatives and superlatives of some
adjectives and adverbs are formed in irregular
ways.
Adjectives
Adverbs
Base Form
good
bad
much
little
well
Comparative
better
worse
more
less
better
Superlative
best
worst
most
least
best
Adjective or Adverb?
Some pairs of adjectives and adverbs are
often a source of confusion and mistakes in
speaking and writing.
Good or Well
Good is always an adjective; it modifies a noun or pronoun.
Well is usually an adverb, modifying a verb, an adverb, or
an adjective. Well is an adjective when it refers to
health.
Poetry is a good way to express your individuality.
/
ADJECTIVE
\
NOUN
Good poems can communicate ideas well.
/
VERB
\
ADVERB
You can write poems even when you don’t feel well.
/
PRONOUN
\
ADJECTIVE
Real or Really
Real is always an adjective; it modifies a noun or
pronoun. Really is always an adverb; it
modifies a verb, an adverb, or an adjective.
Reciting poetry is a real talent.
/
ADJECTIVE
\
NOUN
If you really work at it, you can become good at it.
/
ADVERB
\
VERB
Bad or Badly
Bad is always an adjective; it modifies a noun or
pronoun. Badly is always an adverb; it
modifies a verb, an adverb, or an adjective.
That wasn’t a bad poem, but you read it badly.
/
ADJECTIVE
\
NOUN
/
VERB
Oh, I feel bad about that.
/
PRONOUN
\
ADJECTIVE
\
ADVERB
AVOIDING DOUBLE NEGATIVES
A negative word is a word that implies that
something does not exist or happen. Some
common negative words are listed below.
Common Negative Words
barely
never
none
nothing
can’t
hardly
no
no one
nowhere
don’t
neither
nobody
not
scarcely
hasn’t
If two negative words are used where only one
is needed, the result is a double negative. Avoid
double negatives in your speaking or writing.
NONSTANDARD:
You don’t have no business climbing Mt. Rushmore.
STANDARD:
You don’t have any business climbing Mt. Rushmore.
You have no business climbing Mt. Rushmore.