Download The Simple Sentence: Adjectives and Adverbs

Mr. Doyon
English III
The Simple Sentence: Adjectives and Adverbs
The Adjective:
•
A word that describes or limits – that is, gives qualities to – a noun. Adjectives are found
in three different positions in a sentence:
o Preceding a noun that is in any of the noun positions in a sentence
The small child left. He is a small child. I saw the small child. I gave it to
the small child.
o Following a describing (linking) verb and modifying the subject
The child is small. Mary looked unhappy. We became upset.
o Directly following the noun (less common than the first two positions)
He provided the money necessary for the trip. The hostess, calm and
serene, entered the hall.
•
Nearly all adjectives, when they are used in comparisons, can be strengthened or can
show degree by changing form (adding the suffix er or est to the end of the word) or by
using a helping word (more and most)
great trust, greater trust, greatest trust
sensible answer, more sensible answer, most sensible answer
The degrees of comparison are known as the positive, the comparative, and the superlative.
(Actually, only the comparative and superlative show degrees.)
We use the comparative for comparing two things and the superlative for comparing three or
more things.
Notice that the word than frequently accompanies the comparative and the word the precedes
the superlative.
The inflected suffixes -er and -est suffice to form most comparatives and superlatives, although
we need -ier and -iest when a two-syllable adjective ends in y (happier and happiest); otherwise
we use more and most when an adjective has more than one syllable.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
rich
richer
richest
lovely
lovelier
loveliest
beautiful
more beautiful
most beautiful
Certain adjectives have irregular forms in the comparative and superlative degrees:
Irregular Comparative and Superlative Forms
good
better
best
bad
worse
worst
little
less
least
much
many
some
more
most
far
further
furthest
The Adverb:
•
A word that modifies anything except a noun or a pronoun. Most adverbs modify verbs
(She walked quickly). Other adverbs modify adjectives and other adverbs (The very old
man walked quite slowly). Some adverbs modify whole sentences (Therefore, we refused
the offer).
•
Adverbs tell certain things about the verb, the most common being:
1. Manner: John performed well. We worked hard. The child laughed happily. I
would gladly change places with you.
2. Time: I must leave now. I will see you later. Soon we shall meet again.
3. Frequency: We often go on picnics, sometimes at the lake, but usually at the city
park.
4. Place: There he sat., alone and silent. Somewhere we shall find peace and quiet.
5. Direction: The police officer turned away. I moved forward on the bus.
6. Degree: I could barely hear the speaker. I absolutely refuse to believe that story
The most frequently used adverbs answer such questions as “How?” (manner or degree),
“When?” (time or frequency), and “Where?” (place and direction)
•
A subclass of adverbs called intensifiers, modify adjectives or adverbs, but not verbs:
o a very good meal, his quite surprising reply, too often, somewhat reluctantly, and
so on.
•
Many adverbs change form the way adjectives do, to show degree:
o to drive fast, to drive faster, to drive fastest
o to perform satisfactorily, to perform more satisfactorily, to perform most
satisfactorily