Download Adjective and Adverb notes

1
NAME: _____________________________________________________ HOUR: ____
Chapter 9 Notes
Adjectives and Adverbs
I.
Adjectives
A. Boring: Sheila gave the boy her number
B. Better: Sheila gave that cute boy her cell number.
C. An adjective (adj.) is a word that modifies, or describes, a noun or
pronoun.
1. Words that describe a person, place, thing, or idea.
2. Can describe a noun or a pronoun
D. A predicate adjective: An adjective that follows a linking verb and
describes the subject.
1. The girl is beautiful.
2. Present and past participles can be used as adjectives or predicate
adjectives.
a. She is interesting.
b. The fascinated boy was shy, though.
E. Possessive nouns and pronouns act together as adjectives.
1. Her eyes are pretty.
2. Sheila’s hair is long.
II.
Articles and Proper Adjectives
A. Articles: a, an, the
1. a,n = indefinite, they aren’t specific
2. the = definite, specific person, place, or thing
B. Proper adjectives: formed with a proper noun.
1. Always starts with a capital letter
2. Some don’t change/most have alternate spellings.
a. –an: Mexican, European
b. –ese: Japanese, Chinese
c. –ian: Canadian, Russian
d. –ish: Spanish, English
III.
Comparatives and Superlatives
A. Positive Adjective: Does not compare.
B. Comparative Adjective: Compares 2 things
C. Superlative Adjective: Compares 3 or more things.
D. Rules:
1. Use “er” when comparing two things with:
a. one syllable (Ex. Small = smaller)
b. two syllables (Ex. Tiny = tinier)
- change the y to an i in some cases
2. Use “est” when comparing three or more things with:
a. one syllable (Ex. Small = smallest)
b. two syllables (Ex. Tiny = tiniest)
3. If “er” or “est” sound awkward, use more or most, less or least
- Active: More/less active (Not activer, activest)
4. Three or more syllables- use more/most, less/least
2
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
E. Irregular Verbs: See chart in book
F. Avoid using double comparisons.
- most farthest, more better
Demonstratives
A. When this, that, these, those is used as an adjective
- This book is great. Those are good, too.
B. This, these = nearby
C. That, those = far away
D. Avoid here or there with a demonstrative adjective.
E. Them is an object pronoun – NEVER use them to point out something.
Adverbs
A. Adverbs: Words that describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
B. May tell when, where, or how about an action verb.
1. Ex. Amanda practices often. (When?)
2. Ex. She plays here often. (Where?)
3. She plays well. (How?)
C. An adverb may modify an adjective
1. Amanda is very talented.
D. Very and Quite are intensifiers
1. Tells to what extent.
2. Very, quite, almost, completely
3. Precedes (Comes before) the word they modify
E. Adverbs can modify other adverbs
1. Most are formed by adding –ly to an adjective.
2. Not all –ly words are adverbs.
-kindly = adjective
Comparative and Superlative Adv.
A. Comparative = two actions
B. Superlative = 3 or more actions
C. Rules
1. Add –er/-est to adverbs with one syllable.
a. soon = sooner, soonest
b. do with some 2 syllable words, too.
2. Most two or more syllable adjectives, add more or most
a. Frequently = more/most frequently
3. Use less/least with negative comparisons; more/most with
positive.
4. Don’t use most with –est
a. Most soonest = NO!
Avoiding Double Negatives
A. Not is an adverb.
1. Not = a negative word that can be used in a contraction.
2. Is not = isn’t
B. Avoid Double negatives
1. Incorrect: That actor hasn’t never acted in a good movie.
2. Correct: That actor hasn’t EVER acted in a good movie.
3
VIII.
Using Adj. and Adv.
A. Some adjectives and adverbs have similar forms; don’t get confused.
1. good = adjective; well = adverb
2. Well = adjective when talking about health only.
3. Bad = adjective preceding a noun or after a linking verb.
a. Example: She was bad.
4. real = adjective; really = adverb