Adverbs An adverb is a word that modifies, or describes, a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. You make an adverb out of an adjective by adding –ly in most cases (but not all) Intensifiers are adverbs like very and extremely that give more power to what you are saying.

Great! Today, we are going to take that and extend it into our next lesson. We are going to talk about: Comparative Adverbs Superlative Adverbs How to use Adjectives and Adverbs correctly.

Just like adjectives Adverbs have three forms. Positive Comparative Superlative I bet you even know how many each represent!

Positive Adverbs A positive adverb doesn’t compare any actions. It stands alone with the verb, adjective, or adverb. Example: Josh waited sadly for the bus to arrive.

Comparative Adverbs Compare two ACTIONS! Short adverbs are going to use –er in the Comparative form. Ex: Did the drummer play louder than the bassist? Long adverbs require the word more in from of the verb. Ex. The audience was more enthusiastic than the band was!

Superlative Adverbs The superlative form of an adverb compares more than two actions. Short adverbs need –est; longer adverbs need more or most. Ex. Did the guitarist play loudest of all? Ex. No, but he played most enthusiastically.

Irregular Adverbs Some adverbs are irregular, meaning the spelling and sound changes with the form. Well – better - best Badly – worse – worst Little (amount) – less - least

Exercise A: Comparatives and Superlatives Complete the chart on the next slide.

Comparatives and Superlatives Tenderly More tenderly ? Fast Fastest Less Least Easily Least easily Violently More violently Closer closest

Remember… Comparative Adverbs compare two actions. Superlative Adverbs compare more than two actions. Some comparatives and superlatives are irregular.

Now…as a bonus… Let’s make sure we understand how to use adjectives and adverbs correctly.

Dazed and Confused… Adverbs and adjectives are often confused, especially when they appear after verbs.

Predicate Adjectives versus Adverbs A predicate adjective follows a linking verb. Example: The musicians aren’t professional. In the sentence above, the predicate adjective professional describes musicians.

Now…check this… In the sentence below, the adverb professionally describes the action verb behaved. The musicians behaved professionally.

People are Crazy! People also sometimes confuse the words bad, badly, good, and well. Bad and good are both adjectives. They are used after a linking verb. Badly is an adverb. It is used after an action verb. Well is mean. It can be either. When it describes a person, it is an adjective. Otherwise, it is an adverb!

Distinguishing Adjectives from Adverbs The sound is bad. The band sounds good. The soloist seems well. The actor sang badly. The band played well.

People are also confused… People also confuse real, really, sure, surely, and most, almost. Real, sure, and most are adjectives Really, surely, and almost are adverbs.

Distinguishing adjectives from adverbs Let’s go to the charts… Distinguishing adjectives from adverbs Adjectives Adverbs Music is a real art. A pianist needs sure hands. Most pianos have eighty-eight keys. Music is really popular. Piano music is surely popular. Piano strings almost never break.

Exercise B In the following slide identify the correct adjective or adverb given in parentheses.

Exercise B. The big bands did very (good, well) during the 1930’s and 1940’s. As (good, well) as they were, they needed national radio to succeed. Even (bad, badly) bands took advantage of the interest in this music. The big bands’ era is over, but their records still sell (good, well) If you listen really (good, well) you’ll still hear bands with that sound.

Remember… A comparative adverb compares two actions. A superlative adverb compares more than two actions. Some comparatives and superlatives are irregular. Adverbs and adjectives are often confused, especially when they appear after verbs. People also sometimes confuse the words bad, badly, good, and well.

Let’s add it to our list…

An adjective is a word that modifies, or describes, a noun or a pronoun. An adjective describes a person, place, thing, or idea. It gives more info about the noun or pronoun. A predicate adjective follows a linking verb and modifies the subject of the sentence. A and an are called indefinite articles because they refer to one of a general group of people, places, things, or ideas. The is called a definite article because it identifies specific people, places, things, or ideas. The comparative form of an adjective compares two things or people. The superlative form of an adjective compares more than two things or people. Demonstrative adjectives point out something and describe nouns by answering the questions which one or which ones.

An adverb is a word that modifies, or describes, a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. An adverb can answer one of these questions: where, when, how, how often, how much, or how long. Most adverbs are formed by adding –ly to the adjective, if you see an –ly word, it’s usually an adverb. Some adverbs answer the question to what extent a quality exists. These adverbs are called intensifiers. A comparative adverb compares two actions. A superlative adverb compares more than two actions. Some comparatives and superlatives are irregular. Adverbs and adjectives are often confused, especially when they appear after verbs. People also sometimes confuse the words bad, badly, good, and well.

I smell a test coming up!