Grammar Basics (Adjectives) Resource: Advanced English Grammar for ESL Learners C/LtCol Genieve M. Martínez
Lesson Objectives Review grammar basics: Parts of Speech Noun Pronoun Verb Adjective Adverb Preposition Conjunction Putting words together Sentence Test Knowledge: Quiz 1
Parts of Speech NOUN a person, place, or thing. Can be the subject or object of a sentence. PRONOUN a word that replaces or stands for ("pro" = for) a noun. VERB an action word. ADJECTIVE a word that describes or modifies a noun. Answers the questions "how many," "what kind," etc. ADVERB a word that describes or modifies a verb. PREPOSITION (literally "pre-position") a word that indicates the relationship of a noun (or noun phrase) to another word.
Adjectives An adjective's job is to modify a noun or pronoun. They are always near the noun or pronoun they are describing. There are three forms of adjectives: PositiveComparativeSuperlativeIrregular TallTallerTallestGood, better, best FineFinerFinestBad, worse, worst
Adjectives There are two different ways of forming comparative and superlative forms of adjectives: Inflectional endings –er and –est Using adverbs more and most Nearly all one-syllable adjectives in Modern English use –er and -est and nearly all three and four syllable adjectives use more and most. Base formComparative formSuperlative form TallTallerTallest RudeRuderRudest BeautifulMore beautifulMost beautiful ValuableMore valuableMost valuable
Adjectives Two syllable adjectives that always use more/most Nearly all two syllable ajectives that consist of only a single word part (not built with a stem + suffix, for example, lonely) must use more/most. Two syllable adjectives made up of a certain stem + suffix or inflectional ending also must use more/most. Carefulmore carefulmost careful Hopeless more hopelessmost hopeless BaseComparativeSuperlative CivilMore civiilMost civil ModernMore modernMost modern RecentMore recentMost recent
Adjectives Two syllable adjectives ending in –ed or –ing that are derived from verbs must use more/most. AmusedMore amusedMost amused AmusingMore amusingMost amusing TrustedMore trustedMost trusted TrustingMore trustingMost trusting
Adjectives Two syllable adjectives that can be used with with either more/most or –er/-est. The majority of the adjectives in this group en in unstressed second syllables. The larges single group ends in –ly. Note: the change of y to I follows the same spelling pattern we saw in the plural of nouns that end in –y. -er/-estMore/most CostlyCostlier, costliestMore costly/most costly DeadlyDeadlier, deadliestMore deadly/most deadly LonelyLonelier, loneliestMore lonely/most lonely UglyUglier, ugliestMore ugly/most ugly
Adjectives Adjectives that end in unstressed vowels, -er, -le, -el, -ere, -ure can also use either pattern. -er/-estMore/most MellowMellower/mellowestMore mellow, most mellow SlenderSlenderer/slenderestMore slender, most slender GentleGentler/gentlestMore gentle, most gentle SevereSeverer/severestMore severe, most severe ObscureObscurer/obscurestMore obscure, most obscure
Adjectives Two syllable adjectives that can only use –er/-est. The largest group in this category ends in unstressed –y. Examples I would like something more little.X I would like something littler. I ended up buying the most little rug. X I ended up buying the littlest rug. BaseComparativeSuperlative EarlyEarlierEarliest HappyHappierHappiest NoisyNoisierNoisiest
Adjectives (Write the comparative and superlative forms of the following two- syllable adjectives in the appropriate column. ) More/Most only More/most-er/-est-er/-est only NobleMore noble, most noble Nobler, noblest 1.Ancient 2. Modern 3. silly 4. Civil 5. friendly 6. ready 7. Common 8. dreadful
Adjectives (Write the comparative and superlative forms of the following two- syllable adjectives in the appropriate column. ) More/Most only More/most-er/-est-er/-est only NobleMore noble, most noble Nobler, noblest 9. shallow 10. Mindless 11. Private 12. Recent 13. Sincere 14. Tiring 15. Easy