Using Adjectives and Adverbs Correctly

What are adjectives? Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns These words are all adjectives A hot day A happy camper A silly twit A big, bloody mess (both “big” and “bloody” modify “mess”) She is creative (“creative” is a subject complement that follows the linking verb “is”) A boring course (present participle used as an adjective

So what are adverbs? Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs Many adverbs end with ly Many adverbs answer the question “How?” or “To what extent?” These are adverbs Eating quickly (modifying a verb) Trying very hard (modifying an adverb) A really big show (modifying an adjective)

Comparatives and Superlatives Most adverbs and adjectives also have a comparative and superlative form SimpleComparativeSuperlative HotHotterHottest GoodBetterBest ExcitingMore excitingMost exciting CarefulLess carefulLeast careful Use the comparative form to compare two things Sally is the larger of the twins (not largest) Use the superlative form to compare three or more August was the hottest month of the year

Double Comparatives Don’t use “more” or “most” with –er or –est X Yesterday was more hotter than today X That was the most dirtiest story I ever heard X You are the bestest teacher

Recognizing Adjectives & Adverbs Many words have both an adjective and adverb form AdjectiveAdverb Happy kidsPlaying happily Smooth rockRunning smoothly Good nightEating Well Efficient workersWorking efficiently Casual dressDressing casually Quick meetingTalking quickly hopeful childrenWaiting hopefully Real butterReally hot

Don’t use adjectives when adverbs are needed X You did a real nice job –(an adjective can’t modify another adjective) You did a really nice job –(the adverb “really” modifies “nice”) X He did good He did well or He did a good job X Fuel injection helps the car run efficient Fuel injection helps the car run efficiently X Come quick! Come quickly! X Hopefully, it won’t rain –(an adverb explains how something will happen I hope that it won’t rain

Compound Adjectives Two or more adjectives often appear together separated with commas Brad’s tiny, tight swimsuit showed off his hairy belly The words “tiny” and “tight” each work separately to modify “swimsuit” Connect the words with a hyphen when they function together before a noun Brad’s gold-plated piercings stood out against his bright-red sunburn “Gold-plated” and “bright-red” are compound adjectives

Compound Adjectives Brad was well known along the boardwalk (no hyphen) His SUV was fully equipped Brad worked full time on his tan Brad was a well-known jerk (hyphenated) He drove a fully-equipped SUV Brad was a full-time chick magnet Do not hyphenate the words when they come after the noun they modify Notice the difference in these examples