Using Adjectives
Modifiers are words that change or limit the meaning of other words.
One kind of modifier is an adjective. An adjective is a word that modifies a noun or pronoun. Adjectives can tell three things about nouns or pronouns.
1. Which one or ones? this street, that class, those chairs
2. What kind? green insect, sewing class, sad story.
3. How many or how much? Thirty pounds, all people, little trouble
A proper adjective is formed from a proper noun. It is always capitalized.
Chinese food a French accent the Hindu religion
The adjectives a, an, and the are called articles.
Most adjectives come before the words they modify. However, a predicate adjective follows a linking verb and modifies the subject of the sentence.
Yogurt is popular all over the world.
Recognizing Adjectives. Circle the adjectives. Ignore the articles (a, an, the).
1. Ted has taken several classes in photographic journalism.
2. Many articles were written about the Japanese garden.
3. The new models will use less gas and get better mileage.
4. Gloria bought a bright yellow shirt and white jeans.
5. The senior class is studying modern European history.
6. Mauna Loa is a large volcano on one of the Hawaiian islands.
7. The young playwright has written a delightful comedy.
8. The agents found those secret documents in an old suitcase.
Recognizing Predicate Adjectives. Circle the predicate adjectives. (*follows linking verbs*)
1. The career of Golda Meir was long and brilliant.
2. Debbie Armstrong felt proud of her victory in the Olympics.
3. These McIntosh apples are crisp and juicy.
4. That polar bear seems hungry.
5. Punctuality is important to employers.
6. The water looked cool and refreshing.
7. The audience grew quiet and thoughtful.
8. The miners looked weary after their ordeal.
Using Adjectives
An adjective is a word that modifies a noun or pronoun. An adjective tells which one or ones, what kind, how many, or how much about the word that it modifies. A proper adjective, such as Irish or American, is one that is formed from a proper noun. A predicate adjective is one that follows a linking verb and modifies the subject of the sentence.
Recognizing Adjectives. Underline the adjectives in the following sentences. Do not underline articles such as the, a, or an.
EXAMPLE: The British flag is also, red, white, and blue.
1. Many novels have been made into movies.
2. The armadillo digs for insects with its large, powerful claws.
3. Alberta is a western province of Canada.
4. It was a beautiful but expensive ring.
5. The American foot and the European meter are world standards of measure.
6. The exotic pomegranate is covered with a hard rind and contains many large seeds.
7. Those ducks usually fly at a fast pace.
8. At the restaurant we had Danish ice cream and Austrian chocolates.
9. A proper diet and regular exercise are important.
10. Lush and tropical New Orleans has a long summer and a wet winter.
Identifying Proper and Predicate Adjectives. In each of the following sentences, circle the adjective and underline the word it modifies. If the adjective is a proper adjective, write proper, on the blank. If the adjective is a predicate adjective, write predicate on the blank.
1. The pear in my lunchbox was juicy. ____________________________________
2. The Belgian ambassador met with the President. _________________________
3. The rooms in the castle were uncomfortable. ____________________________
4. These are Hawaiian orchids. _________________________________________
5. The engines of the jet are quite powerful. _______________________________
6. A runner carried the Olympic torch. ____________________________________
7. Senor Diaz has a Spanish accent. _____________________________________
8. Do you enjoy Japanese food? ________________________________________
9. Jogging can be fun. ________________________________________________
10. Several of the animals became ill. ____________________________________
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Adjectives in Comparisons
When you compare one person or thing with another, you use the comparative form of an adjective. The comparative is made in two ways: (1) Add –er to short adjectives. (2) Use more for longer adjectives and those ending in –ful or –ous.
Dan is younger than Roy. Your notes are more helpful than mine.
When you compare a person or thing with all others in its class, you use the superlative form of the adjective. Also use the superlative when you compare a person or thing with two or more others. (1) If an adjective adds –er for the comparative, it adds –est for the superlative. (2) If an adjective uses more for the comparative, it uses most for the superlative.
Sherry is the kindest person I know.
Of the three dancers, Al is the most talented.
Use the word other when you compare something with everything else of its kind.
WRONG: Ms. O’Brien is more patient than any teacher.
RIGHT: Ms. O’Brien is more patient than any other teacher.
Do not use –er with more, or –est with most.
WRONG: Kelly is more slimmer than Elaine.
RIGHT: Kelly is slimmer than Elaine.
Study these comparatives and superlatives which are formed in unusual ways:
good, better, best bad, worse, worst many, more, most
well, better, best little, less or lesser, least much, more, most
Using Adjectives in Comparisons. Circle the comparative adjective in the sentence. If the comparison is correct, write Correct on the blank. If it is wrong, underline the comparison and write it correctly.
1. Caroline is the better actress in the group. _____________________________
2. Rhode Island is the most smallest state. _______________________________
3. Unleaded gas is more expensive than regular gas. ______________________
4. President Chester Arthur was more taller than President Lincoln. ____________
5. Karen is the tallest of the twins. _______________________________________
6. Ted plays the guitar gooder than Sheila. ________________________________
7. The Quinns’ house is the attractivest on the block. ________________________
8. That was the baddest dessert I’ve ever had. _____________________________
9. The sequoia is taller than any tree. ____________________________________
10. William was more happier than Sara. __________________________________
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ADJECTIVES IN COMPARISON
Use the comparative form of an adjective when comparing one person or thing to another. Use the superlative form of an adjective when comparing one person or thing to two or more others.
Recognizing Comparative and Superlative Adjectives. On the blank, label the italicized adjective C for comparative or S for superlative.
EXAMPLE: I feel happier than I did yesterday. C
1. The most picturesque town I have ever seen is in Vermont. ______________________
2. That bus ride was the longest I’ve ever taken. _________________________________
3. Asia has some of the most magnificent rivers in the world. _______________________
4. That candidate has the least loyal supporters. __________________________________
5. No company could have a more faithful employee than my mother. ________________
6. Which one of these six shades is the most popular? ____________________________
7. Of the two paintings, which one is the more expensive? _________________________
8. The lake is calmer than it was on Saturday. ___________________________________
9. Sonya is the quietest person I know. ________________________________________
10. These colors are less acceptable than those. _________________________________
Using Adjectives in Comparisons. Study the italicized adjective in each of the following sentences. If the adjective is correct, write correct on the blank. If the adjective is incorrect, rewrite it correctly on the blank.
EXAMPLE: Pigs are more smarter than horses. Smarter
1. Yesterday was a better day for horseback riding than today is. _____________________
2. Iowa has the most fertilest land in the country. ________________________________
3. Chet told a more incredibler story than Mike did. _______________________________
4. Marta’s cold is worser than Aaron’s. _________________________________________
5. This apple is the largest of the two. __________________________________________
6. Which is biggest, Canada or the Soviet Union?_________________________________
7. Is the Nile longer than the Amazon? _________________________________________
8. Europeans are best at the preservation old buildings than Americans. _______________
9. Melody has the best scientific mind in our schools. ______________________________
10. The lake water is less clearer than it was ten years ago. _________________________
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Using Adverbs
Another kind of modifier is the adverb. Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Adverbs tell how, when, where, or to what extent something happened.
Adverbs often modify verbs.
Tickets sold quickly. Grandma lives nearby.
Joan arrives tomorrow. Larry almost fell.
Adverbs can also modify adjectives and other adverbs.
My guess was totally wrong. Ann danced very well.
Many adverbs are formed by adding –ly to an adjective.
soft + ly = softly busy + ly = busily full + ly = fully
Some adverbs are not formed from adjectives.
too quite just rather somewhat never here well very not
Recognizing Adverbs. Circle the adverbs in the following sentences.
1. The governor signed the tax bill recently.
2. The cyclists were thoroughly exhausted after the long trips.
3. Sandra rearranged the furniture yesterday.
4. Drivers on the expressway must be very careful.
5. The votes for mayor are still being counted.
6. Jim does exceptionally fine work.
7. The Indian rugs were quite expensive.
8. The poet Edward Lear utterly adored his cat.
9. Timothy Hutton was extremely good in that role.
10. Denise has already mailed the thank you letters.
11. The city often holds concerts in the park.
12. At the age of five, Mozart played the piano beautifully.
13. The current here is too dangerous for swimming.
14. Did you answer that question honestly?
15. Patricia always rises early.
16. The wind was bitterly cold during the month of December.
17. Paramedics rushed to the scene immediately.
18. The mayor spoke frankly and effectively to the crowd of reporters.
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Using Adverbs
Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. An adverb tells, how, when, where, or to what extent about the word that it modifies. Many adverbs are formed by adding –ly to adjectives. Some are not formed from adjectives.
Recognizing Adverbs. Circle the adverbs in the following sentences.
1. One is never too old for a day at the zoo.
2. You must breathe more deeply at this altitude.
3. My ears and nose were quite cold.
4. As the balloon soared higher, we gripped the supports tightly with our hands.
5. Brad began his report immediately after supper.
6. The dispatcher gave directions clearly but swiftly to the rescue squad.
7. Patiently, Adam shelled the peas.
8. The tree trunks still smoldered long after the forest fire.
9. The ship sailed smoothly into the harbor.
10. Fun, food, and football go together.
Determining How Adverbs Are Used. Circle the word modified by the italicized adverb in each of the following sentences. Then, on the blank after each sentence, tell the part of speech of the modified word. Write V for verb, ADJ for adjective, or ADV for adverb.
1. Dennis spoke confidently about his project. ____________________________
2. This wing of the school is completely new. _____________________________
3. The meeting went very well, indeed. __________________________________
4. The refrigerator is almost empty. _____________________________________
5. Our bus came too early this morning. __________________________________
6. Cleon fell rather hard. ______________________________________________
7. The clock on the wall in the kitchen fell down. ___________________________
8. Some writers are never happy with their own work. _______________________
9. Martha behaved somewhat coldly toward her cousin. _____________________
10. The squirrels busily gathered the acorns and hazelnuts. ___________________
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Adverbs in Comparisons
The comparative form of an adverb compares one action with another. The coparative is made in two ways: (1) Add –er to short adverbs. (2) Use more with most adverbs ending in –ly.
David types faster than Steve. The motor runs more smoothly now.
The superlative form of an adverb compares one action with two or more others. (1) If an adverb adds –er for the comparative, it adds –est for the superlative. (2) If an adverb uses more for the comparative, it uses most for the superlative.
Paulette sang the loudest of all the sopranos.
Of all the actors, Ryan spoke the most convincingly.
Use the word other when you compare one action with every other action of the same kind.
WRONG: Mom works longer hours than any manager.
RIGHT: Mom works longer hours than any other manager.
Do not use –er with more, or –est with most.
WRONG: We arrived more earlier than you.
RIGHT: We arrived earlier than you.
These adverbs change completely in the comparative and superlative forms.
well, better, best little, less, least
much, more, most far, farther, farthest
Using Adverbs in Comparisons. If the comparison is correct, write Correct. If it is wrong, underline the comparison and write it correctly.
1. Janice dived the most gracefully of all the swimmers. ______________________
2. Our debate team argued more better than the other team. __________________
3. Ken researched his report the most thoroughly of all. ______________________
4. Jack cooks more oftener than Susan. __________________________________
5. Of the three soaps, this one lasts longer. _______________________________
6. Evan climbed the most highest of all. __________________________________
7. This new drill can dig more deeply than the old one. ______________________
8. My Frisbee sailed the farther of the three. _______________________________
9. That lock protects property better than any lock. __________________________
10. I slept most soundly last night than I have in weeks. _______________________
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Adverbs in Comparisons
Use the comparative form of an adverb when comparing one action to another. Use the superlative form of an adverb when comparing more than two actions.
Recognizing Comparative and Superlative Adverbs. On the blank, label the italicized adverb C for comparative or S for superlative.
1. Ardith thinks she can run faster than I did. ______________________________
2. Which of the three candidates spoke most decisively during the debate? _____
3. Small, sporty cars sell better than large, luxury models. ___________________
4. Mitsuko practices her violin more diligently than her sister Hideko does. ______
5. Of all the contestants, Shari delivered her oration most forcefully. ___________
6. Archie worked longer than he had to. __________________________________
7. Of all the students in our school, Duayne arrives earliest. __________________
8. The commercial asked people to give more generously to their favorite charities. ____________________________
9. Julius jumps higher than any of the other basketball players. ______________
10. Gretchen threw the javelin farthest in the mock Olympic competition. _________
Using Adverbs in Comparisons. Study the italicized adverb in each of the following sentences. If the adverb is correct, write Correct on the blank. If the adverb is incorrect, rewrite it correctly on the blank.
1. Who in our class is more likely to succeed? ____________________________
2. Charmaine danced more gracefully than I did. __________________________