Tab 1: Adjectives
Adjective = a word that modifies, or describes, a
noun or pronoun...an adjective answers...
1)What kind? 2) Which one? 3) How much/many?
EX: The timid, black cat was afraid of the ferocious dog with
many large, sharp teeth.
Adjective Phrase = a prepositional phrase that
describes a noun or pronoun.
EX: The team from Garden Plain lost the game of basketball
between the district rivals.
Predicate Adjective = an adj. that follows a
linking verb (LV) and describes the subject of
the sentence.
EX: Kemper Arena was huge and impressive.
Each game seemed better than the last.
Tab 2: Proper Adj.
Proper Adjective = formed from a proper noun
and begins with a capital letter. (p. 42)
1) Some Prop. Adj. have the same form as the
proper noun.
EX: Wisconsin cheese -or- September crop of
apples
2)Most Prop. Adj. have a different form, using
one of the following endings:
Examples:
-an
-ese
-ian
-ish
Mexican
Chinese
Canadian
Spanish
Tab 3: Adj. Comparison
3 forms of comparison:
Positive -no comparison
Comparative -2 nouns/pronouns are compared
Superlative -3 or more nouns / pronouns are
compared.
1. one syllable & many two syllable adjectives =
add -er for comparative and -est for
superlative
2. two or more syllable adj. = add more/less for
comparative and most/least for superlative.
3. Some adj. change spelling to show
comparison:
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
small
tiny
gruesome
good
smaller
tinier
more gruesome
better
smallest
tiniest
most gruesome
best
Tab 4: Demonstrative Adj./Pronoun
Demonstrative Adj. = adj. that points out
particular noun...ALWAYS comes before a
noun.
(p. 40)
this - close, singular
that - away, singular
these - close, plural
those - away, plural
EX: That tree has pretty fall leaves.
Demonstrative Pronoun = stands alone
& takes the place of a noun (NO noun follows)
EX: That is too bad for you.
Tab 5: Adverbs
Adverb = a word that modifies a verb, an
adjective, or another adverb.
Adverbs answer:
1. how (quickly, well)
2. when (often, daily, soon, yesterday)
3. where (here, outdoors, forward)
4. to what extent/intensifiers (very, too,
almost, quite, rather, extremely, not)
**Many, but not all, adverbs are formed by adding ly to adjectives
(gracefully)
Adverb Phrase = a prepositional phrase that
modifies a verb.
EX: The dog ran away from home before Christmas.
Tab 6: Adv. Comparison
Comparative & Superlative Adverbs
3 Forms of comparison:
Positive = no action is compared
Comparative = 2 actions are compared
Superlative = 3 or more actions are compared
1. one syllable - add -er
2. two or more syllables - add more/less for
comparative and most/least for superlative
Positive
I sing...loud
Comparative
louder
Superlative
loudest
I run....quickly
more quickly
most quickly
I burp…often
less often
least often
Tab 7: Tricky Adj/Adv
Tricky Adj./Adverbs
Adjective
Adverb
good
well*
bad
badly
sure
surely
real
really
*Well can be used as an ADJ only
when describing the health of
someone.
Tab 8: Double Negatives
AVOID Double Negatives
-a sentence must use only one negative adverb at
a time
Negative
hardly ---------never ---------nowhere---------not
---------no one ---------no
---------none ----------
Positive
always
always, most
somewhere, everywhere
is, can
someone, everybody
any, a, many
some, all
WRONG: The actress hasn't never acted in a good movie.
RIGHT: The actress has never acted in a good movie.
RIGHT: The actress hasn't ever acted in a good movie.