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Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjectives and adverbs modify (describe, make more definite) other parts of speech.
I. Adjectives: Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns.
a. Adjectives as noun modifiers:
i. The hot summer is upon us. (The word “hot” is the adjective; “summer” is
the noun.)
ii. These shoes are big. (The word “shoes” is the noun; “big” is the
adjective.)
b. Adjectives as pronoun modifiers:
i. We are young. (“We” is the pronoun” and “young” is the adjective.)
ii. They are noisy. (“They” is the pronoun; “noisy” is the adjective.)
c. Verb forms acting as adjectives:
i. Baked bread (“baked” is the verb from)
ii. Menacing strong (“menacing” is the verb form)
iii. Woven basked (“woven” is the verb form)
d. Hyphenated adjectives:
i. Half-baked bread
ii. French-speaking people
iii. Fast-moving car
iv. Well-conceived idea
II. Adverbs: Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Most adverbs are created
with the –ly ending (quickly, steadily, precisely, comfortably), although not all adverbs
assume this ending (very, fast [when it modifies a verb]). Some words end in –ly but are not
adverbs: lovely, unfortunately.
a. Adverbs modifying verbs:
The crowd slowly made its way out of the stadium. (“slowly” modifies “made”)
b. Adverbs modifying adjectives:
The impossibly slow crowd made its way out of the stadium. (“impossibly”
modifies “slow”)
c. Adverbs modifying other adverbs:
The crowd very slowly made its way out of the stadium. (“very” modifies
“slowly”)
III. Comparison of Modifiers (adjectives and adverbs): There are three degrees of comparison:
positive, comparative, and superlative.
a. Regular comparison: One-syllable modifiers have three possible endings to
express degrees of comparison.
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Modifier
nice
Positive degree
(Ø ending)
nice
Comparative Degree
(-er ending)
nicer
Superlative Degree
(-est ending)
nicest
new
new
newer
newest
weak
weak
weaker*
Weakest**
* Use the “–er” ending when comparing two subjects. Mary is the tallest person (between two
people).
** Use “-est” ending when comparing three or more subjects. Mary is the tallest (among three or
more people.)
b. Two-syllable modifiers may form the degrees of comparison with the Ø, -er,
or –est ending, or take on the “more” or “most.”
Modifier
Positive Degree
Comparative Degree
Superlative Degree
gentle
gentle
gentler
gentlest
lively
lively
livelier
liveliest
agile
agile
more agile
most agile
clearly
clear
more clearly†
most clearly††
†
Use “more” when comparing two subjects. Mary is the more delightful person (between two
people).
††
Use “most” when comparing three or more subjects. Mary is the most delightful person
(among three or more people.)
c. Modifiers with three or more syllables assume “more” and “most” to form
degrees of comparison.
Modifier
Positive Degree
Comparative Degree
Superlative Degree
expensive
expensive
more expensive
most expensive
delightful
delightful
more delightful
most delightful
comfortably
comfortably
more comfortably
most comfortably*
d. To express the decrease in quality, modifiers assume “less” in the
comparative degree and “least” in the superlative degree, regardless of the
number of syllables.
Modifier
Positive Degree
Comparative Degree
Superlative Degree
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gentle
gentle
less gentle
least gentle
lively
lively
less lively
least liveliest
agile
agile
less agile
least agile
expensive
expensive
less expensive
least expensive
e. Irregular modifiers do not follow the above patterns:
Modifier
Positive case
Comparative case
Superlative case
little
(as in amount, not
physical size)
far
little
less
least
farther/further
farther/further
farthest/furthest
well
well
better
best
good
good
better
best
bad
bad
worse
worst
many
many
more
most
much
much
more
most
f. Absolute adjectives do not vary in degree; therefore, they do not have
comparative or superlative forms:
complete, equal, perfect, correct, eternal, round, dead, full, square, empty,
impossible, true, endless, infinite, unique
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