Instructional Systems
Traditional English Grammar
Unit I
Parts of Speech Continued:
Adjectives and Adverbs
ADJECTIVES
An adjective is a word that modifies a noun or pronoun. The word "modifies" literally means "changes." Adjectives clarify and qualify a noun.
Matilda wore a dress.
Matilda wore a blue dress.
(Blue changes the mental picture.)
Matilda wore a dirty blue dress.
(The mental picture changes further.)
Comparison of Adjectives
Adjectives can be compared. They have three degrees of comparison.
POSITIVE:
That highway is safe.
Paris is an interesting city.
COMPARATIVE:
That highway is safer than a narrow mountain road.
Paris is more interesting than London.
SUPERLATIVE:
That highway is the safest road in the state.
Paris is the most interesting city in Europe.
NOTE: More safer and most prettiest are incorrect. They are double comparisons. Usually single syllable and a few two syllable adjectives (lovely, lovelier, for example) are compared by adding -er or -est to the root word. Multi-syllable adjectives are compared by placing more or
most before the positive form.
Function of Adjectives
Adjectives have several functions and forms in relation to their nouns:
DESCRIPTIVE: large house, intelligent answer, microscopic insect
NUMERAL: ten nations, a million people
DEMONSTRATIVE: this assignment, those chapters
POSSESSIVE: my ancestors, Jan's parents, your generosity
INDEFINITE: many people, both parents, each year
VERBAL: flying object, broken heart, singing group
NOUN: flower garden, child prodigy, foot soldier
ARTICLE: a factory, an inhabitant, the service
Helpful Hints for Recognizing an Adjective
1. Become familiar with the several suffixes that give a word the quality of an adjective.
-ble: audible, portable, possible, capable, liable
-ous: innocuous, plenteous, gracious, libelous, generous, courageous
-ish: foolish, brackish, peevish, selfish
-ic: caustic, fantastic, dramatic, frenetic, energetic
-al: final, adjectival, colonial, political
2. Find the noun or pronoun that the adjective tells about. If the word does not modify a noun or a pronoun, it is not an adjective.
ADVERBS
An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.
Adverbs as Modifiers
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs; however, they can be placed almost anywhere in the sentence.
Mortimer frequently has indigestion as a result of overeating.
(Frequently modifies the verb has but could be placed before the verb, at the beginning of the sentence, or even at the end of the sentence.)
I went there as a small child.
(There modifies the verb went.)
After the accident Melrose drove carefully for three hours.
(Carefully modifies the verb drove.)
My dog is unusually intelligent.
(Unusually modifies the adjective intelligent.)
Prunella sang the aria quite well.
(Quite modifies the adverb well.)
Adverbs Tell Time, Place, Condition, etc.
Adverbs tell when, where, how, how much. In the above sentences, frequently tells when, there tells where, carefully tells how, unusually and quite tell how much.
Adverb Endings
Many adverbs end in -ly. These are formed by adding the suffix -ly to a descriptive adjective.
adjective adverb
slow slowly
beautiful beautifully
dull dully
stupid stupidly
sharp sharply
foolish foolishly
But all words that end in -ly are not adverbs. Some adjectives end in -ly: a lovely garden; a friendly neighborhood; a lonely old man.
Many adverbs do not end in -ly. Here are some common adverbs: how, then, there, often, never, again, quite, too, sometimes, always, already.
Adverbial Noun
Sometimes a noun is used as an adverb. This noun is called an adverbial noun.
Comparison of Adverbs
Like adjectives, adverbs can be compared.
POSITIVE: Professor Prunesquallor speaks sharply to the students, and they work hard.
COMPARATIVE: When upset, he speaks more sharply than usual, but they
work harder.
SUPERLATIVE: He speaks most sharply when he is angry, and they work their hardest.
NOTE: Only descriptive adverbs can be compared, and only a few of those can be compared with -er or -estendings. Near, far, early, fast, for example.
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