Adjectives & Adverbs

The Brenham Writing Room Created by D. Herring

Adjective vs. Adverb

An adjective describes or modifies a noun or a

pronoun.

Adds info about what kind, which one, or how many Describes how things look, smell, feel, taste, sound

An adverb describes or modifies a verb, an adjective,

or another adverb.

Adds info about how, how much, when, where, or to what extent. Often ends in ly.

Which one do I use?

It is critical to identify which word is being

modified in order to determine whether to use an adjective or an adverb as the modifier.

I: She runs slow. C: She runs slowly. I: He is real tall. C: He is really tall.

Adj. & Adv. With Same Form

Some adjectives and adverbs have the same

form.

early, far, fast, hard, high, late, often, past, right, soon

The only way to distinguish them is to identify

what they modify.

Adj: The fast car drove around the curve. Adv: The car drove fast around the curve.

Comparative Form
When comparing two nouns, use the

comparative form of an adjective or adverb.

If adjective or adverb is one syllable, add er to form the comparative.

I am taller than my mother. She is smarter than me.

Use this same pattern for adjectives that end in y, but change the y to i before adding er.

She is happier than he is. That show is funnier than the other one.

Comparative Form cont.

If adjective or adverb is more than one syllable, add the word more to form the comparative.

I am more impressed with your skills than he is. She is even more beautiful than she used to be.

Follow the guideline and use er or more, but never use both!

I am more taller than my mother. That show is more funnier than the other one. She is so much more happier than she used to be.

Superlative Form
When comparing three or more nouns, use

the superlative form of an adjective or adverb.

If adjective or adverb is one syllable, add est to form the superlative.

I am the tallest person in my family . She is the smartest person in the class.

Use this same pattern for adjectives that end in y, but change the y to i before adding est.

She is the happiest person Ive ever met. That show is the funniest sitcom on TV.

Superlative Form cont.

If adjective or adverb is more than one syllable, add the word most to form the superlative.

He is the most selfish person in our company. She is the most beautiful actress on television.

Follow the guideline and use est or most, but never use both!

He is the most luckiest person I know. That is the most funniest show I have ever seen! She is the most happiest person I have ever met!

Fewer vs. Less

In the comparative form Use less to compare non-count nouns (nouns that cannot be divided).

They play less music and more commercials on the radio than ever before. I have less money in my bank account than my sister has in hers. There are fewer students in our class than when the semester began. I have fewer pennies in my jar than my brother has in his.

Use fewer to compare count nouns.

Irregular Adjectives & Adverbs

Four common adjectives & adverbs have irregular

forms: good, well, bad, badly. Good vs. Well

Good is an adjective, so use it to describe a noun or pronoun. She has a good job. Well is an adverb, so use it to describe a verb or an adjective. She writes well. (Well can also be used as an adjective when it is describing someones health.) I am not well today. (adjective) She does not feel well. (adverb)

Irregular Adjectives & Adverbs

Bad vs. Badly

Bad is an adjective, so use it to describe a noun or pronoun.

She has a bad reputation.

Badly is an adverb, so use it to describe a verb or an adjective.

He behaved badly in school today.

Irregular Adjectives & Adverbs

Comparative and Superlative forms of the

irregular adjectives and adverbs are also irregular.

Good & Well have the same comparative & superlative forms:

Better (comparative)
I have a better car than she does. (adjective) I feel better today than I did yesterday. (adverb)

Best (superlative)
He is the best teacher at Blinn. (adjective) I write best when Im not under pressure. (adverb)

Irregular Adjectives & Adverbs

Bad & Badly have the same comparative & superlative forms:

Worse (comparative)
She has a worse cold than I do. (adjective) She feels worse than I do. (adverb)

Worst (superlative)
He had the worst grade in the class. (adjective) She feels the worst she has ever felt. (adverb)