1. Adjectives & Adverbs
The Brenham Writing Room
Created by D. Herring with some additions in 1/2013 by another source

2. 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.

3. What are adjectives?
• Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns
• These words are all adjectives
ü A hot day
ü A happy camper
ü A silly twit
ü A big, dirty mess (both “big” and “dirty” modify
“mess”)
ü She is creative (“creative” is a subject
complement that follows the linking verb “is”)
ü A boring course (present participle used as an 3
adjective

4. 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.

5. So what are adverbs?
• Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and other
adverbs
• Many adverbs end with ly
• Many adverbs answer the question “How?”
• These are adverbs
ü Eating quickly (modifying a verb)
ü Trying very hard (modifying an adverb)
ü A really big show (modifying an adjective)
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6. Recognizing Adjectives &
Adverbs
• Many words have both an adjective and adverb form
Adjective Adverb
Happy kids Playing happily
Smooth rock Running smoothly
Good night Eating Well
Efficient workers Working efficiently
Casual dress Dressing casually
Quick meeting Talking quickly
hopeful children Waiting hopefully
Real butter Really hot
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7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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 I’ve ever met.
 That show is the funniest sitcom on TV.

11. 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!

12. 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.
 Use fewer to compare count nouns.
 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.

13. 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 someone’s health.)
 I am not well today. (adjective)
 She does not feel well. (adverb)

14. 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.

15. 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 I’m not under pressure. (adverb)

16. 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)

17. Don’t use adjectives when adverbs
are needed
X You did a real nice job
– (an adjective can’t modify another adjective)
ü You did a really nice job
– (the adverb “really” modifies “nice”)
X He did good
ü He did well or
ü He did a good job
X Fuel injection helps the car run efficient
ü Fuel injection helps the car run efficiently
X Come quick!
ü Come quickly!
X Hopefully, it won’t rain
– (an adverb explains how something will happen
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ü I hope that it won’t rain

18. Don’t use needless adverbs
• Before using any of these words, check to see if they add
anything to the sentence
• Really, very, absolutely, extremely, quite, actually, somewhat,
rather
• I am really happy to see you
• Grammar is very boring
• You are absolutely correct
• Her language was extremely crude
• You are quite intelligent
• Context will help you decide whether to retain the
underlined words
• Keep them only if they add to the meaning
X Bill Gates is very rich. I hope he gives me some money.
ü Most college instructors are poor; their students are very poor.
• Note: the terms “good success” and “real good success”
have been reserved for sports broadcasters; do not use
them 18

19. Compound Adjectives
• Do not hyphenate the words when they come
after the noun they modify
• Notice the difference in these examples
Brad was well known along the Brad was a well-known jerk
boardwalk (no hyphen) (hyphenated)
His SUV was fully equipped He drove a fully-equipped SUV
Brad was a full-time chick magnet
Brad worked full time on his tan
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