Chapter 21 – Adjectives and Adverbs

1. Chapter 21 – Adjectives and Adverbs Keys to Understanding the Chapter

2. Descriptive Words Adjective and adverbs describe things. Generally they are fairly easy to manage in your writing. One important thing to remember is that descriptive words improve your writing. Use adjectives and adverbs to add details and bring life to your writing.

3. Adverbs Most adverbs end in –ly and usually describe verbs. Fred constantly phones his girlfriend

4. Adjectives Adjectives usually describe nouns and generally come before the words they are describing. The old, sagging step in front of the house creaked when I walked on it.

5. A few common errors People tend to use the adjective real when they should use the adverb really. For example: She was real mad at me. The word real is incorrectly used. It should be: She was reallymad at me.

6. Good/Well Good and well are another common error. Good is an adjective and well is an adverb. Examples: I am feeling well (not good). This is good cake!

7. Comparatives When comparing two things, -er is added to the adjective or adverb if the word is one syllable or ends in y. Otherwise, the word more is used. Example: Bubba is smarter than Frank. It is cloudier than yesterday. The problem is more difficult than I expected.

8. Superlatives When comparing more than two things, -est is added to the adjective or adverb if the word is one syllable or ends in y. Otherwise, the word most is used. Example: Bubba is the smartest in the family. It is the cloudiest day this week. The problem is the most difficult on the test.

9. Demonstrative Adjectives This, that, these, and those are demonstrative adjectives. You don’t need to memorize the name of them. You just need to remember that if you have a plural noun, you use these or those, and if you have a singular noun, you use this or that. This dog These dogs