Adjectives

Adjectives

Adjectives describe or modify nouns.

I like fairy tales. A fairy tale is an imaginary story that has unrealistic characters in a fantastic background. It makes me forget about the real world and refreshes my tired mind.

Adjectives generally appear immediately before the noun.

• A pretty girl
• Red flowers
• A long stick
• Heavy boxes
• Warm weather

Commonly, adjectives of opposite meaning are formed by adding a prefix such as un, in, or dis.

• clear – unclear, important – unimportant, predictable – unpredictable, believable – unbelievable, common – uncommon, aware – unaware, ambiguous – unambiguous, conventional – unconventional, certain – uncertain
• definite – indefinite, correct – incorrect, comparable – incomparable, complete – incomplete, evitable – inevitable, expensive – inexpensive
• able – disable, assemble – disassemble, content – discontent, similar – dissimilar

When using a string of adjectives, they should appear in a set order: size/shape + age + color + origin + material.

• A big brown house
• A small old English desk
• A beautiful black Italian leather purse
• Delicious Chinese food

The + adjective describes a class or group of people and acts as a noun.

• the old, the young, the poor, the rich, the oppressed, the homeless, etc.
• This popular TV show is loved by the old.

[Quiz 7.1]

Write opposite adjectives using the appropriate prefix.

1) Clear –                     
2) Definite –                     
3) Correct –                     
4) Expensive –                     
5) Complete –                     


[Quiz 7.2]

Underline all adjectives in the following sentences.

In the spring, red roses blossom in my cute small garden. The beautiful birds also sing in the big oak tree.

Adverbs

Adverbs

Adverbs modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

An adverb tells more about a verb in the sentence.

• The fire engine runs fast.
• Listen to his speech carefully.
• I browse the web frequently.
• It rained hard.

An adverb describes more about an adjective in the sentence.

• The news is very surprising!
• The coffee is extremely hot, so be careful.
• Nature is really amazing!

An adverb modifies another adverb in the sentence.

• It rains very hard.
• Computers run much faster these days.
• I clean my room less frequently because I am busy.

Commonly, adjectives can be changed to adverbs by adding 'ly'.

• slow – slowly
• quick – quickly
• comfortable – comfortably
• loud – loudly
• clear – clearly

To change adjectives ending in 'y' into adverbs, change the 'y' to 'i' and add 'ly'.

• happy – happily
• easy – easily

[Quiz 9.1]

Choose the correct word form in the following sentences.

1) I spoke to you (careful, carefully) last time.
2) We talked about it (clear, clearly).
3) I sat on the (comfortable, comfortably) sofa.
4) My dog runs very (fast, faster).
5) Let’s install the new program (quick, quickly).

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Comparative adjectives compare two things. Superlative adjectives compare more than two things

Commonly, adjectives that contain only one syllable or end in 'y' use 'er' to form comparatives and 'est' to form superlatives. For adjectives ending in y, change the 'y' to 'i' before adding the 'er' or 'est'.

• old – older – oldest
• young – younger – youngest
• pretty – prettier – prettiest
• long – longer – longest
• short – shorter – shortest
• bright – brighter – brightest
• close – closer – closest
• happy – happier - happiest

Adjectives with two or more syllables do not change but instead add more to form comparatives and most to form superlatives.

• respectable – more respectable – most respectable
• beautiful – more beautiful – most beautiful
• preferable – more preferable – most preferable
• hardworking – more hardworking – most hardworking

Some adjectives have different forms of comparatives and superlatives.

• good – better – best
• bad – worse – worst
• little – less – least
• much (many) – more – most
• far – further - furthest

The word than typically appears in comparative sentences.

• Amy is smarter than Betty.
• Chad is stronger than Dan.
• Greg is more diligent than his brother.
• I have more apples than he.
• She likes him more than me.

Superlatives are typically accompanied by the word the.

• Tom is the oldest man in town.
• Paul is the tallest boy in the neighborhood.
• That shade of blue is the most beautiful color.
• This is the longest song that I have ever heard.

[Quiz 8.1]

Write the appropriate comparative or superlative form of the word cold in each blank.

Yesterday was a cold day. Today is                      than yesterday. Tomorrow will be the                      day yet.

[Quiz 8.2]

Which of the following sentences is incorrect?

1) Mary is shorter than Jane.
2) The moon is more closer to the earth than the sun.
3) I have the best score on the exam.


[Quiz 8.3]

Fill in the blanks.

1) My friend has a pretty purse, but I have a                      one.
2) The                      weather is yet to come!
3) Today's sunshine is                      beautiful than yesterday's.

Action Verbs

Action Verbs

Action verbs express action and are the most common verbs.

Action verbs need s at the end with third-person, singular subjects.

• He eats bread.
• She walks to the station.
• It floats on the sea.

Negative sentences need do not, does not, or did not.

• I do not eat bread.
• He does not eat bread.
• You did not walk to the station.
• It does not float on the sea.

Interrogative sentences begin with do, does, or did.

• Do you eat bread?
• Does he eat bread?
• Does she walk to the station?
• Did they finish it?

Do not can be shortened to don't, does not to doesn't, and did not to didn't.

• I don't eat bread.
• She doesn't walk to the station.
• It doesn't float on the sea.
• They didn't finish it.

Remember the variations of action verbs:

Affirmative Sentence	Negative Sentence	Interrogative Sentence
I sing a song.	I do not (don't) sing a song.	Do I sing a song?
You sing a song.	You do not (don't) sing a song.	Do you sing a song?
He (she) sings a song.	He (she) does not (doesn't) sing a song.	Does he (she) sing a song?
We sing a song.	We do not (don't) sing a song.	Do we sing a song?
They sang a song.	They did not (didn't) sing a song.	Did they sing a song?

[Quiz 6.1]

Correct the verb errors in the sentences below. Some sentences may be correct as is.

1) I runs a marathon.
2) You look sleepy.
3) She do not dance.
4) Does you leave today?
5) We don't stay here.
6) It come with rice.