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 I’ve 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.



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.

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)

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 I’m 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)