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Eight Troublesome Modifiers

A word that modifies a noun or pronoun should be in adjective form. A word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb should be in adverb form.
ADJECTIVES ADVERBS USAGE

Our trip got off to a bad start. The good doctor said I was well. We played the video in slow motion. The real picture seems clearer.

Our trip began badly. I should do well on that test today. Look first; then, back up slowly. Do we expect to hike really far?

EXERCISE Some of the sentences below have a form of modifier that is incorrect according to the rules of
formal, standard English. If the form of a modifier is incorrect, cross it out and write the correct form above it. If a sentence has no errors, write C at the beginning of the sentence. really Example 1. Did her tears in the play seem real convincing to you?

1. Theo threw the ball bad, but it still went into the hoop. 2. Our car came to a slow stop after the engine quit running. 3. Before adding the liquid ingredients, mix these together good. 4. How good did Arlo sing during the choir tryouts? 5. The computerized image of the lion looked real frightening. 6. Please explain why the milk tasted badly if it looked just fine. 7. Rain fell quite slow, soaking everything thoroughly. 8. Look for real juice when buying snacks for the children. 9. Watching cartoons interfered very bad with my homework. 10. Justine was surprised that her batting average was so good. 11. Moving at a slow pace, the snail eventually reached its destination. 12. Harry thought Denises suggestion was real excellent. 13. What a good route this will be once the bridge is finished! 14. Marta put a picture of a real mouse beside her computer mouse. 15. Does that pace seem too slowly for this kind of relay? 16. The story she told was a good one. 17. Did I speak slow enough? 18. They did reasonably good on the exam. 19. Is the movie good enough to recommend? 20. I ate too much bread, and my stomach felt badly for a few minutes.
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Regular Comparison
19d. Modifiers change form to show comparison.
POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE USAGE

quickly

more quickly

most quickly

EXERCISE Complete the following chart by filling in the two missing forms for each given modifier. (Do
not include decreasing comparisons.) Example Positive Comparative faster Comparative Superlative fastest Superlative largest early more popular fewer most famous numerous clearest most mountainous warmer frequently pretty more intense beautiful most intelligent more patient most expensive cheap most talented funniest more magnificent

1.
Positive

fast

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
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10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

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Irregular Comparison
The comparative and superlative degrees of some modifiers are irregular in form.
POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE

bad good well many much far little

worse better better more more farther/further less

worst best best most most farthest/furthest least

9. I was willing to carry the argument (more far, further) than he was. 10. We raised far (more, mucher) money this year than last. 11. What is the (most little, least) amount you could expect to pay? 12. Sami ran the (most far, farthest) of all of us. 13. After I took the medicine, I felt (more bad, worse) than I had before. 14. I think the blue corn chips are (better, gooder) than the yellow. 15. I have seen (gooder, better) illustrations in other books. 16. She drove (farther, more far) than the rest of us. 17. Does the squash dish taste (better, more good) than the spinach? 18. Which of the two clarinets is the (most little, least) expensive? 19. She understood the play (better, more well) than I did. 20. Boris played his (baddest, worst) game ever last week.

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USAGE

EXERCISE Underline the correct form of the modifier in parentheses.

Example 1. Eric took (littler, less) time to give his report than I did.

1. Justins tree has the (most, mostest) peaches. 2. The results were (more bad, worse) than we had expected. 3. Cara was obviously the (most good, best) runner on the team. 4. You bought (more, manier) clothes today than I bought all year! 5. Who has (less, more little) homework, you or Tim? 6. Of the three carpet samples, I liked the soft one the (most good, best). 7. Sara is feeling (weller, better) than she has in some time. 8. That color looks even (worse, badder) in daylight!

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Regular and Irregular Comparison A

19d. Modifiers change form to show comparison.
POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE USAGE

calm quiet decidedly bad far good/well little

calmer quieter more decidedly worse further/farther better less

calmest quietest most decidedly worst furthest/farthest best least

EXERCISE A In each sentence below, a modifier is underlined. Above the modifier, write P if it is the
positive form, C if it is comparative, or S if it is superlative. C Example 1. Please put the older books on the shelf.

1. That plant has the greenest leaves of all the plants in the garden. 2. Walt arrived at the drama club meeting early, as he had planned. 3. The sooner you can get here, the more we will be able to get finished. 4. Give the name most commonly used to refer to this orange and black butterfly. 5. Bermuda grass is a tougher and better grass for the lawns in our climate.

EXERCISE B In each sentence below, a modifier is underlined. If the form of the modifier is incorrect,
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write the correct form above it. If it is already correct, write C above it. worse Example 1. When he got up, Benjamin felt badder than when he had gone to bed.

6. Yoshi shined the brightest of the spotlights on the actors at center stage. 7. This bicycle helmet offers more good protection than the old model did. 8. What was the most bad grade you have ever gotten on an essay? 9. Of all my friends, Phil and Ann stayed the latest to clean up after the party. 10. Modern science fiction movies have gooder special effects than early movies did. 11. Yesterdays tornado was the baddest of any we have seen this season. 12. We must be quieter so the groups around us can finish their work. 13. Lori is the most good three-point shooter on the basketball team. 14. Stephen felt much more well after he had a nap. 15. The only thing worser for a picnic than rain is an invasion of ants.

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