C1 GRAMMAR

ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

Adjectives are used to describe nouns. They I live in a beautiful house.
usually come directly before the noun. This is a wonderful place.
Adverbs (and adverbial phrases) are used to Mary dances wonderfully.
modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs. The I drive carefully.
position of adverbs in a sentence can vary She speaks fast.
depending on the main focus of the message. We study slowly.
Position of adverbs:
At the beginning of a sentence
Connecting adverbs and Time adverbs (if the adverb is not the main focus of the message)
In the middle of a sentence (before the main verb) Adverbs of certainty and completeness, Adverbs of indefinite
frequency, Adverbs of comment, some Adverbs of manner (if the adverb is not the main focus of the message)

At the end of a sentence

Adverbs of manner (see above) Adverbs of place, Time Adverbs (see above)
Many adverbs end in -y, but some words ending in -y are adjectives not adverbs.
There are also many adverbs which do not end in -y.
Sometimes the adjective and adverb have the same form: fast, hard, fine, early, daily.

More information:

ADJECTIVES

An adjective modifies (qualifies or limits the meaning of) a noun or a pronoun. It answers the questions, What kind?
Which one(s)? How many? How much? For example: Carrie read an interesting story. (What kind of story?) The
recent article has that information. (Which article?) Kent owns those surfboards. (Which surfboards?) Wendy paid
fifty dollars for the jacket. (How many dollars?) Much space was devoted to her artwork. (How much space?)

The words a, an, and the are the most frequently used adjectives. Although they are sometimes referred to as
articles or noun markers, they are really adjectives, plain and simple. Use a before words that start with a
consonant sound and an before words that start with a vowel sound.

There are several types of adjectives:

 A proper adjective is formed from a proper noun.

Italian bread Herculean strength Midas touch Canadian sunset

 A compound adjective is a word composed of two or more words. Sometimes these words are
hyphenated.

Landmark *punto de referencia* decision black-and-blue mark hometown hero

People sometimes confuse adjectives with nouns or with pronouns. Here are some points to remember.

QUESTION 1: When is a word a noun? When is a word an adjective?

The magazine article applauded the students’ efforts in the charity drive. (Magazine is an adjective that describes
which article.)

The article about the students’ efforts in the charity drive was in the magazine. (Here magazine is a noun since it is
the name of a thing and does not describe anything.)

Our Thanksgiving celebration was fun. (Thanksgiving is an adjective describing which celebration.)
We celebrated Thanksgiving. (Thanksgiving is the name of the holiday that was celebrated.)

QUESTION 2: When is a word a pronoun? When is a word an adjective?

These demonstrative pronouns can be used as adjectives: that, these, this, and those.

These interrogative pronouns can be used as adjectives: what and which.

These indefinite pronouns can be used as adjectives: all, another, any, both, each, either, few, many, more, most,
neither, other, several, and some.

This problem is difficult. (This is an adjective since it answers the question, Which problem?)

This is difficult. (This is a pronoun since it takes the place of a noun and does not modify a noun or a pronoun.)

Some people are very funny. (Some is an adjective since it answers the question, Which people?)

Some are funny. (Some is a pronoun since it takes the place of a noun and does not modify a noun or a pronoun.)

ADVERBS

An adverb is a word that modifies (qualifies or limits) a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

◗ Many adverbs end in - ly.

◗ Adverbs answer any of these four questions: Where? When? How? To what extent?

◗ Adverbs make writing more specific and more exact.

◗ Here are some adverbs that do not end in - ly:

Adverbs modify verbs:

John ate quickly. (How did he eat?) I walk there. (Where did I walk?) Ashleigh will eat soon. (When will Ashleigh
eat?)

Adverbs modify adjectives:

Rex is very happy. (Very modifies the adjective happy and answers the question, To what extent?)

The program was too unrealistic. (Too modifies the adjective unrealistic and answers the question, To what
extent?)

Adverbs modify other adverbs:

Warren walks too quickly. (Too modifies the adverb quickly and answers the question, How quickly?) He moved
rather recently. (Rather modifies the adverb recently and answers the question, How recently?)

When is a word an adjective, and when is it an adjective? Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns. Adverbs do not.
Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Adjectives do not.
 E.g. Helen has a yearly membership at the local health club. (Yearly is an adjective since it modifies the noun
membership and tells which membership.) Helen contributes yearly. (Yearly is an adverb since it modifies the verb
contributes and answers the question, when does Helen contribute?)

Mike arrived late. (Late is an adverb since it tells when Mike arrived.) The late delivery cut down on sales in the
supermarket. (Late is an adjective because it tells which delivery.)

Types of adverbs

adverb of manner modifies a verb (ate). Most adverbs of manner are formed from an adjective + ly.

An adverb of frequency says how often the person does the activity.

an adverb of degree before some adjectives and adverbs: completely, totally, absolutely, entirely, quite, very,
extremely, really, awfully, terribly, rather, fairly, quite, pretty, a little, a bit, hardly, so, as; too; more, most, less,
least.

A truth adverb expresses what the speaker knows about the truth of a statement: Perhaps/Maybe, certainly,
undoubtedly, basically. Most of these adverbs can go in front, mid or end position. Certainly, definitely and
probably usually go in mid position. But in a negative sentence we put a truth adverb after the subject rather than
after the auxiliary. You certainly haven't wasted any time.

Comment adverbs: We use this kind of adverb to make a comment on what we are saying: Luckily no one was
killed. (= It was lucky that no one was killed.) The newspaper wasn't interested in the story, surprisingly. I'm
afraid/Unfortunately we didn't win anything.

A linking adverb relates to the previous clause or sentence. It most often goes in front position, but it can go in mid
or end position. E.g. as well, too, in addition, furthermore, nevertheless, on the other hand, therefore,
consequently, as a result, likewise; instead. They have similar meanings to conjunctions such as and, but, so and if.
MORE GRAMMAR

VERBS

There are several types of verbs to be studied: the action verb, the linking verb, and the helping verb.

 Action Verbs: tells what action (often a physical action) a subject is performing, has performed, or will
perform. EXAMPLE: My father delivers packages to department stores each day. Louie bowled a perfect
game last night. Suzanne skated across the rink in Central Park. Turn at the next corner, Noel. Oscar will
help Petra with the project.
 Linking Verbs: connects (or links) a subject to a noun or an adjective in the predicate. The most common
linking verbs are the forms of the verb “to be” (am, is, are, was, were, been, being) and appear, become,
feel, grow, look, remain, seem, smell, sound, stay, taste, and turn. EXAMPLE: My sister is a doctor. (The
linking verb, is, connects the subject, sister, with the predicate nominative, doctor.) My sister is studying to
become a doctor. (In this sentence the word is is a helping verb for the main verb, studying. Is does not
function as a linking verb.) He appeared tired. (The linking verb, appeared, links the subject, He, with the
predicate adjective, tired.) He appeared at the game. (In this sentence the verb, appeared, is an action
verb, not a linking verb.)

In the following group of sentences, the odd-numbered sentences exemplify the linking verb and the even-
numbered sentences show the same verb used as either an action verb or a helping verb. Discuss why each verb
functions as it does.

1. Reggie looked confused. 2. Reggie looked for his missing wallet. 3. Tammy grew tired during the long concert.

4. Tammy grew tomatoes in her garden this year. 5. I feel confused in math class.

 Helping Verbs: assists the main verb in a sentence. There can be more than one helping verb in each
sentence. In a questioning (interrogative) sentence, the helping verb is usually separated from the main
verb. The common helping verbs are am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being, has, had, have, do, does, did,
may, might, must, can, could, shall, should, will, and would.

The italicized word in each sentence below is the helping verb. The underlined word is the main verb.

State verbs express meanings such as being, having, opinions and feelings. E.g. adore, depend, doubt, lack, owe,
seem, be deserve envy like own understand believe desire exist love pity want belong to despise hate matter
possess wish consist of detest intend mean prefer contain dislike know need resemble

Think you know your verbs? On the lines below, write a verb that starts with the letter a, and then one that starts
with the letter b, and so forth until you have written a verb for each of the twenty-six letters of the alphabet. These
verbs can be action, linking, or helping verbs.

PREPOSITION
A common preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or a pronoun and another word in the
sentence. The man swam under the bridge. (Under connects the idea of swam and bridge.) Julie walked around the
campus and toward * hacia* town. (Around connects walked and campus. Toward connects walked and town.)

Here are the most commonly used prepositions:

But is a preposition only when it can be replaced by the word except.

Types of prepositions

Preposition of place: on, in, at, under, below, above, behind, across, on top of, near, close, from, besides, next to…
At usually expresses position, and to expresses movement: Position: We were at the café. Movement: We went to
the café. As a general rule, in and on express position, and into and onto express movement. Position: We were
sitting in the café. She stood on the balcony. Movement: We went into the café. She walked onto the balcony.
Some prepositions of place can also express time: Lots of people work from nine o'clock to five.

At, on, in:

At is one-dimensional. We use it when we see something as a point in space. The car was waiting at the lights.
There's someone at the door.

On is two-dimensional. We use it for a surface. Don't leave your glass on the floor. There were lots of pictures on
the walls. We also use on for a line. Paris is on the Seine. The house is right on the main road.

In is three-dimensional. We use it when we see something as all around. I had five pounds in my pocket. Who's that
man in the green sweater? There was a man sitting in the waiting room.

Compare in and at with buildings. It was cold in the library. (= inside the building) We were at the library. (=
choosing a book)

Preposition of time: We use these prepositions in phrases saying when. See you at one o'clock. They arrived on
Friday. We met in 1985.

At: We use at with a particular time such as a clock time or meal time. E.g. at half past five at breakfast (time)/ at
that time at the moment. We also use at with holiday periods of two or three days. at Christmas at Thanksgiving at
the weekend

On: We use on with a single day. on Tuesday on 7th August on that day on Easter Sunday

In: We use in with longer periods. in the next few days in the summer holidays in spring in July in 1992 in the 19th
century. We also use in with a part of the day. in the afternoon in the mornings, but we use on if we say which day.
on Tuesday afternoon on Friday mornings on the evening of the 12th.

CONJUNCTION

A conjunction connects words or group of words. There are three types of conjunctions:
A coordinating conjunction is a single connecting word. for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. The boys and girls worked
at the fair.

A Correlative conjunction are pairs of connecting words. both/and, either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also,
whether/or.

Both Henry and jane are leaving the dance now. (The correlative conjunctions join two names.)

Not only will they leave now, but they will also not be here to help clean up. (The correlative conjunctions join two
sentences or complete ideas.)

Either go with them or stay here and help. (The correlative conjunctions illustrate a choice.)

He went neither to the stadium nor to the concert hall during this vacation. (The correlative conjunctions join two
prepositional phrases.)

subordinating conjunctions

A subordinating conjunction is a word that connects an independent clause to a dependent clause. An independent
clause can stand alone as a sentence.

 After - "Your heart will break like mine, and you'll want only me after you've gone" (Ella Fitzgerald)
 Although - "Although I've been here before, he's just too hard to ignore" (Amy Winehouse)
 As - "As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take a look at my life and realize there's nothing
left" (Coolio)
 As long as - "I don't care who you are, where you're from or what you did as long as you love me"
(Backstreet Boys)
 Because - "I'm everything I am because you loved me" (Celine Dion)
 Before - "Just call me angel of the morning, angel. Just touch my cheek before you leave me, baby" (Juice
Newton)
 Even if - "Even if the sky is falling down, you'll be my only" (Jay Sean)
 If - "If you leave me now, you'll take away the biggest part of me" (Chicago)
 Once - "Once in a blue moon, something good comes along." (Van Morrison)
 Now that - "Baby, now that I've found you, I won't let you go" (Tony Macaulay/John MacLeod)
 Since - "I guess I'll never be the same since I fell for you" (B.B. King)
 Though - "Walk on through the rain though your dreams be tossed and blown" (Rodgers and Hammerstein)
 Unless - "We're never going to survive unless we get a little crazy" (Seal)
 Until - "I'll keep on dreaming until my dreams come true." (Charlie Louvin)
 When - "When I see you smile, I can face the world" (Bad English)
 Where - "There's a light burning bright, showing me the way, but I know where I've been" (Scott Wittman)
 While - "I look at the world, and I notice it's turning while my guitar gently weeps" (The Beatles)

INTERJECTION

An interjection is a word that expresses strong feeling or emotion:

 ◗ An interjection usually comes at the beginning of the sentence.

◗ An interjection is often followed by an exclamation point (!) when the emotion is strong or a comma (,) when the
emotion is mild.

◗ Do not overuse interjections. Include one when you want to make your point. If you use too many interjections,
your writing loses its power and effectiveness.