MODIFIERS

ADJECTIVES and ADVERBS

 Basic Grammar Review – 1
 Modifiers

 Adjectives
 Adverbs
A common way of expanding the basic sentence is with
modifiers---words that add to the meaning of other
words.

Simplest modifiers are adjectives and adverbs.

Adverbs modify verbs,
The clown’s sad smile
Adjectives modify nouns. adjectives, and other
touched us deeply.
adverbs.
Adverbs

 I go there occasionally.
 I occasionally go there.
 Occasionally I go there.
 Rule 2

 A special -ly rule applies when four of the senses

- taste, smell, look, feel - are the verbs. Do not
ask if these senses answer the question how to
determine if -ly should be attached. Instead, ask
if the sense verb is being used actively. If so, use
the -ly.
Examples:
 Roses smell sweet.
Do the roses actively smell with noses? No, so no -ly.

 The woman looked angry.

Did the woman actively look with eyes or are we describing her
appearance? We are only describing appearance, so no -ly.

 The woman looked angrily at the paint splotches.

Here the woman did actively look with eyes, so the -ly is added.

 She feels bad about the news.

She is not feeling with fingers, so no -ly.
Rule 3

 When referring to health, use well rather than good.

Example:
 I do not feel well. You do not look well today.

Note: You may use good with feel when you are not referring to
health.

Example:
 I feel good about my decision to learn Spanish.
Rule 4
 Use the comparative form of an adverb to
compare two actions. Use the superlative
form of an adverb to compare more than two
actions.

 As in, "She is the poorer of the two women." To

compare more than two things, we should say
poorest, as in, "She is the poorest of them all."
Not all adverbs are flexible.
 They are ADVERBS, not part of the verb; as,
1. Ben speaks well.
2. Ken did not answer the telephone.
3. Kevin never leaves work early.

 Adverbs modify other adverbs also.

1. She sang very beautifully.
2. They moved quite slowly down the road.
3. He is almost always hungry.
Identify the Adverbs
1. He drove his employees hard.
2. Alice sometimes goofs off.
3. He clearly articulates each word.
4. She often makes mistakes.
5. Anita never asks questions.
6. Dennis will sometimes correct her errors.
7. Jane reads very slowly.
8. The resume should be typed accurately.
9. It should also include your educational background.
10. She can also concentrate on her job.
Identify the Verbs and Adverbs in the given
sentences.
1. Greg desperately wanted a vacation.
2. So he cautiously asked his boss for time off.
3. She answered him regretfully.
4. She seriously needed his help.
5. He patiently explained his needs.
6. His mind had been wandering aimlessly.
7. His work was being done sloppily.
8. His boss looked at Greg hesitantly.
9. Then she calmly told him to go.
10. He politely thanked her.
Adjectives
Any word or group of words that adds information to a noun or
pronoun.
 I ate an enormous lunch.
 The tough professor gave us the final exam.
 Fifteen students passed the midterm exam; twelve students passed
the final exam.

Adjectives usually answer one of a few different questions:

"What kind?" or "Which?" or "How many?“
 So, generally speaking, adjectives answer
the following questions:

 Which?
 What kind of?
 How many?
Identify the Adjectives
1. A roving reporter phoned in her story.
2. It concerned a growing controversy.
3. The demanding editor wanted the details.
4. The reporter interviewed a politician accused of graft.
5. She asked provoking questions.
6. The alleged criminal did not evade the questions.
7. He had been offered a tempting bribe.
8. Refusing, he called the FBI.
9. They had been investigating the suspected politician.
10. He claimed to be an honest man.
Division

Three classes of adjectives:

1. Adjectives of Quality
2. Adjectives of Quantity
3. Adjectives of Number
1. Adjectives of Quality
 Show the ‘kind or quality’ of a person or
thing; as,

 Kolkata is a large city.

 He is an honest man.
 The foolish old crow tried to sing.
 This is the Grammar of the English language.
2. Adjectives of Quantity
 Show ‘how much’ of a thing is meant; as,
 I ate some rice.
 He showed much patience.
 He has little intelligence.
 He has lost all his wealth.
 He did not eat any food.
 The whole sum was expected.
 There has not been sufficient rain this year.
3. Adjectives of Number
 Show how much/many persons or things are
meant, or in what order a person or thing stands;
as,

 The hand has five fingers.

 There are no pictures in this book.
 I have taught you many things.
 Sunday is the first day of the week.
 There are several mistakes in your exercise.
Adjectives of Number
 Three kinds;
1. Definite Numeral Adjectives
2. Indefinite Numeral Adjectives
3. Distributive Numeral Adjectives
1. Definite Numeral Adjectives:
 Which denote an exact number; as,
 One, two, three, etc ………. Called Cardinals denoting
how many.

 Which denote the order of things in a series.

 First, second, third, etc ….. Called Ordinals denoting the
order of things.
2. Indefinite Numeral Adjectives:
 Which do not denote an exact number; as,
 All
 Many
 Few
 Some
 Any
 Certain
 Several
 Sundry
3. Distributive Numeral Adjectives:
 Which refers to each one of a number; as,
 Each boy must take his turn.
 Every word of it is false.
 Either pen will do.
 On either side is a narrow lane.
 Neither of the accusation is true.
Turn each of these words into an adjective
by providing an appropriate suffix and then
come up with an appropriate sentence.

1. Care 11. Compare

2. Express 12. Terror
3. Luck 13. verb
4. Boast 14. Glory
5. Admit 15. Biology
6. Spine 16. Insist
7. Photograph 17. Mood
8. Infinity 18. Planet
9. Sense 19. Bible
10. Magic