Adjective and Adverb Outline Notes

I. Adjectives
Basic Outline - Notes
Adjectives and Adverbs
A. Definition – modifies a noun or pronoun
B. Answers the questions – what kind? Which one? How many?
C Examples – a hot day (one adj before noun)
A big, bloody mess (two adj before a noun)
She is creative (adj after linking verb)
A boring course (-ing verb acting as adj)
B. Don’t use adjectives when adverbs are needed
C. Compound Adjectives
i. Separated - Two or more adjectives often appear together
separated with commas
Tim’s tiny, tight swimsuit showed off his hairy belly.
The words “tiny” and “tight” each work separately
to modify “swimsuit”
ii. Before - Connect the words with a hyphen when they function
together before a noun
Tim’s gold-plated piercings stood out against his bright-red
sunburn.
“Gold-plated” and “bright-red” are compound
adjectives
iii. After - Do not hyphenate the words when they come after the
noun they modify
F. Modifiers - Put adjectives and adverbs close to the words they modify
Wrong - An old pile of clothes is on the floor.
Correct - A pile of old clothes is on the floor.
II.
Adverbs
A. Definition – Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs, many
end in -ly
B. Answers the questions – How? When?
C. Examples – Eating quickly (modifying a verb)
Trying very hard (modifying an adverb)
A really big show (modifying an adjective)
D. Don’t - Before using any of these words, check to see if they add anything
to the sentence

Really, very, absolutely, extremely, quite, actually, somewhat,
rather
E. Modifiers – wrong -I can’t quite do this as well as Fred.
Correct - I can’t do this quite as well as Fred.
III.
Comparative and Superlative Forms
i. Comparative means use the comparative form to compare two
things
ii. Examples –Sally is the larger of the twins. (not largest)
iii. Don’t use - Don’t use “more” or “most” with –er or –est
Yesterday was more hotter than today
That was the most dirtiest story I ever heard
You are the bestest teacher
B. Superlative means use the superlative form to compare three or more
i. Examples – August was the hottest month of the year.
ii. Don’t use -
C. Absolute concepts
i. Definition – Absolutes have only two possibilities, on or off, yes or
no, with nothing in between
ii. Examples - The most perfect student in the class
A very unique idea (say “very unusual” instead)
These words express absolute concepts that cannot be
modified