Adjective

and
Adverb
Tanveer Adnan
  ADJECTIVE 
Adjectives and adverbs are modifiers. Modifiers describe,
limit, or give more exact meanings to words. Modifiers also help to
make sentences more alive and more interesting.
An adjective is a word that modifies a noun or a pronoun.
The word modify means "to change" or "to give more information
about." An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun by describing it
or by making it more exact. An adjective answers one of three
questions:
1. Which? 2. What kind? 3. How many?
2
ADJECTIVE
Each of the adjectives in the following sentences answers a
different question.
Look at those flowers. [Which flowers? Those flowers.]
Colored chocolates are organized in containers.
[What kind of chocolates? Colored chocolates.]
Several workers came to the meeting.
[How many workers? Several workers.]
• More than one adjective may modify the same noun or pronoun.
Every morning those two loud neighbors pass our house.
[Which neighbors? Those neighbors. How many neighbors? Two
neighbors. What kind of neighbors? Loud neighbors.] 3
USAGE OF ADJECTIVE
1. The lazy boy was punished.
2. The boy is lazy.
• In sentence 1, the Adjective lazy is used along with the noun boy
as an attribute. It is, therefore, said to be used Attributively.
• In sentence 2, the Adjective lazy is used along with the verb is,
and forms part of the Predicate. It is, therefore, said to be used
Predicatively.
• Some Adjectives can be used only Predicatively; as,
He is afraid. She speaks English well.
He is a frightened man. I can speak good English.
(NOT... 'an afraid man’) (NOT… 'well English') 4
KINDS OF ADJECTIVES
• Adjectives of Quality show the kind or quality of a person or
thing; as,
Dhaka is a large city. He is an honest man.
Adjectives of Quality answer the question: Of what kind?
• Adjectives of Quantity show how much of a thing is meant as,
I ate some rice He showed much patience.
He has little intelligence. We have had enough exercise.
He has lost all his wealth. You have no sense.
Adjectives of Quantity answer the question: How much?

5
KINDS OF ADJECTIVES
• Adjectives of Number show how many persons or things are
meant, or in what order a person or thing stands; as,
The hand has five fingers. Few cats like cold water.
There are no pictures in this book. I wrote many letters to you.
Adjectives of Number answer the question: How many?
• Adjectives of Number (or Numeral Adjectives) are of three kinds:
(i) Definite Numeral Adjectives, which denote an exact
number; as,
One, two, three, etc. -- These are called Cardinals.
First, second, third, etc. -- These are called Ordinals.
6
KINDS OF ADJECTIVES
(ii) Indefinite Numeral Adjectives, which do not denote an
exact number; as,
All, no; many, few; some, any; certain, several.
(iii) Distributive Numeral Adjectives, which refer to each one
of a number; as.,
Each boy must take his turn. Each student must bring a book.
Every word of it is false. Either pen will do.
On either side is a narrow lane. Neither accusation is true.

7
QUANTITY OR NUMBER ?
The same Adjective may be classed as of Quantity or Number,
according to its use.
Quantity I ate some rice.
Number Some boys are clever.

Quantity He has lost all his wealth.

Number All men must die.
Quantity You have no sense.
Number There are no pictures in this book.

Quantity He did not eat any rice.

Number Are there any oak trees in this garden?
8
PROPER ADJECTIVES
• A proper adjective is a proper noun that modifies another noun
or pronoun. It always begins with a capital letter.
Do you want to go see the John Wayne movie?
[Which movie? The John Wayne movie.]
To create many proper adjectives, you add the suffix –n, -an, -ian,
or -ic to the proper noun.
Proper Nouns Proper Adjectives
Asia - Asian
Rome - Roman
King Edward - Edwardian
Napoleon - Napoleonic 9
PLACEMENT OF ADJECTIVES
• Many adjectives come directly before the nouns or pronouns that
they modify.
The tall, graceful dancer jumped across the empty stage.
• Adjectives may come before the nouns or pronouns that they
modify and be set off with commas.
Tired and hot, the children entered the room noisily.
• Sometimes, however, adjectives appear in other places in the
sentence. For example, an adjective may come after a linking verb.
In this position, an adjective modifies a noun or pronoun that
comes before the verb.
The dancer was athletic. He appeared powerful.
10
PLACEMENT OF ADJECTIVES
• Two or more adjectives may appear after the noun or pronoun
that they modify. Adjectives in this position are set off with
commas.
The children, tired and hot, entered the room noisily.
The smoke, black and threatening, erupted from the north face of
the mountain.

11
NOUNS USED AS ADJECTIVES
• Some nouns may function as adjectives without changing form.
I get bored halfway through summer vacation.
[What kind of vacation? Summer vacation.]
We went to the tennis matches in Forest Hills.
[What kind of matches? Tennis matches.]
● Possessive Nouns
Nouns that show possession are used as adjectives in sentences. A
possessive noun answers the question Whose? or Which?
> We form the singular possessive of most nouns by adding -'s.
Alice's grades are improving. [Whose grades? Alice's grades.]
Billy's friend just called. [Whose friend? Billy's friend.]
12
NOUNS USED AS ADJECTIVES
> We form the plural possessive of most nouns by adding -s' or
-es' to the singular form of the noun.
The farmers' group will meet tonight.
[Which group? The farmers' group.]
● Possessive Pronouns
Some possessive pronouns modify nouns and pronouns and
therefore are used as adjectives.
I wish my sister would call. [Whose sister? My sister.]
He put on his boots. [Whose boots? His boots.]
The possessive pronouns that can function as adjectives are in the
following list: my, our, your, his, her, its, their.
13
OTHER PRONOUNS USED AS ADJ
Indefinite pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, and interrogative
pronouns may also modify nouns. Here is a list of the pronouns
that function most often as adjectives.

INDEFINITE some, many, several, few

DEMONSTRATIVE this, that, these, those
INTERROGATIVE which, what, whose

Some people do not like sports.

[How many people? Some people.]
Why are we going this way?
[Which way? This way.]
14
PROPER USE OF SOME ADJECTIVES
• Some, any - To express quantity or degree, some is used
normally in affirmative sentences, any in negative or
interrogative sentences.
I will buy some mangoes. I will not buy any mangoes.
Have you bought any mangoes?
• But any can be used after if in affirmative sentences.
If you need any money, I will help you.
• Some is used in questions which are really offers/requests or
which expect the answer “yes”.
Will you have some ice-cream? (Offer)
Could you lend me some money? (Request)
Did you buy some clothes? (= I expect you did.) 15
PROPER USE OF SOME ADJECTIVES
Little a little the little
• Little = not much (i.e., hardly any). Thus, the adjective little
has a negative meaning.
There is little hope of his recovery. (He is not likely to recover)
• A little = some though not much. 'A little' has a positive
meaning.
There is a little hope of his recovery. (He may possibly recover)
• The little = not much, but all there is.
The little information he had was not quite reliable.
16
PROPER USE OF SOME ADJECTIVES
Few a few the few
• Few = not many, hardly any. ‘Few’ has a negative meaning.
Few people are able to do the work.
• A few = some. ‘A few’ has a positive meaning, and is opposed
to ‘none’.
I gave a dinner party for a few close friends.
• The few = not many, but all there are.
The few clothes they had were all torn.

17
COMPARSION OF ADJECTIVES
• In the positive degree, an adjective assigns a quality to a
person, a place, a thing, or an idea. No comparison is made.
POSITIVE The pond is clear. John is smart.
• In the comparative degree, an adjective compares one person,
thing, place, or idea with another one.
COMPARATIVE The pond is clearer than the lake.
John is smarter than I am.
• In the superlative degree, an adjective compares one person,
thing, place, or idea with at least two others.
SUPERLATIVE That pond is the clearest pond in the state.
John is the smartest student in the class.
18
COMPARSION OF ADJECTIVES
• One-Syllable Adjectives: If an adjective has only one syllable,
we must add -er to form the comparative and -est to form the
superlative. In some cases, we must drop a final e or double a
final consonant before adding the suffix.
fine, finer, finest thin, thinner, thinnest
• Two-Syllable Adjectives: For most two-syllable adjectives, we
must add -er to form the comparative and -est to form the
superlative. In some cases, we must change a final y to i before
adding the suffix.
mellow, mellower, mellowest lazy, lazier, laziest
19
COMPARSION OF ADJECTIVES
If a two-syllable adjective is difficult to pronounce when -er and
-est are added, we form the comparative and the superlative by
using more and most instead.
brittle, more brittle, most brittle
cautious, more cautious, most cautious
• Adjectives of Three or More Syllables: If an adjective has three
or more syllables, always form the comparative and superlative
degrees by using more and most before the positive form.
energetic, more energetic, most energetic
glorious, more glorious, most glorious
20
COMPARSION OF ADJECTIVES
• Comparisons Using Less and Least: For comparisons showing
less of a quality, form the comparative and superlative degrees
by using less and least before the positive form.
angry, less angry, least angry lucky, less lucky, least lucky
• Irregular Comparisons: Some adjectives do not form
comparisons according to the preceding rules. The best way to
learn the correct forms of irregular comparisons is to memorize
them.
good, better, best bad, worse, worst
many, more, most ill, worse, worst
much, more, most far, farther, farthest
little, less, least far, further, furthest 21
IRREGULAR COMPARSION
• Later, latter; latest, last : Later and latest refer to time; latter
and last refer to position.
He is later than I expected. I have not heard the latest news.
The latter chapters are lacking in interest.
The last chapter is carelessly written.
Ours is the last house in the street.
• Elder, older; eldest, oldest : Elder and eldest are used only of
persons, not of animals or things; and are now confined to
members of the same family. Elder is not used with than
following. Older and oldest are used of both persons and things.
John is my elder brother. Tom is my eldest son.
He is older than his sister. Jane is the oldest girl here.
This is the oldest temple in Vela. 22
IRREGULAR COMPARSION
• Certain English Comparatives have lost their comparative
meaning and are used as Positive. They cannot be followed by
than. These are: former, latter, elder, upper, inner, outer, utter.
Both the tiger and the leopard are cats; the former animal is
much larger than the latter.
The inner meaning of this letter is not clear.
The soldiers ran to defend the outer wall.
My elder brother is an engineer. This man is an utter fool.
• Certain Comparatives borrowed from Latin have no Positive or
Superlative degree. They all end in or, not er. They are twelve in
all. Five of them have lost their Comparative meaning, and are
used as Positive Adjectives.
23
IRREGULAR COMPARSION
• These are: interior, exterior, ulterior, major, minor.
The exterior wall of the house is made of stone; the interior
walls are of wood.
His age is a matter of minor importance.
I have no ulterior motive in offering you help.
• The other seven are used as Comparative Adjectives but are
followed by to instead of than; as, inferior, superior, prior,
anterior, posterior, senior, junior.
Mac is inferior to Susan in intelligence.
Bilal's intelligence is superior to Megha's.
His marriage was prior to his father's death.
He is junior to all his colleagues. 24
  ARTICLES 
• The most frequently used adjectives are the articles a, an, and
the. They are really Demonstrative adjectives and come before
nouns.
INDEFINITE I enjoy an apple with my lunch. [any apple]
DEFINITE The apple had a worm in it. [a particular apple]
• The indefinite article is used before singular countable nouns,
e.g. a book, an orange, a girl.
• The definite article is used before singular countable nouns,
plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns, e.g., the book,
the books, the milk.

25
A / AN
• The choice between a and an is determined by sound.
> Before a word beginning with a vowel sound an is used; as,
an enemy, an ink-pad, an orange, an umbrella, an hour, an
honest man, an heir.
• It will be noticed that the words hour, honest, heir begin with
a vowel sound, as the initial consonant h is not pronounced.
> Before a word beginning with a consonant sound a is used; as,
a boy, a woman, a yard, also a university, a union, a European,
a ewe, a unicorn, a useful article because these words
(university, union, etc.) begin with a consonant sound, that of
yu.
• Similarly, we say, a one-rupee note, such a one, a one-eyed
man because one begins with the consonant sound of w. 26
A / AN
(1) In its original numerical sense of one; as,
Twelve inches make a foot. Not a word was said.
A word to the wise is sufficient.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
(2) In the vague sense of a certain; as,
A Michael is suspected by the police.
(= a certain person named Michael)
One evening a beggar came to my door.

27
THE
(1) Before some proper names, viz., these kinds of place-
names:
(a) oceans and seas, e.g., the Pacific, the black Sea
(b) rivers, canals e.g., the Ganga, the Suez Canal
(c) deserts, groups of islands e.g., the Sahara, the West Indies
(d) mountain-ranges, e.g., the Himalayas, the Alps
(e) a very few names of countries, which include words like
republic and kingdom (e.g., the Irish Republic, the United
Kingdom) also: the Ukraine, the Netherlands.
(2) Before the names of certain books; as, The Vedas, the
Iliad, the Ramayana.
But we say – Homer's Iliad, Valmiki's Ramayana.
28
THE
(3) Before names of things unique of their kind; as, The
sun, the sky, the ocean, the sea, the earth.
[Note – Sometimes the is placed before a common noun to
give it the meaning of an abstract noun; as,
At last the warrior in him was thoroughly aroused.]
(4) Before a proper noun when it is qualified by an
adjective or a defining adjectival clause; as,
The great Caesar : the immortal Shakespeare.
(5) With superlatives; as, The darkest cloud has a silver
lining. This is the best book of elementary chemistry.
(6) With ordinals; as, He was the first man to arrive.
The ninth chapter of the book is very interesting. 29
OMISSION OF THE ARTICLE
(1) Before names of substances and abstract nouns (i.e.
uncountable nouns) used in a general sense; as,
Sugar is bad for your teeth. Gold is a precious metal.
Wisdom is the gift of heaven. Honesty is the best policy.
Virtue is its own reward.
• Note – Uncountable nouns take the when used in a particular
sense (especially when qualified by an adjective or adjectival
phrase or clause); as,
Would you pass me the sugar? (= the sugar on the table)
The wisdom of Solomon is great.
I can't forget the kindness with which he treated me.
30
OMISSION OF THE ARTICLE
(2) Before plural countable nouns used in a general sense;
as,
Children like chocolates. Computers are used in many offices.
• Note that such nouns take the when used with a particular
meaning; as, Where are the children? (= our children)
(3) Before names of meals (used in a general sense); as,
What time do you have lunch? Dinner is ready.
• Note: We use a when there is an adjective before breakfast,
lunch, dinner, etc. We use the when we specify.
I had a late lunch today.
The dinner we had at the Tourist Hotel was very nice. 31
OMISSION OF THE ARTICLE
(4) Before school, college, university, church, bed,
hospital, prison, when these places are visited or used for their
primary purpose; as,
I learnt French at school. We go to church on Sundays.
He stays in bed till nine every morning.
My uncle is still in hospital.
• Note – The is used with these words when we refer to them as
a definite place, building or object rather than to the normal
activity that goes on there; as,
The school is very near my home. I met him at the church.
The bed is broken.
I went to the hospital to see my uncle. 32
  ADVERB 
• An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or
another adverb.
MODIFIES A VERB The pianist played skillfully.
MODIFIES AN ADJECTIVE She is a very skillful pianist.
MODIFIES AN ADVERB She plays quite beautifully.
An adverb answers one of five questions about the word or phrase
that it modifies:
1. How or in what manner?
2. When?
3. Where?
4. How often?
5. To what extent or degree?
33
ADVERB
The contestants glided gracefully across the ice.
[In what manner did the contestants glide? Gracefully.]
The contest began late. [When did the contest begin? Late.]
The crowd surged forward. [Where did the crowd surge? Forward.]
The ice machine rarely works.
[How often does the ice machine work? Rarely.]
The contest was very exciting.
[To what degree was the contest exciting? Very exciting.]
• The words not and never are adverbs. They tell to what extent
(not at all) and when (never).
The ice machine does not work. [Not modifies does work.]
The ice machine never works. [Never modifies works.] 34
KINDS OF ADVERBS
• Adverbs may be divided into the following classes, according
to their meaning:
(1) Adverbs of Time (which show when): ago, lately, soon, daily,
yesterday etc.
I have heard this before. We shall now begin to work.
(2) Adverbs of Frequency (which show how often): again,
always, frequently etc.
I have told you twice. He often makes mistakes.
(3) Adverbs of Place (which show where): there, up, away etc.
Stand here. The little lamb followed Mary everywhere. 35
KINDS OF ADVERBS
(4) Adverbs of Manner (which show how or in what manner):
clearly, bravely, soundly, hard, thus etc.
I was agreeably disappointed. Is that so?
This story is well written.
[Note - This class includes nearly all those Adverbs which are
derived from adjectives and end in -ly.]
(5) Adverbs of Degree or Quantity (which show how much, or in
what degree or to what extent): fully, quite, very, rather,
enough, partly, altogether, pretty, as etc.
He was too careless. Is that any better?
These mangoes are almost ripe.
36
KINDS OF ADVERBS
(6) Adverbs of Reason:
He is hence unable to refute the charge.
She therefore left school.
• Some of the above Adverbs may belong to more than one
class
She sings delightfully. (Adverb of Manner)
The weather is delightfully cool. (Adverb of Degree)
Don't go far. (Adverb of Place)
He is far better now. (Adverb of Degree)

37
ADVERBS MODIFYING VERBS
• The most common function of an adverb is to modify a verb. An
adverb that modifies a verb modifies the entire verb phrase, which
includes the main verb and its auxiliary verbs.
The driver was honking his horn desperately.
[The adverb, desperately, modifies the verb phrase, was honking.]
• An adverb that modifies a verb does not always appear next to
the verb in the sentence.
NEXT TO VERB The police suddenly arrived at the scene.
AT BEGINNING Suddenly the police arrived at the scene.
AT END The police arrived at the scene suddenly.
• An adverb sometimes interrupts a verb phrase. An adverb in this
position modifies all parts of the verb phrase.
The man was desperately honking his horn. 38
ADV MODIFYING ADJ & ADV
• Adverbs may also modify adjectives. An adverb that modifies an
adjective usually comes just before the adjective that it modifies.
Our dog is quite deaf. [Quite tells to what degree the dog is deaf.]
Your ideas are usually brilliant. [Usually tells how often the ideas
are brilliant.]
• Sometimes adverbs modify other adverbs. Such adverbs usually
come just before the adverbs that they modify, and they usually
tell to what degree or extent.
We were laughing quite loudly. [Loudly is an adverb that modifies
were laughing. Quite tells to what extent we were laughing loudly.]
The principal spoke rather sharply.
[Sharply is an adverb that modifies spoke. Rather tells to what
extent the principal spoke sharply.] 39
ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB?
• It is sometimes difficult to decide whether a word is an adjective
or an adverb. A large number of adverbs end in -ly, but so do some
adjectives.
ADVERB The guide yelled loudly.
ADJECTIVE The bear seemed friendly.
Sometimes the same word may be used as either an adjective or
an adverb.
ADVERB Everyone worked hard.
ADJECTIVE This is hard work.
To decide whether a modifier is an adjective or an adverb, figure
out what part of speech the modified word is. If the modified word
is a noun or a pronoun, the modifier is an adjective. If the modified
word is a verb, an adjective, or an adverb, the modifier is an
adverb. 40
ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB?
• You can also tell whether a modifier is an adjective or an adverb
by deciding which question the modifier answers.
ADJECTIVE ADVERB
1. Which? 1. How or in what manner?
2. What kind? 2. When?
3. How many? 3. Where?
4. How often?
5. To what extent or degree?
ADJECTIVE Jan is an early riser. [Think: Early tells what
kind of riser. Early modifies riser, which is a
noun. Early is therefore an adjective.]
ADVERB Jan left early. [Think: Early tells when Jan left.
Early modifies left, which is a verb. Early is
therefore an adverb.]
41
MORE ON ADVERBS
• When Adverbs are used in asking questions they are called
Interrogative Adverbs; as,
Where is Jonathan? [Place] When did you come? [Time]
Why are you late? [Reason] How did you arrange it? [Manner]
Show me the house where (=in which) he was assaulted.
Here, the Adverb where modifies the verb, was assaulted.
Further, the Adverb where, like a Relative Pronoun, here relates
or refers back to its antecedent house. It is, therefore, called a
Relative Adverb. Further examples of Relative Adverbs:
This is the reason why I left.
Do you know the time when the Karnophuli arrives? 42
MORE ON ADVERBS
• We will now see that according to their use, Adverbs are
divided into three classes –
(1) Simple Adverbs, used to modify the meaning of a verb, an
adjective, or an adverb; as,
I can hardly believe it. You are quite wrong.
(2) Interrogative Adverbs, used to ask questions; as,
Why are you late?
(3) Relative Adverbs, which refer back to a noun as their
antecedent; as,
I remember the house where I was born. 43
POSITION OF ADVERBS
• Adverbs of manner, which answer the question 'How?' (e.g.,
well, fast, quickly, carefully, calmly) are generally placed after
the verb or after the object if there is one; as,
It is raining heavily. The ship is going slowly.
She speaks English well. He does his work carefully.
• Adverbs or adverb phrases of place (e.g., here, there,
everywhere, on the wall) and of time (e.g., now, then, yet,
today, next Sunday) are also usually placed after the verb or
after the object if there is one; as,
He will come here. I looked everywhere.
Hang the picture there. I met him yesterday.
They are to be married next week. 44
POSITION OF ADVERBS
• When there are two or more adverbs after a verb (and its
object), the normal order is adverb of manner, adverb of place,
adverb of time.
She sang well in the concert.
We should go there tomorrow evening.
He spoke earnestly at the meeting last night.
• Adverbs of frequency, which answer the question 'How often?'
(e.g., always, never, often, rarely, usually, generally) and certain
other adverbs like almost, already, hardly, nearly, just, quite are
normally put between the subject and the verb if the verb
consists of only one word; if there is more than one word in the
verb, they are put after the first word.
His wife never cooks. He has never seen a tiger.
We usually have breakfast at eight. My uncle has just gone out. 45
POSITION OF ADVERBS
• When an adverb modifies an adjective or another adverb, the
adverb usually comes before it; as,
Asim is a rather lazy boy.
The dog was quite dead.
The book is very interesting.
Do not speak so fast.
• But the adverb enough is always placed after the word which
it modifies; as,
Is the box big enough?
He was rash enough to interrupt.
He spoke loud enough to be heard.
46
COMPARISON OF ADVERBS
• We can use adverbs to compare two or more actions. Like
adjectives, adverbs have three degrees of comparison.
POSITIVE Tom walks fast.
COMPARATIVE Ed walks faster than Tom.
SUPERLATIVE Joe walks the fastest of all the hikers.
The comparative degree of an adverb is used when comparing
the actions of two persons or things. The superlative degree is
used when comparing the actions of one person or thing with
the actions of more than one other person or thing.
Like adjectives, most one-syllable adverbs form the
comparative and the superlative by adding -er and -est to the
positive form.
fast, faster, fastest hard, harder, hardest 47
COMPARISON OF ADVERBS
• Adverbs that end in -ly form the comparative and superlative
by using more and most or less and least before the positive
form.
gently, more gently, most gently
brightly, less brightly, least brightly
Like adjectives, some adverbs have irregular comparisons.
Memorize these forms:
well, better, best little, less, least
badly, worse, worst much, more, most
far, farther, farthest
far, further, furthest

48
USING COMPARISONS CORRECTLY
• Rule: Avoid double comparisons.
Use either the suffixes -er and -est or the words more and most
to form the comparative and the superlative degrees of
adjectives and adverbs. Do not use -er or -est when you use
more or most.
INCORRECT The fruit was the most bitterest I've ever tasted.
CORRECT The fruit was the bitterest I've ever tasted.
The fruit was the most bitter I've ever tasted.

49