{"id":99,"date":"2024-05-28T23:28:28","date_gmt":"2024-05-28T23:28:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/karenmariepalmer.com\/theroughwritersguide\/chapter\/checking-adjectives-and-adverbs\/"},"modified":"2024-05-28T23:29:09","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T23:29:09","slug":"checking-adjectives-and-adverbs","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/karenmariepalmer.com\/theroughwritersguide\/chapter\/checking-adjectives-and-adverbs\/","title":{"raw":"Checking Adjectives and Adverbs","rendered":"Checking Adjectives and Adverbs"},"content":{"raw":"\n

Adverbs vs Adjectives<\/h1>\n

Many students get confused when it comes to adjectives and adverbs. Since many adverbs and adjectives are almost identical\u2014with slight changes in spelling (usually adverbs are formed by adding -ly<\/em> to the adjective)\u2014it's no wonder students get confused! A few adverbs and adjectives even have the same spelling (like best<\/strong>, fast<\/strong>, late<\/strong>, straight<\/strong>, low<\/strong>, and daily<\/strong>)!<\/p>\n\n

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Adjectives<\/th>\nAdverbs<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
bad<\/td>\nbadly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
beautiful<\/td>\nbeautifully<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
quick<\/td>\nquickly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
quiet<\/td>\nquietly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
slow<\/td>\nslowly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
soft<\/td>\nsoftly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
sudden<\/td>\nsuddenly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nYou likely already use adjectives and adverbs correctly, but the best way to make sure you are using adjectives and adverbs correctly is to understand how they are used.\n
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Adjectives Modify Nouns and Pronouns<\/h2>\n

Adjectives can be identified by knowing what job they accomplish in a sentence. Adjectives modify or describe nouns and pronouns. They answer the questions what kind? how many?<\/em> and which one?<\/em> If you find all the nouns and pronouns in a sentence and ask these questions of those nouns and pronouns, you'll find the adjectives! While you might not think of them as such, the articles a<\/em>, an<\/em>, and the<\/em> are also adjectives.<\/p>\n\n

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In the following sentences, the adjectives are in bold<\/strong> font and the nouns and pronouns are in italic<\/em> font.<\/p>\n

1. It takes crazy<\/strong> people<\/em> to go to a<\/strong> cave<\/em> at 4:00 a.m. to wait for the<\/strong> bats<\/em> to leave!<\/p>\n

Adjective questions: What kind of people? Crazy ones. Which cave? A cave. Which bats? The bats. Remember, a, an, and the are article adjectives!<\/p>\n

2. A<\/strong> few<\/strong> bats<\/em> seemed to circle above as the<\/strong> rest<\/em> flew off.<\/p>\n

Adjective Questions: How many bats? Few. Which few? A few. Which rest? The rest.<\/p>\n

3. That<\/strong> one<\/em> almost got in my<\/strong> hair<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Adjective questions: Which one? That one. Which hair? My hair. Note that \"my\" is a possessive pronoun, which can also be used as an adjective.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Adverbs Modify Verbs, Adjectives, and Adverbs<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Many adverbs end in -ly, but certainly not all them. This is why it's important to understand how to identify an adverb in a sentence. Once you've identified adverbs, you can make sure you are using them correctly.<\/p>\n

Adverbs modify (or describe) verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Hint: You can remember what adverbs are used for is to note the \"verb\" in the adverb.<\/em>  To identify an adverb in a sentence, you can ask the adverb questions about the verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in the sentence: when<\/em>, how<\/em>, why<\/em>, where<\/em>, under what condition<\/em>, to what degree<\/em>, how often<\/em>, and how much<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n

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In the following sentences, the adverbs are in bold<\/strong> font and the verbs and adjectives they modify are in italic<\/em> font. Note that the adverb questions are asked of verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.<\/p>\n

1. About a quarter million bats leave<\/em> Carlsbad Caverns nightly<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Adverb question: When do they leave? Nightly. Nightly is an adverb.<\/p>\n

2. The bats flew<\/em> above<\/strong> our heads.<\/p>\n

Adverb question: Where did they fly? Above--above is an adverb.<\/p>\n

3. The bats are incredibly<\/strong> dense<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Adverb question: To what degree are they dense? Incredibly--this is an adverb.<\/p>\n

4. Each little bat can change<\/em> directions amazingly fast<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

How<\/strong> do they change directions? Fast--fast is an adverb.<\/p>\n

AND To what degree<\/strong> do they change directions fast? Amazingly--amazingly is the adverb.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Using Comparatives and Superlatives<\/h1>\n

Most adjectives and adverbs have three levels of intensity. The lowest level is the base, or positive, level, such as tall<\/em>. The second level is the comparative level (taller<\/em>), and the top level is the superlative level (tallest<\/em>). You use the base, or positive, level when you are talking about only one thing. You use the comparative level when you are comparing two things. The superlative level allows you to compare three or more things.<\/p>\n

With short adjectives, the comparative and superlative are typically formed by adding -er<\/em> and -est<\/em>, respectively. If an adjective has three or more syllables, use the words more<\/em> or less<\/em> (comparative) and most<\/em> or least<\/em> (superlative) in front of the adjectives instead of adding suffixes. When you are unsure whether to add the suffix or a word, look up the word.<\/p>\n\n

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Sample Comparative and Superlative Adjectives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Formed with -<\/strong>er<\/em> and -<\/strong>est<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
big<\/td>\nbigger<\/td>\nbiggest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
old<\/td>\nolder<\/td>\noldest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
wise<\/td>\nwiser<\/td>\nwisest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Formed by Using <\/strong>More<\/em> or <\/strong>Less<\/em> and <\/strong>Most<\/em> or <\/strong>Least<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ambitious<\/td>\nmore ambitious<\/td>\nleast ambitious<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
generous<\/td>\nless generous<\/td>\nleast generous<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
simplistic<\/td>\nmore simplistic<\/td>\nmost simplistic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

In this table, the first column contains the adjective, the second is the comparative, and the third is the superlative.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

With adverbs, only a few of the shorter words form superlatives by adding the -<\/span>er<\/em> or -<\/span>est<\/em> suffixes. Rather, most of them use the addition of <\/span>more<\/em> or <\/span>less<\/em> and <\/span>most<\/em> or <\/span>least<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n

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Sample Comparative and Superlative Adverbs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Formed with -<\/strong>er<\/em> and -<\/strong>est<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
early<\/td>\nearlier<\/td>\nearliest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
fast<\/td>\nfaster<\/td>\nfastest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
late<\/td>\nlater<\/td>\nlatest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Formed by Using <\/strong>More<\/em> or <\/strong>Less<\/em> and <\/strong>Most<\/em> or <\/strong>Least<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
happily<\/td>\nmore happily<\/td>\nmost happily<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
neatly<\/td>\nmore neatly<\/td>\nmost neatly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
quickly<\/td>\nmore quickly<\/td>\nmost quickly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Some adjectives and adverbs form superlatives in irregular patterns instead of using the -<\/span>er<\/em> or -<\/span>est<\/em> suffixes or adding <\/span>more<\/em> or <\/span>less<\/em> and <\/span>most<\/em> or <\/span>least<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n

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Sample Adjectives That Form Superlatives Using Irregular Patterns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
good<\/td>\nbetter<\/td>\nbest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
bad<\/td>\nworse<\/td>\nworst<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
far<\/td>\nfarther<\/td>\nfarthest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
many<\/td>\nmore<\/td>\nmost<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
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Sample Adverbs That Form Superlatives Using Irregular Patterns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
badly<\/td>\nworse<\/td>\nworst<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
little<\/td>\nless<\/td>\nleast<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
much<\/td>\nmore<\/td>\nmost<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
well<\/td>\nbetter<\/td>\nbest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Avoiding Double Negatives<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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One negative word changes the meaning of a sentence to mean the opposite of what the sentence would mean without the negative word. Two negative words, on the other hand, cancel each other out, resulting in a double negative that returns the sentence to its original meaning. Because of the potential for confusion, double negatives are discouraged.<\/p>\n\n

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Example of a sentence with one negative word:<\/strong> I have never<\/strong> been to Crater Lake National Park.<\/p>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> Crater Lake is a place I have not<\/strong> visited.<\/p>\n

Example of a sentence with two negative words:<\/strong> I have not never<\/strong> been to Crater Lake National Park.<\/p>\n

Meaning:<\/strong> I have been to Crater Lake National Park.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Using <\/span>Good<\/em> and <\/span>Well<\/em> and <\/span>Bad<\/em> and <\/span>Badly<\/em> Correctly<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Two sets of adverbs and adjectives that are often used erroneously are good<\/em> and well<\/em> and bad<\/em> and badly<\/em>. The problem people usually have with these two words is that the adverb forms (well<\/em> and badly<\/em>) are often used in place of the adjective forms (good<\/em> and bad<\/em>) or vice versa. In addition, well<\/em> can be used as an adjective meaning \u201chealthy.\u201d The following chart is a helpful way to remember when to use which word.<\/p>\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Situations<\/th>\nCorrect Examples<\/th>\nExplanation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
The word well<\/em> is typically used as an adverb.<\/td>\nI wasn\u2019t feeling very well<\/strong> on the day we first drove through Theodore Roosevelt National Park.<\/td>\nThe words very<\/em> and well<\/em> are both adverbs. The word very<\/em> modifies well<\/em>, and well<\/em> modifies feeling<\/em>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sometimes forms of the verbs feel<\/em>, be<\/em>, and look<\/em> can be used to describe a person\u2019s health. In such cases, the word well<\/em> can serve as an adjective that means \u201chealthy\u201d and refers back to the noun.<\/td>\nWatching buffalo roam always makes me feel strong and well<\/strong>.<\/td>\nThe word well<\/em> is used as an adjective just like strong<\/em>. Both words modify me<\/em>. The four sentences with well<\/em> refer to physical health.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I am well<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I feel well<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I\u2019m feeling well<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The buffaloes looked well<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I am good<\/strong>.<\/td>\nThe four sentences with good<\/em> refer to emotional state but not physical health.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I feel good<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I\u2019m feeling good<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The buffalo looked good<\/strong> with the cliffs behind them.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The word good<\/em> is an adjective. It is never used as an adverb.<\/td>\nA trip through Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a good<\/strong> chance to see herds of buffalo in their natural state.<\/td>\nThe word good<\/em> is an adjective modifying chance<\/em>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
People often make statements such as \u201cI run real good.\u201d In reality, \u201creal good\u201d is never a really good combination of words!<\/td>\nI run really well<\/strong>.<\/td>\nIn the first sentence, the word really<\/em> is an adverb modifying another adverb. Since adjectives modify neither adverbs nor adjectives, you cannot use the combination real well<\/em> or real good<\/em>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
My running is a really good<\/strong> example of my ability to dedicate myself to an activity.<\/td>\nIn the second sentence, really<\/em> is an adverb modifying good<\/em>, which is an adjective that is modifying example<\/em>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The word bad<\/em> is an adjective.<\/td>\nThat\u2019s a bad<\/strong> picture of me with the buffalo since I look like I am afraid for my life.<\/td>\nThe adjective bad<\/em> modifies the noun picture<\/em>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sometimes a sentence seems like it should take the adverb badly<\/em> when it actually needs the adjective bad<\/em>. The linking verbs be<\/em>, feel<\/em>, look<\/em>, and sound<\/em> can all be followed by the adjective bad<\/em>.<\/td>\nI am bad<\/strong> when it comes to being on time.<\/td>\nEach of these sentences uses bad<\/em> correctly since their verbs are linking verbs.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I felt bad<\/strong> about missing the first herd of buffalo.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The land looks bad<\/strong>, but the buffalo seem to be able to find food.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Buffalo might sound bad<\/strong>, but they are really calm animals.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The word badly<\/em> is an adverb.<\/td>\nI chose badly<\/strong> when I walked between a mother buffalo and her baby.<\/td>\nThe adverb badly<\/em> modifies the verb chose<\/em>. The adverb badly<\/em> usually answers the question how?<\/em>, as it does in this case\u2014How did I choose? (badly)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Exercise 1<\/p>\n\n<\/header>\n

\n\n1. Use each of the following words in a sentence and identify the usage as adjective<\/em> or adverb<\/em>:\n