English Test Study Guide for 6/7

English Test Study Guide for 6/7 Adjectives and Adverbs

Adjectives An adjective describes a person, place, thing or idea. Ex: A large crowd of young people entered the building. I read four volumes.

Adjectives describe or modify nouns in three ways: What kind? How many? Which one?

Proper Adjectives These are formed from proper nouns and must be capitalized. Review the chart on p. 379 on how to form proper adjectives. Some examples of proper adjectives are:

The American flag A Mexican restaurant An April wedding (some proper adjectives do not have any change in spelling from their proper noun form)

Articles A, an, and, the are called articles.

A and an are indefinite articles. A is used before words with a consonant sound. An is used before words with a vowel sound.

The is a definite article. It identifies specific people, places, things or ideas.

Demonstratives This, that, these, and those are called demonstrative adjectives when they describe nouns. When they are used without a noun, they are called demonstrative pronouns. They point out people, places, and things.

Ex: This car is my favorite. (demonstrative adjective) Ex: This is my favorite car. (demonstrative pronoun)

Adjectives that Compare Comparative adjectives compare two things or people.

For most one syllable adjectives (and some two) you just add –er to make the comparative. Ex: Is Venezuela larger than Peru?

For most adjectives with two or more syllables you use the word more to make an adjective comparative. Ex: Kate’s dress is more beautiful than mine.

Superlative adjectives compare more than two things or people.

For most one syllable adjectives (and some two) you just add –est to make the superlative. Ex: She is the youngest player in the group.

For most adjectives with two or more syllables you use the word most to make an adjective superlative. Ex: That blanket is the most colorful one in the store. *Review the chart on p. 385 of Special Adjectives that Compare. This shows common irregular comparative and superlative forms.

Adverbs Many, but not all, adverbs end in –ly.

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Ex: People handle old violins carefully. (modifies the verb handle) Very old violins are valuable. (modifies the adjective old) Some violins are played extremely rarely. (modifies the adverb rarely)

When they modify adjectives or other adverbs, they are often called intensifiers.

Adverbs that Compare The comparative form of an adverb compares two actions. The superlative form of an adverb compares more than two actions.

Long adverbs (and those that end in –ly) require the use of more and most to form the comparative and superlative. Ex: more attentively (comparative) most attentively (superlative)

Short adverbs can use –er and –est as endings to form the comparative and superlative. Ex: sing louder (comparative) sing loudest (superlative)

* Review the chart on p. 399 of irregular comparative and superlative forms.

Telling Adverbs and Adjectives Apart Adverbs and adjectives are often confused. Remember to look at what the word is modifying. This may help you figure out if a word is an adjective or an adverb.

Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns. Remember, a predicate adjective follows a linking verb and modifies the subject of a sentence. Ex: The sound is bad. (adjective)

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Ex: The actor sang badly. (adverb)

Avoid Using Double Negatives The adverb not is a negative word. It is often used in contractions. Be careful to avoid using two negative words in the same sentence. WRONG: The clarinet isn’t no new instrument. CORRECT: The clarinet isn’t a new instrument.