Adjectives and Adverbs Introduction

An adjective is a word or set of words that modifies (i.e. describes) a noun or pronoun. Adjectives may come before or after the word they modify

Adjectives

An adjective is a word or set of words that modifies (i.e. describes) a noun or pronoun. Adjectives may come before or after the word they modify.

This is a cute cat
This cat is cute

Adjectives tell us something about a person or a thing. Adjectives can modify nouns (e.g girl, boy etc.) or pronouns (e.g. we, it etc.).

Lily is an honest person
The movie was awful! The plot is simply boring

There are many pairs of adjectives ending in -ing and -ed. Remember that if something is -ing, it makes you -ed.

He is excited because the event is exciting
I am annoyed because this whole situation is annoying

Sometimes we use two or more adjectives together. Quantity/number and quality/opinion adjectives usually go before fact adjectives.

article	quantity/number	quality/opinion	fact	noun
a		nice	sunny	morning
	two	intelligent	young	ladies
a		beautiful	large round wooden	table

There are times when we use two or more fact adjectives. We put fact adjectives in the following order:

article	size	age	shape	colour	material/origin	purpose	noun
a	big	old	round		wooden		table
		new		white		tennis	shoes
a	tall	young			Polish		boy

Adverbs

An adverb is word or set of words that modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Usually adverbs modify verbs, telling us how, how often, when, or where something was done.

We walked really slowly

The adverbs slowly modifies the verb walked, how we walked.

An adverb is a word or set of words that modifies:

verbs, telling how, how often, when, or where something was done.

The cars drove fast

adjectives, making them stronger or weaker.

Ann looked absolutely amazing!

other adverbs, changing their degree or precision.

You're speaking too loudly

Guided Practice

When forming an adjective note that if something is -ing, it makes you -ed.

(tiredness) This work is so .................... ! It makes me really .....................
When we were younger we .................... make friends in 1 second.

Quantity/number and quality/opinion adjectives go before fact adjectives.

(gorgeous, three) models were in the ad on TV.
We asked them to get (wooden, comfy, six) chairs.

The order of fact adjectives: size, age, shape, colour, material/origin, purpose.

Tim needs (black, new, leather) shoes.
I'd like to buy an (wooden, round, white, antique) table.

Use adverbs to modify verbs, indicating how, how often when, or where something was done. Spot these adverbs.

I try to go to quickly to coffee shops every month.

Use advebs to modify adjectives, making them stronger or weaker, or other adverbs, changing their degree or precision. Spot these adverbs.

This game was insanely popular in the 90s.
The band plays extremely well.

Short Story using Adjectives

-How are you doing today?

-I'm really tired! We've got a very important project to work on.

-It must be tiring! Is it going well though?

-Yes, very well! Our department is quite big so one could imagine that there would be problems with task management. But I must say that my co-workers are extremely professional and responsible.

-Everything is going to be great! The amount of dedication you have is amazing!

Independent Practice

Decide whether an adjective or an adverb should be used.

Your house is very close/closely to ours.
She moved quick/quickly around the stop.
Listen careful/carefully! I won't repeat it again.
It is not as bad/badly as it sounds.

Put the adjectives into the correct order.

Our apartment is .................... and .................... . (modern, spacious)
I want hear .................... reasons why you don't want to go with us. (good, two)
Marina has .................... dogs. (black and white, lovely, two)

Answer the questions.

How often do you go to the movies?
Are you close to your family?
What is something that you can do extremely well?