Module 4 Lessons: Using Adjectives and Adverbs Effectively

10. Using Adjectives and Adverbs Effectively

Lesson 56

Using Adjectives and Adverbs Effectively

In this lesson, you'll refine your writing skills by learning more about words that describe other words—namely adjectives and adverbs.

You use such adjectives and adverbs to make clear what it is that you're trying to communicate to others. Without such descriptive words, you would not be able to relate specific and accurate information to others.

Note the differences between the two following sentences.

No modifiers:	The car hit the poodle.
With modifiers:	The speeding sports car hit the little white poodle.

Adjectives

Lin: The second example does relate much more information. But you highlighted the word the also. Is the an adjective?

Mr. Haas: Yes, it is. So are the other articles, a and an.

*In many writer's handbooks, articles are referred to as determiners.

Brandon: What are adjectives exactly?

Mr. Haas: Adjectives are words that describe nouns. Remember that nouns are words that refer to persons, places, things, and ideas.

Some adjectives are descriptive.

purple rug
raging fireplace
burnt toast

Some adjectives serve to limit.

several students
first choice
only option

There are even some proper adjectives, like the examples that follow. (Remember that proper nouns name persons and places.)

Canadian movies
California night
Shakespearean sonnet

1. Here are some sentences that contain adjectives. Identify all the adjectives that you can, and describe what kinds of adjectives they are. For now, you can ignore the definite and indefinite articles a, an, and the. The first one is done for you.

b. He sang a happy song for all the sad people.

c. His outrageous sense of humour was only outdone by his unconventional hairdo.

d. As the melodious choir sang the second hymn, a loud raucous cough was heard.

e. A Russian astronaut had the distinction of being the first man in space.

Many adjectives are easy to identify because of their endings. Here are some examples of endings that are usually found on adjectives.

Endings	Examples
-able or -ible	capable, reliable, possible
-al	exceptional, impartial, rational
-en	barren, frozen, molten
-ful	blissful, forceful, rightful
-less	bloodless, ageless, peerless
-ic	caustic, sarcastic, plastic
-ous	gaseous, jealous, serious
-y	angry, happy, snappy

Adverbs

Adverbs are words that describe verbs.

Example	Explanation
The lawyer spoke quickly.	How did the lawyer speak?
This restaurant will be closed indefinitely.	For how long will it be closed?

Adverbs can also describe adjectives.

Example	Explanation
He drove a very fast car.	The adverb very describes the adjective fast.
He wore a ridiculously large hat on his head.	The adverb ridiculously describes the adjective large.

Adverbs can also describe other adverbs.

Example	Explanation
I was snoring so loudly that I woke the dog.	The adverb so describes the other adverb loudly.
He answered the question very cleverly.	The adverb very describes the other adverb cleverly.

Notice that adverbs serve to tell you more about when, where, why, how often, or how much something has happened. As such, they can be very useful in providing specific and concrete details about events or actions.

Many adverbs are easy to identify because of their -ly endings, but you must be careful. There are a number of adjectives that also end in -ly.

Adverbs	Adjectives
quickly	fatherly
severely	friendly
speedily	lovely
quietly	kindly

2. In the following sentences, you'll find a number of words that end in -ly. Identify whether they're adjectives or adverbs. The first one is done for you.

b. The waitress smiled sweetly at the portly businessman who generously gave her a ten-dollar tip.

c. I was surprised to hear my unfriendly neighbour whistling a lovely tune quietly to himself!

For more information about adjectives and adverbs, refer to pages 44 to 50 in your English Language Arts Handbook for Secondary Students.

Some Other Common Adjective and Adverb Errors

The class is now going to go through a number of sentences containing common errors that writers make when using adjectives and adverbs. As you read the discussion, you'll be prompted to correct a sentence or answer a question. Do so before you read the students' replies.

Mr. Haas: Tell me for each sentence whether the adjectives and adverbs are used correctly or not. If they're incorrect, then offer a correction. Here's the first sentence.

I am a real good teacher.

Is the sentence correct? If not, fix it before reading the student's reply.

Brandon: The sentence should be

I am a really good teacher

because you need an adverb to modify an adjective.

Mr. Haas: Good call. Here's another example.

Joshua sings rather loud when he is in the shower.

Is the sentence correct? If not, fix it before reading the student's reply.

Dominic: It's wrong. It should be

Joshua sings rather loudly when he is in the shower.

You need an adverb to describe how Joshua sings.

Mr. Haas: Inga ran fast to the bathroom.

Is the sentence correct? If not, fix it before reading the student's reply.

Lin: Inga ran quickly to the bathroom.

Fast is an adjective, and in this sentence, you need an adverb to describe how Inga ran.

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In this lesson, you learned the differences between adjectives and adverbs.

You also learned that using appropriate descriptive words can add colour and specificity to your writing and speaking.