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Sentence Grammar |
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Adjectives and Adverbs |
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Adjectives An adjective is a word that modifies a noun or pronoun. The following sentence uses an adjective correctly: Melinda looks beautiful.
can be used to compare the qualities of things. They can show that one thing has more or less of a quality than another has, and they can show that one has the most or least of all.
To compare two items, add -er to a one-syllable adjective or add more or less before a longer adjective.
Consider the following sentences:
Country life is quiet.
Country life is quieter than city life.
In the first sentence, the adjective quiet is in its basic form. In the second sentence, however, the form quieter shows a comparison between how quiet country life and city life are.
Now consider these sentences:
However, city life is more exciting.
However, country life is less exciting.
Notice that the comparisons can go two ways. They can show that one thing has more or less of a quality than another has.
To compare more than two items, add -est to a one-syllable adjective or add most or least before a longer adjective, as in the following sentence:
The cheapest city hotels are very basic, while the most expensive have all the amenities.
Adverbs An adverb modifies a verb, adjective or another adverb. The following sentence uses an adverb correctly: A verb indicates the meaning of a sentence as it shows action, occurrence, or state of being. Verbs change form to show time, voice, number, person, and mood. In the following sentence, the verb have is used correctly: An adjective is a word that modifies a noun or pronoun. The following sentence uses an adjective correctly: Sarah danced beautifully.
can be used to compare verbsBen and Ted have so many friends.
, adjectivesMelinda looks beautiful.
, and other adverbs. They can show that one is more or less intense than another, and they can show that one is the most or least intense of all.
In general, to compare two items, add more or less before an adverb. (A few adverbs add -er or use irregular forms.)
Consider the following sentences:
As children, we learned quickly that ads didn’t tell everything we needed to know about a product.
Some of us learned more quickly than others.
In the first sentence, the adverb quickly is in its basic form. In the second sentence, however, the form more quickly shows a comparison between the speed of some learners and others.
Now consider this sentence:
Those of us who learned less quickly were often annoyed by what we bought.
Notice that the comparisons can go two ways. They can show that one thing has more or less of a quality than another.
In general, to compare more than two items, add most or least before an adverb, as in the following sentence:
Those of my friends who learned least quickly generally had the worst shopping experiences.
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Click the correct sentence. |
| No. In this sentence, most closely is not correct. |
| Yes. In this sentence, more closely is correct. |
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