Adjectives and Adverbs_Intensifiers_10.11.2024

1.

Adjectives & Adverbs
GRAMMAR & VOCABULARY

2.

Adjectives
Comparisons
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3.

Adjectives
o Adjectives describe nous.
o They have the same form in the singular and plural.
o They go before nouns (e.g. a small house) but after the verbs:
be, look, smell, sound, feel, taste, see, appear, become, get,
stay, etc.
She seems
unhappy.
She is
beautiful.
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4.

Adjectives
o Opinion adjectives such as boring, exciting, professional,
important, successful, convincing, ambitious, confident, dominant.
o Fact adjectives such as tall, thin, new, wealthy, profitable, costly,
economical, industrial. Give us factual information about age, size,
colour, origin, material, etc.
o Compound adjectives which are formed by joining two (or more)
words together with a hyphen (-).
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5.

Adjectives
o adjective + noun:
a long-term policy
o adjective + noun + - ed:
approach
a narrow-minded
o adverb + past participle:
person
a
o noun + present participle:
approach
a
o a few compound adjectives consist of three words:
information
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well-informed
problem-solving
up-to-date
a down-to-earth approach

6.

Adjectives
For comparison, adjectives have got two forms: the comparative and the
superlative.
We use the comparative form + than to compare two people, things, etc.
Nike is more popular than Skechers.
We use the superlative form + of / in to compare one person, thing, etc.
with more than one person, thing etc. in the same group. We use in when
we talk about places.
Mr Lavin is the most experienced of all my candidates.
Apple is the most successful IT company in the world.

7.

Comparisons
Balmain is expensive.
most expensive.
Tom Ford is more expensive.
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Jimmy Choo is the

8.

Adjectives with one syllable
If the adjective has one syllable, then the letters -er or -est are added:
warm – warmer – warmest
quick – quicker – quickest
tall – taller – tallest
If the adjective has one syllable and ends in -e, just add -er or -est
late – later – latest
nice – nicer – nicest
large – larger – largest
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9.

Adjectives with two syllables
Adjectives with two syllables vary.
o Some add -er/-est or -r/-st:
feeble – feebler – feeblest
o Some use the words 'more' for the comparative and 'most' for
the superlative:
famous – more famous – most famous
o Many can do either, like clever:
clever – cleverer / more clever – cleverest / most
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clever

10.

TWO-SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES
Some two-syllable adjectives have er, est, and some have more, most.
1. Words ending in a consonant + y have er, est, e.g. happy – happier –
happiest.
Examples are: busy, dirty, easy, funny, happy, heavy, lovely, lucky, pretty, silly,
tidy
2. Some words have er, est OR more, most:
e.g. narrow ► narrower, narrowest OR more narrow, most narrow
Examples are: clever, common, cruel, gentle, narrow, pleasant, polite, quiet,
simple, stupid, tired
3. The following words have more, most, e.g. useful * more useful, most useful.
a. Words ending in ful or less, e.g. careful, helpful, useful; hopeless
b. Words ending in ing or ed, e.g. boring, willing; annoyed, surprised,
pleased
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c. Many others, e.g. afraid, certain, correct, eager, exact, famous, foolish,

11.

Adjectives with three syllables or more
If the adjective has three syllables or more, then the words 'more'
and 'most' are used:
interesting - more interesting - most interesting
attractive - more attractive - most attractive
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12.

Adjectives that change their spelling
Some adjectives change their spelling when forming the
comparative and superlative:
Some one-syllable adjectives that end with a single
consonant (e.g. big, wet, sad, fat) double this consonant
before adding -er or -est:
big – bigger – biggest
sad – sadder – saddest
wet – wetter – wettest
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13.

Adjectives that change their spelling
If the adjective ends in y (e.g. happy, greedy, or tidy),
change the y to an i and add -er or -est:
happy – happier – happiest
greedy – greedier – greediest
tidy – tidier – tidiest
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14.

IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES & SUPERLATIVES
adjective / adverb
comparative
superlative
good/well
better
best
bad/badly
worse
worst
much/many/a lot
more
most
little
less
least
far
further/farther
furthest/farthest
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15.

COMPARATIVES & SUPERLATIVES
Note:
a)
further / farther (adv) = longer (in distance)
e.g. Bank of America is further/farther away than Bank of England.
further (adj) = more
e.g. Let’s hope there won’t be any further delays. (NOT: … farther
delays)
b)
elder/eldest (+noun) (adj) = for members of a family
e.g. My elder brother is a doctor.
But: My brother is older than me. (Not: elder than)
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16.

ADJECTIVES
We use adjectives or their comparative or superlative forms with the following
words:
a) very + adjective
e.g. It's very cold today.
b) even / a lot / much / far / a bit / a little / slightly + comparative
e.g. He seems much better today.
c) by far + superlative
seen.
e.g. She's by far the most beautiful woman I've ever
d) most + adj/adv = very
e.g. This is most unusual. (It is very unusual.)
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e) any/no + comparative (it is used in questions
and negations)
e.g. The days aren't getting any warmer.

17.

ORDER OF ADJECTIVES
When there are two or more adjectives in a sentence, they usually go in the
following order:
Opinion
adjectiv
es
It’s a
fantastic
Fact Adjectives
size
age
shape
colour
origin
material
used for
noun
small
new
round
white
Swiss
ivory
office
desk
We do not usually use a long list of adjectives before a single noun.
A noun is usually described by one, two or three adjectives at the most.
e.g. a beautiful blue evening dress
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18.

MORE FACTS ABOUT ADJECTIVES
Some adjectives are used only predicatively in modern English.
They follow a verb rather than being used before a noun.
The adjectives: afraid, alike, alone, ashamed, asleep, awake, content,
glad, ill, pleased, etc. are not followed by nouns.
e.g. The man was content. Karen is ill today.
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19.

MORE FACTS ABOUT ADJECTIVES
Sometimes it is possible to express similar ideas with other adjectives
used attributively (joined directly to a noun without a linking verb such as
city in city streets - an attributive adjective)
the boat is afloat
the children are afraid
the buildings are alight
when I’m awake
the lobster is alive
the floating boat
the frightened children
the burning buildings
in my walking hours
a live lobster
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20.

MORE FACTS ABOUT ADJECTIVES
Some adjectives change their meanings depending on whether they are used
before or after a noun:
1. The concerned (= worried) doctor rang
for an ambulance.
2. It was a very involved ( = complicated)
explanation.
3. Present employees (= those currently
employed) don’t have high wages.
4. It was a proper (= correct) question.
5. Jane is a responsible girl ( = She has a
sense of duty).
1. The doctor concerned (= responsible)
hasn’t come yet.
2. The boy involved in the incident ( =
connected with it) has left.
3. Employees present ( = those here now)
should vote on the issue.
4. The question proper ( = itself) has not
been answered.
5. The girl responsible (= who can be
blamed) for the accident was expelled.
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21.

Types of
Comparisons
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22.

TYPES OF COMPARISONS
as + adjective + as
She is nearly as competent as other department managers.
not so/as + adjective + as
She is not so/as qualified as other applicants.
twice/three times, etc. / half as + adjective + as
My balance sheet is twice as accurate as yours.
the same … as
My suit is the same style as yours.
less + (adjective) … than
Mr Sivula is less experienced than Mr Porter.
the least + (adjective) … of/in
Mrs Lavin is the least sociable of all assistant managers.
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23.

LIKE / AS
Like is used:
o For similarities:
e.g. She swims like a fish.
o After feel look, smell, sound, taste + noun:
e.g. It feels like silk.
o With nouns, pronouns or the -ing form to
express similarity or contrast:
e.g. There’s no place like
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home.

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LIKE / AS
As is used:
o to say what somebody’s jobs or roles are.
e.g. She works as a tour guide. (She is a tour
guide.)
Harrison Ford was great as Indiana Jones.
o in certain expressions: as usual, as ... as, as much, such as, the
same as.
e.g. He started complaining as usual.
o after accept, be known, class, describe, refer to, regard, use.
e.g. He is known as the father of modern
medicine.
o in clauses of manner to mean 'in 24
the way that’.
e.g. Do as I tell you.

25.

Adverbs
Comparisons
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26.

ADVERBS
o Adverbs usually describe verbs, adjectives, other adverbs or
sentences.
o An adverb can be one word (carefully) or a phrase (in the
morning).
o Adverbs can describe manner (how), place (where), time (when),
frequency (how often), degree (to what extent), etc.
a) He drives carefully. (How does he drive? Carefully - adverb of
manner)
b) Your bag is here. (Where is it? Here - adverb of place)
c) They'll leave tomorrow. (When will they leave? Tomorrow - adverb of
time)
d) He sometimes goes fishing at the
26 weekend. (How often does he go
fishing? Sometimes - adverb of frequency)

27.

ADVERBS
o We usually form an adverb by adding -ly to the adjective.
e.g. serious - seriously
o Adjectives ending in -le drop the -e and take -y.
e.g. gentle - gently
o Adjectives ending in consonant + y drop the -y and take -ily.
e.g. happy - happily
o Adjectives ending in -I take -ly.
e.g. awful - awfully
o Adjectives ending in -ic usually take -ally.
e.g. dramatic - dramatically But: public - publicly
o Adjectives ending in -e take -ly.
e.g. polite - politely But: true - truly
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28.

ADVERBS
Some adverbs have the same form as adjectives. These include:
hard, fast, free, high, low, deep, early, late, long, near, straight, right,
wrong. Also hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.
e.g.
The lake is deep. (adjective)
They went deep into the forest. (adverb)
These biscuits are very hard. (adjective)
He tried hard in order to succeed. (adverb)
'Bella Donna' is a weekly magazine. (adjective)
It comes out weekly. (adverb)
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29.

ADVERBS
The following words end in -ly, but they are adjectives:
elderly, cowardly, friendly, likely, deadly, lively, lonely,
silly, ugly, lovely, etc.
e.g. She's a lively child.
We use the words way/manner to form their adverbs.
e.g. She greeted me in a friendly way/manner.
He complained in a cowardly way/manner.
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30.

ADVERBS WITH TWO MEANINGS
The adverbs below have two forms, each with a different meaning:
The treasure was buried deep underground. (= a long way down)
He is deeply in love with her. (= very)
The hotel guests can use the swimming pool free. (= without
payment)
The animals in the safari park can roam freely. (= without limit or
restriction.)
The kite flew high in the sky. (= at/to a high level)
He is a highly respected doctor.
(= very much)
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31.

ADVERBS WITH TWO MEANINGS
She arrived late for the meeting. (= not early)
He hasn't been feeling well lately. (= recently)
Which of his songs do you like most? (= superlative of much)
I'm mostly interested in modern art. (= mainly)
As he came near, I realised that something was wrong. (= close)
She nearly fainted when she heard the news. (= almost)
He is a pretty strange man. (= rather)
The bridesmaids were prettily dressed in pink. (= in a pretty way)
He is working hard these days. (= with a lot of effort)
They hardly go anywhere now that they have children. (= almost never)
Note: Hardly has a negative meaning and is
31 often used with: any, anyone, anywhere,
anything and ever.

32.

THE ORDER OF ADVERBS
The position of adverbs in a sentence is often flexible.
a) at the beginning of the sentence:
OPINION:
Hopefully, the situation will get better.
TIME:
A year ago, they decided to go public.
b) in the middle of the sentence:
MANNER:
Prices could suddenly rise.
FREQUENCY:
I occasionally read The Economist.
OPINION:
Her work record is quite honestly awful.
TIME:
I am still waiting for permission.
c) at the end of the sentence:
MANNER:
I think the presentation went well.
PLACE:
She has never been there.
TIME:
The board had an annual meeting yesterday.

33.

THE ORDER OF ADVERBS
Adverbs usually go after verbs but before adjectives, other
adverbs and participles.
e.g.
He speaks softly.
She is amazingly beautiful.
He drove very fast.
Computers
are
extensively
used
nowadays.
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34.

THE ORDER OF ADVERBS
o Adverbs of manner go before the main verb, after the auxiliary verb
or at the end of the sentence.
e.g.
She easily passed the exam.
We are eagerly waiting for his letter.
He acted foolishly.
o Adverbs of degree (absolutely, completely, totally, extremely, very,
quite, rather, etc.) go before an adjective, an adverb or a main verb,
but after an auxiliary verb.
e.g.
This is totally unacceptable.
They arrived rather early.
We absolutely love her sense of humour.
I don't quite understand what you mean.
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35.

THE ORDER OF ADVERBS
o Adverbs of frequency go after auxiliary verbs and the verb to be, but
before main verbs.
e.g.
He is always ready to help.
Sam often complains about his salary.
o Adverbs of place and time usually go at the end of the sentence.
e.g.
There is a café nearby.
I'll meet you tomorrow.
o Some one-syllable adverbs of time such as soon, now and then, go
before the main verb, but after the auxiliary verb or the verb to be.
e.g.
She then told him what had happened.
He will soon inform 35
us about his decision.

36.

THE ORDER OF ADVERBS
We can put an adverb at the beginning of a sentence if we
want to emphasise it.
e.g.
Slowly, he closed the door behind him. (manner)
In the living room, there is an antique grandfather clock.
(place)
Yesterday, I met the President. (time)
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37.

THE ORDER OF ADVERBS
o If there are a number of adverbs in the same sentence the order is usually:
1) Manner → 2) Place → 3) Time
They negotiated aggressively at the meeting for four hours.
o If there is a verb of movement, such as go, come, leave in the sentence, then
the adverbs come in the following order:
1) Place → 2) Manner → 3) Time
He came to work by bus this morning.
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38.

DEGREE MODIFIERS
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39.

DEGREE MODIFIERS
Used to express the degree to which a certain quality is present.
a / an + fairly + adjective + noun
This is a fairly good picture, but it’s not the best she’s made.
quite + a /an + adjective + noun ( = enough); quite + adjectives (completely,
totally) - higher degree than fairly:
This is quite a good movie. You ought to watch it.
I’m quite certain about this.
rather + a / an + adjective + noun; a / an + rather + adjective + noun ( = more
than usual, more than wanted, expected, etc.)
She has rather a soft / a rather soft voice.
rather + comparative form / too
Ted is rather more experienced than Alec. She spends rather too much money
on clothes.
pretty (= usual in everyday English).
He had a pretty nasty accident the other39day.

40.

Intensifiers: So
Form:
so + adjective + that
so + adverb + that
so + many/much + noun + that
Use:
to show the results of a situation or action.
The manual was so bad that I couldn't understand it.
The manual was written so badly that I couldn't understand it.
There was so much profit that the company doesn’t know where to invest it.

41.

Intensifiers: Such
Form:
such + a/an + adjective + singular noun + that
such + adjective + plural noun + that
such + a lot of + noun + that
Use:
to show the results of a situation or action.
That was such a bad manual that I couldn’t understand it.
He gives such good talks that I got inspired.
There is such a lot of applicants that the HR department can’t cope.

42.

Intensifiers: Enough
Form:
enough + noun (+ for and/or + full infinitive)
adjective + enough (+ for and/or + full infinitive)
adverb + enough (+ for and/or + full infinitive)
Use:
is/isn’t
to show the results of a situation or action where there
the right amount/number of something
There aren't enough jobs to cope with rising unemployment.
My office isn't big enough for the requisite equipment.
Did the suppliers respond quickly enough to help?

43.

Intensifiers: Too
Form:
too + adjective (+ for and/or + full infinitive)
too + adverb (+ for and/or + full infinitive)
too + many/much + noun (+ for and/or + full infinitive)
Use:
which
to describe something that is more than necessary and
has a negative effect
The candidate was too unexperienced to be hired.
We arrived too late for the job interview.
We send too many enquiries to our interviewers.