Adjectives and Adverbs: Two Parts of Speech

Adjectives and adverbs are categories of words. Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns (shiny, happier, and best). Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (well, carefully, very). An adjective describes a noun or pronoun in three ways; by telling what kind (fluffy), which one (that), and/or how many (several).

A positive adjective describes a noun or pronoun without comparing it to anyone or anything else (happy, good). A comparative adjective describes a comparison between two things, people, places, or actions (happier, better). A superlative adjective compares three or more things, people, places, or actions (happiest, best).

Demonstrative adjectives modify nouns by telling "which one" or "which ones." This, that, these, and those are demonstrative adjectives. This and that are singular and these and those are plural. This and that are used to refer to things nearby and these and those refer to things far away.

Indefinite adjectives give an estimated number or quantity or refer to no specific person or thing (few). Indefinite adjectives do not tell exactly how many or how much.

A, an, and the are articles. Articles are used to describe singular nouns. The word a is used before a word beginning with a consonant sound and an is used before a word that begins with a vowel sound.

Predicate adjectives are adjectives used as subject complements. A subject complement comes after a linking verb and refers back to the subject. Predicate adjectives follow linking verbs and describe subjects.

Adverbs are words that describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Adverbs tell how (fast), when (noon), where (Texas), and how often (yearly). Positive adverbs describe a noun, pronoun, or adjective without comparing it to anyone or anything else (happily, well, fast). Comparative adverbs describe a comparison between two things, people, places, or actions (more happily, better, faster). Superlative adverbs compare three or more things, people, places, or actions (most happily, best, fastest). Most add -er to form the comparative and -est to form the superlative.

An adverb clause is a dependent clause that functions as and adverb. It can modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs and tells where, when, in what manner, to what extent, under what condition, or why (when we play in the rain).

Qualifying adverbs modify other adverbs. They strengthen or weaken the adverbs they modify. They answer how much or to what extent (very carefully, exactly).