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Lesson 4

This document provides examples and explanations of some common rules for using adjectives and adverbs in English grammar. It discusses how adjectives are used to describe nouns and adverbs are used to describe verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. It also covers how to form the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs, as well as some irregular forms and exceptions like "good", "well", "hard" and "late".

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17 views

Lesson 4

This document provides examples and explanations of some common rules for using adjectives and adverbs in English grammar. It discusses how adjectives are used to describe nouns and adverbs are used to describe verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. It also covers how to form the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs, as well as some irregular forms and exceptions like "good", "well", "hard" and "late".

Uploaded by

hamouda.khaoula
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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University of 20 August 1955 Skikda English: First year (MI)

Some grammar rules I

Adjectives and Adverbs


Adjectives:
We use adjectives to describe nouns and pronouns. Adjectives can come before nouns or after linking verbs.
Before the noun:

• He dropped the hot plate.


• I have a black cat.
• The small boy ran down the street.
• What a beautiful view!
After a linking verb:

• He seems tired.
• The view is beautiful.
• The weather became cold.

We make the comparative and superlative of adjectives by adding either '-er / -est' or using 'more / most'.

• He is taller than his Father.


• He is the tallest person in the class.

Adverbs:
Adverbs are used to describe verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. They are often (but not always) made by
adding 'ly' to the adjective.

• I walked slowly ('slowly' tells us about the verb 'walk').


• They worked quickly.
We make the comparative and superlative forms of adverbs by using 'more / most'.

• She sang loudly.


• She sang more loudly than her friend.
• She sang most loudly in the class.

Irregular forms:
Normally, we make an adverb by adding 'ly' to an adjective.
Careful (adjective): He is always careful.
Carefully (adverb): She put the glasses down carefully.
Quiet (adjective): This is a quiet room.
Quietly (adverb): She spoke quietly.
Bad (adjective): This coffee is bad!
Badly (adverb): He sings badly!
If the adjective ends in 'y', we change 'y' to 'i' and add 'ly'. If the adjective ends in 'le', we drop 'e' and add 'y'.

• Happy (adjective): She looks very happy.


• Happily (adverb): He sang happily. • Gentle (adjective): It's a gentle cat.
• Gently (adverb): He stroked the cat gently.
However, there are some exceptions.

• Fast (adjective): That's a fast car.


• Fast (adverb): She walks fast.
• Early (adjective): She was early for the meeting.
• Early (adverb): He arrived early.
• Late (adjective): He is always late!
• Late (adverb): He got up late this morning ('lately' is also an adverb but means 'recently').
• Good (adjective): That is a good book.
• Well (adverb): She did well on the exam ('well' can also be an adjective; see below).
• Hard (adjective): Maths is hard!
• Hard (adverb): She tried hard ('hardly' is also an adverb, but means 'almost none'; see below).
There are also some adjectives that end in 'ly' and don't have an adverb form. Instead we use 'in a ---way'.
These are friendly, lovely, lonely, lively, and silly.

• He talked to me in a friendly way.


Good / well

'Well' can be confusing because it is both the adverb form of 'good', and an adjective that means 'healthy and
fine'.

• My mother is well ('well' is an adjective that means 'healthy and fine').


• He did the work well ('well' is an adverb meaning 'in a good way').
Of course, we also use 'good' as an adjective.

• This meal is good!


• He can speak good German.
Hard / hardly

'Hard' is both an adjective and an adverb.

• The table is hard (= adjective, meaning 'not soft' or 'difficult').


• She works hard (= adverb, meaning 'with a lot of effort').
'Hardly' is also an adverb, but it means 'almost nothing' or 'almost none'.

• She hardly works (= she does almost no work).


• I have hardly any money (= I have almost no money).
Late / lately

'Late' is an adjective and an adverb. There is also an adverb 'lately', which means 'recently'.

• I'm late (= adjective, meaning 'not on time').


• He came late (= adverb, meaning 'not on time').
• I've been working a lot lately (= an adverb meaning 'recently').

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