Modifiers: Adjectives and Adverbs

Indefinite Articles

A/an (only singular)Ex) Can I have *an apple? Can I have a mango?

Adverbs

Describe verbs and adjectives. They modify everything that's not a noun. They usually answer the "how, when, or where" of a verb, the "how" of an adjective and adverb. Ex) I am very (adverb) hungry(adj.). I quickly (adverb) ran(verb) to the office.

Definite Articles

The (both singular and plural)Ex) Can I have the apple? Can I have the apples? Indefinite articles

Adjective order

There's a certain adjective order. For example, "French old house" just sounds weird. The correct form is "old French house". You use adjectives in order of DOSA-SCOMP. This is an abbreviation for certain categories of adjectives. When you use two or more adjectives of the same category, you use a comma in between. Ex) The big red, green monster chased after us. "big" is an adjective for size. red and green are adjectives for color so they are in the same category.

Commas and adjectives

When you use two or more adjectives of the same category, you use a comma in between. Ex) The big red, green monster chased after us. "big" is an adjective for size. red and green are adjectives for color so they are in the same category.

Dangling Modifiers

Words/phrases that modify a word not clearly stated in a sentence Ex. Crawling on the wall, the cat was startled by a giant spider. (incorrect) Crawling on the wall, a giant spider startled the cat. (correct)

Less/More VS Fewer/Greater

You can use "Less/More" on only mass nouns. Ex) There is less sand. However, you can only use "Fewer/Greater" on count nouns. Ex) There are fewer grains of sand.

Articles

a, an, the. Words that foreshadow a noun.

Intensifiers

adverbs that answer the question to what extent? Ex) The *really deadly viper. The *extremely deadly bear

Superlative adjective

an adjective used to compare three or more items Ex) "Most and least" than Ex) This is the HOTTEST day of the year.

Comparative adjectives

comparing two things (use "er" or "more" or "less.") Ex) "More and less" than Ex) He is older than his sister.

Adverbs of a degree

tell how much or how little. (An intensifier tells how much) Ex) The snake is *really venomous. The snake is *somewhat venomous. The snake is *barely venomous.

Relative adverbs

when, while, where, why. Ex) That is the cave *where (rel. adverb) I grew up. -> *where links with "grew" which is a verb and not "cave", which is a noun.

Adjectives

word used to modify or describe a noun or pronoun.Ex) "Marty is my friend" VS "Marty is my *best friend". The adjective "best" modifies friend to best friend.