Adjectives, Adverbs and Modifiers
beginner24 min read
Choosing between an adjective and an adverb, the degrees of comparison and their traps, the order adjectives take before a noun, and how to spot and repair a misplaced or dangling modifier.
What you will be able to do
- Decide whether a slot needs an adjective or an adverb, including after linking verbs.
- Form and use the comparative and superlative correctly, avoiding double comparatives.
- Place a describing phrase next to the word it modifies.
- Identify a dangling modifier and rewrite the sentence to fix it.
What is inside this lesson
- 1Adjective or adverb in this slot?
- 2Degrees of comparison
- 3Order of adjectives before a noun
- 4Misplaced modifiers
- 5Dangling modifiers
- 6Worked example: fix the modifier errors
- 7Common mistakes
- 8Quick revision
- 9Practice
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Adjective or adverb in this slot?
An adjective describes a noun or pronoun; an adverb modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb.
- After an action verb, use the adverb: She answered the query promptly, not prompt.
- After a linking verb (be, seem, appear, become, feel, look, sound, taste, smell), use the adjective, because it describes the subject: The statement is accurate, The tea tastes bitter.
- Some verbs are both. He looked careful (he seemed careful) versus He looked carefully (he examined it with care).
- Good is the adjective, well the adverb — except well meaning "in good health".
- Watch words that are already adverbs without -ly: fast, hard, late, early, daily; and -ly words that are adjectives: friendly, lonely, lively, costly.
The lesson itself is for members
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