Grammar Essentials For Dummies

Chapter 6

Adjectives, Adverbs, and Comparisons

IN THIS CHAPTER

Reacquainting yourself with adjectives and adverbs

Knowing which one to use

Placing tricky adjectives and adverbs in a sentence

Making complete and clear comparisons

With the right nouns (names of persons, places, things, or ideas) and verbs (action or being words), you can construct a solid foundation in a sentence. The key to expressing your precise thoughts is to build on that foundation by adding descriptive words.

In this chapter I explain the two basic types of descriptive words in the English language: adjectives and adverbs. I show you how to identify them in sentences and how to use each properly. I then walk you through the process of creating descriptive comparisons.

Spotting Adjectives

An adjective is a descriptive word that modifies the meaning of a noun or a pronoun. An adjective adds information on number, color, type, and other qualities to your sentence. So when the car you’re writing about turns into a new silver sports car, you’re putting adjectives to work.

Describing nouns and pronouns

The most common ...