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Using Adverbs andUsing Adverbs and

AdjectivesAdjectives

AdverbsAdverbs are words that modifyare words that modify verbsverbs,,

adjectivesadjectives, other adverbs, and, other adverbs, and

sometimessometimes clausesclauses and wholeand whole

sentencessentences. Adjectives are words that. Adjectives are words thatmodifymodify nounsnouns andand pronounspronouns..

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Once the test was over, SharonOnce the test was over, Sharon

walkedwalkedslowslow out of the classroomout of the classroom..[WRONG][WRONG]

Once the test was over, SharonOnce the test was over, Sharon

walkedwalkedslowlyslowlyout of the classroomout of the classroom[RIGHT][RIGHT]

The sentence needs an adverb, notThe sentence needs an adverb, not

an adjective, to modify the verban adjective, to modify the verb"walked.""walked."

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We triedWe tried

realreal

hard to get thehard to get the

muffin mixture perfectmuffin mixture perfect. [WRONG]. [WRONG]

We triedWe triedreallyreallyhard to get thehard to get the

muffin mixture perfectmuffin mixture perfect. [RIGHT]. [RIGHT]

The sentence needs an adverb,The sentence needs an adverb,

not an adjective, to modify thenot an adjective, to modify theadjective "hard."adjective "hard."

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Use theUse the superlativesuperlative form toform tocompare three or more things.compare three or more things.

Form the superlative by addingForm the superlative by addingthe suffix "-est" to the modifierthe suffix "-est" to the modifier

(for some short words) or by using(for some short words) or by usingthe word "most" with the modifier:the word "most" with the modifier:

This is definitely the smartest,This is definitely the smartest,

wittiest, most imaginative comicwittiest, most imaginative comicstrip I have ever seen.strip I have ever seen.

C bl i h h

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Common Problems with theCommon Problems with the

Comparative andComparative and

SuperlativeSuperlative Certain modifiers cannot be usedCertain modifiers cannot be usedlogically in the comparative andlogically in the comparative and

superlative forms. Perfect" andsuperlative forms. Perfect" and

"unique," for instance, express absolute"unique," for instance, express absoluteconditions and do not allow for degreesconditions and do not allow for degrees

of comparison. Something cannot beof comparison. Something cannot be

moremore perfect than another thing: it isperfect than another thing: it is

either perfect or not perfect.either perfect or not perfect.

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Avoid using aAvoid using a double negativedouble negative

We decided thereWe decided there wasn't nowasn't no point inpoint in

pursuing our research furtherpursuing our research further. [WRONG]. [WRONG]II can't get nocan't get no satisfactionsatisfaction. [WRONG]. [WRONG]

We decided thereWe decided there wasn't anywasn't anypoint inpoint in

pursuing our research further. OR Wepursuing our research further. OR We

decided theredecided there was nowas no point in pursuingpoint in pursuing

our research furtherour research further. [RIGHT]. [RIGHT]

II can't get anycan't get anysatisfaction. OR Isatisfaction. OR I cancan

get noget no satisfaction.satisfaction. [RIGHT][RIGHT]

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Misplaced and DanglingMisplaced and Dangling

ModifiersModifiers

AvoidAvoid misplaced modifiersmisplaced modifiers ----modifiers that appear to modify themodifiers that appear to modify thewrong thing.wrong thing.

After our conversation lessons, weAfter our conversation lessons, wecould understand the Spanishcould understand the Spanishspoken by our visitors from Madridspoken by our visitors from Madrideasilyeasily. [WRONG ]. [WRONG ]

We couldWe couldeasilyeasilyunderstand theunderstand theSpanish spoken by our visitors fromSpanish spoken by our visitors fromMadrid.Madrid. [RIGHT][RIGHT]

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Be careful aboutBe careful about limiting modifierslimiting modifiers----like "almost," "hardly," "nearly," "just,"like "almost," "hardly," "nearly," "just,""only," "merely," and so on"only," "merely," and so on

Randy hasRandy has nearlynearlyannoyed everyannoyed everyprofessor he has hadprofessor he has had. (he hasn't. (he hasn't"nearly annoyed" them) [WRONG]"nearly annoyed" them) [WRONG]

WeWe almostalmostate all of the Thanksgivingate all of the Thanksgivingturkeyturkey. (we didn't "almost eat" it). (we didn't "almost eat" it)[WRONG][WRONG]

Randy has annoyedRandy has annoyednearlynearlyeveryevery

professor he has hadprofessor he has had. [RIGHT]. [RIGHT]We ateWe ate almostalmostall of the Thanksgivingall of the Thanksgivingturkeyturkey. [RIGHT]. [RIGHT]

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Misplaced Phrases andMisplaced Phrases and

ClausesClauses

Place the modifyingPlace the modifying phrasephrase oror clauseclauseas close as possible to the word oras close as possible to the word or

words it modifieswords it modifies

By accident, he poked the little girlBy accident, he poked the little girlwith his fingerwith his fingerin the eyein the eye. [WRONG]. [WRONG]

I heard that my roommate intendedI heard that my roommate intended

to throw a surprise party for meto throw a surprise party for me

while I was outside her bedroomwhile I was outside her bedroom

windowwindow

. [WRONG]

. [WRONG]

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By accident, he poked the littleBy accident, he poked the littlegirlgirl in the eyein the eye with his fingerwith his finger..

[RIGHT][RIGHT]

While I was outside herWhile I was outside her

bedroom windowbedroom window, I heard that, I heard thatmy roommate intended to throwmy roommate intended to throw

a surprise party for mea surprise party for me. [RIGHT]. [RIGHT]

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Squinting ModifiersSquinting Modifiers

An ambiguously placed modifier thatAn ambiguously placed modifier thatcan modify either the word before itcan modify either the word before itor the word after it.or the word after it.

Defining your termsDefining your terms clearlyclearlystrengthens your argumentstrengthens your argument.[WRONG].[WRONG]

Defining your termsDefining your terms will clearlywill clearlystrengthen your argument. ORstrengthen your argument. ORAA

clear definitionclear definition of your termsof your termsstrengthens your argumentstrengthens your argument. [RIGHT]. [RIGHT]

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Dangling ModifiersDangling Modifiers

A dangling modifier is usually a phraseA dangling modifier is usually a phraseor anor an elliptical clauseelliptical clause -- a-- adependent clausedependent clause whosewhose subjectsubject andandverb are implied rather than expressed --verb are implied rather than expressed --

that functions as anthat functions as an adjectiveadjective but doesbut doesnot modify any specific word in thenot modify any specific word in thesentence, or (worse) modifies thesentence, or (worse) modifies the wrongwrong

word.word.

Raised in Nova ScotiaRaised in Nova Scotia, it is natural to, it is natural tomiss the smell of the seamiss the smell of the sea..

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Revising the SentencesRevising the Sentences

For a person raised in NovaFor a person raised in Nova

ScotiaScotia, it is natural to miss the, it is natural to miss the

smell of the sea.smell of the sea.

Raised in Nova Scotia,Raised in Nova Scotia, II oftenoftenmiss the smell of the sea.miss the smell of the sea.

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Although nearly finishedAlthough nearly finished, we left, we leftthe play early because we werethe play early because we were

worried about our sick catworried about our sick cat.. "Although nearly finished" illogically"Although nearly finished" illogically

modifies "we," the pronoun directlymodifies "we," the pronoun directly

following the clause. An easy way tofollowing the clause. An easy way torectify the problem is to re-insert therectify the problem is to re-insert thesubject and verb that are understoodsubject and verb that are understoodin the elliptical clause:in the elliptical clause:

AlthoughAlthough the playthe playwas nearlywas nearlyfinished, we left early because wefinished, we left early because wewere worried about our sick catwere worried about our sick cat..

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Split InfinitivesSplit Infinitives

TheThe infinitiveinfinitive form of theform of the verbverbconsists of the word "to" followed byconsists of the word "to" followed by

the base form of the verb: "to be,"the base form of the verb: "to be,""to serve," "to chop," etc. Inserting a"to serve," "to chop," etc. Inserting a

word or words between the "to" andword or words between the "to" and

the verb of an infinitive creates whatthe verb of an infinitive creates whatis known as ais known as a split infinitivesplit infinitive..

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The marketing team voted to,The marketing team voted to,

before they launched the newbefore they launched the newsoftwaresoftware, run an anticipatory ad, run an anticipatory ad

campaigncampaign. (disruptive -- the. (disruptive -- the

infinitive should not be split)infinitive should not be split)[WRONG][WRONG]

The marketing team voted to runThe marketing team voted to run

an anticipatory ad campaignan anticipatory ad campaignbefore they launched the newbefore they launched the new

softwaresoftware.. [RIGHT][RIGHT]