Adjective and Adverb UsageRules and Guidelines

Adjective or Adverb?

Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns. Adverbs describe verbs.

Lena is a quick runner. (Adjective) Lena runs quickly. (Adverb)

Comparing

To compare two things or actions, add –er to adjectives and adverbs or use the word more.This plant is taller than the other one. It grows more quickly.To compare three or more things or actions, add –est or use the word most.This plant is the tallest of the three. It grew the most quickly.Use more or most with an adjective or adverb that has two or more syllables, such as careful or politely. Do not add –er or –est to long adjectives or adverbs.Agreeable-more agreeable-most agreeableSlowly-more slowly-most slowly

Good and Bad

The adjectives good and bad have special forms for making comparisons.Good-better-best Bad-worse-worst

Negatives

Do not use double negatives in a sentence.Incorrect: We didn’t go no where.Correct: We didn’t go anywhere.

Pronoun Usage

Agreement:A pronoun must agree with the noun to which it refers.Kee bought a newspaper. Mary read it.Jeff and Cindy came to dinner. They enjoyed the meal.

Double Subjects:Do not use a double subject-a noun and a pronoun-to name the same person, place, or thing.Incorrect: The food it was delicious.Correct: The food was delicious.

Pronoun Usage

I and Me:Use I as the subject of a sentence and after forms of be. Use me after action verbs or prepositions such as to, in, and for. (See subject and object pronouns later in the slide presentation.)Jan and I are going to the show. She is taking me.Will you hold my ticket for me?

When using I or me with nouns or other pronouns, always name yourself last.Beth and I will leave. Give the papers to Ron and me.

Possessive Pronouns

A possessive pronoun shows ownership. Use my, your, his, her, its, our, and their before nouns.My report was about our trip to the zoo.Use mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, and theirs to replace nouns in a sentence.Hers was about a visit to the museum.

Subject and Object Pronouns

Use subject pronouns as subjects and after forms of the verb be.He composed many works for the piano. I am she.The most talented singers are we.Use object pronouns after action verbs and prepositions like to and for.Clyde collected old coins and sold them. (Indirect object)Let’s share these bananas with her. (Object of the preposition)Use the pronoun who as a subject. Use the pronoun whom as an object.Who traveled around the world? Whom did they see?To whom did they speak?

Demonstrative Pronouns

A pronoun that points out something is called a demonstrative pronoun. It must agree in number with the nouns it points out or with its antecedent. Use this and these to point to things nearby. Use that and those to point to things farther away.This is a jellyfish. These are sand dollars.That is a shark. Those are stripped bass.

Compound Subjects and Compound Objects

To decide which pronoun to use in a compound subject or compound object, leave out the other part of the compound. Say the sentence with the pronoun alone.Lu and **** ride the bus. (we, us)We ride the bus. Lu and we ride the bus.I saw Dad and ****. (he, him)I saw him. I saw Dad and him.

We and Us with Nouns

Use we with a noun that is the subject or a noun that follows a linking verb.Incorrect: Us girls are the stagehands.Correct: We girls are the stagehands.Incorrect: The ushers are us boys.Correct: The ushers are we boys.Use us with a noun that follows a linking verb or that follows a preposition such as to, for, with, or at.Incorrect: Dr. Lin helped we players.Correct: Dr. Lin helped us players.Incorrect: She talked to we players.Correct: She talked to us players.

The End