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Adjectives can be identified using a number of formal criteria.

However, we may begin by saying that they typically describe an
attribute of a noun:   
  

cold weather    
large windows    
violent  storms 
   
Some adjectives can be identified by their endings. Typical adjective
endings include:   
   
  
-able/-
achievable, capable, illegible, remarkable
ible
-al biographical, functional, internal, logical
-ful beautiful, careful, grateful, harmful
-ic cubic, manic, rustic, terrific
-ive attractive, dismissive, inventive, persuasive
-less breathless, careless, groundless, restless
courageous, dangerous, disastrous,
-ous
fabulous
  

However, a large number of very common adjectives cannot be

identified in this way. They do not have typical adjectival form:  

 
 
bad    distant    quiet   
bright    elementary    real   
clever    good    red   
cold    great    silent   
common    honest    simple   
complete    hot    strange   
dark    main    wicked   
deep    morose    wide   
difficult old young
    
As this list shows, adjectives are formally very diverse. However,
they have a number of characteristics which we can use to identify
them.  
 
 

Characteristics of Adjectives
Adjectives can take a modifying word, such as very, extremely,
orless, before them:   
  
 very cold weather    
extremely large windows    
less violent storms 
   
Here, the modifying word locates the adjective on a scale of
comparison, at a position higher or lower than the one indicated by
the adjective alone.  

This characteristic is known as GRADABILITY. Most adjectives are

gradable, though if the adjective already denotes the highest position
on a scale, then it is non-gradable:  

 
 
my main reason for coming ~*my very main reason for coming

the principal role in the ~*the very principal role in the

play play
   
   
As well as taking modifying words like very and extremely,adjectives
also take different forms to indicate their position on a scale of
comparison:   
  

big      bigger      biggest

    
The lowest point on the scale is known as the ABSOLUTE form, the
middle point is known as the COMPARATIVE form, and the highest
point is known as the SUPERLATIVE form. Here are some more
examples:  

 
 
Absolut
Comparative Superlative
e
dark darker darkest
new newer newest
old older oldest
young younger youngest
  

In most cases, the comparative is formed by adding -er , and the

superlative is formed by adding -est, to the absolute form. However,
a number of very common adjectives are irregular in this respect:   

 
 
Absolute  Comparative  Superlative
good better best
bad worse worst
far farther farthest
  

Some adjectives form the comparative and superlative

using moreand most respectively:  

 
 
Absolute  Comparative  Superlative
important more important most important
more most
miserable
miserable miserable
recent more recent most recent
   
   

   
In the following sentences, the highlighted words are adjectives. Tick
the adjective features (a-c) that each exhibits.

1. His new car was stolen.    

 a. It has a typical adjective shape.     
 b. It is gradable.     
 c. It can undergo comparison. 

2. Something smells good.   

 a. It has a typical adjective shape.     

 b. It is gradable.     
 c. It can undergo comparison.  

3. Their restaurant is very successful.   

 a. It has a typical adjective shape.     

 b. It is gradable.     
 c. It can undergo comparison.  

4. What an unbelievable story!   

 a. It has a typical adjective shape.     

 b. It is gradable.     
 c. It can undergo comparison.     
 

5. My uncle is an atomic scientist.   
 a. It has a typical adjective shape.     
 b. It is gradable.     
 c. It can undergo comparison.

Adverbs exercise
Fill in the blanks with suitable adverbs. Choose from those given in the table.
Slowly Even Only Tomorro Quickly Completel Probabl
 w y y

Upstair Certainl Neatl Definitely Happil Often always

s y y y

1. Polite people ……………………….. say thank-you.

2. I …………………………… have headaches.
3. You have ……………………….. been working too hard.
4. He always wears a coat, ………………………… in summer.
5. ……………………….. he can do a thing like that.
6. ………………………… I have got a meeting in New York.
7. She got dressed ……………………………
8. This time tomorrow I will be …………………………. working in my garden.
9. It will …………………………… rain this evening.
10. The children are playing ………………………..
11. I ……………………. feel better today.
12. My brother ………………………….. forgot my birthday.
13. Write your answers ………………………
14. She read the letter …………………………….
Answers
1. always
2. often
3. definitely
4. even
5. only
6. tomorrow
7. quickly
8. happily
9. probably
10. upstairs
11. certainly
12. completely
13. neatly
14. slowly

Adverbs worksheet
SEPTEMBER 24, 2013 - 

Adverbs are words used to modify verbs. Adverbs can also be used to modify adjectives and other adverbs.

Fill in the blanks with suitable adverbs from the box. Write the kind of adverb against each sentence. The same
adverb can be used more than once.

Occasionally Sometimes Usually Rarely Once

Very Never Mostly Often always

1. I …………………….. go to bed at 10 o’clock. (…………………………………)

2. I have …………………. been to the USA.  (…………………………………)

3. I have been to Australia just …………………..  (…………………………………)

4. I ………………….. take a bath before I go to bed.  (…………………………………)

5. My grandparents live in Kerala. I visit them …………………… (…………………………………)

6. My friends are ………………… non-smokers.  (…………………………………)

7. I was …………………… impressed with her performance.  (…………………………………)

8. I ………………….. go for a walk in the park.  (…………………………………)

9. I watch English films …………………. (…………………………………)

10. They …………………. go out.  (…………………………………)

Answers

1. I usually go to bed at 10 o’clock. (adverb of frequency)

2. I have never been to the USA.  (frequency adverb)

3. I have been to Australia just once. (frequency)

4. I always take a bath before I go to bed.  (frequency)

5. My grandparents live in Kerala. I visit them often. (frequency)

6. My friends are mostly non-smokers.  (focusing adverb)

7. I was very impressed with her performance.  (degree adverb)

8. I sometimes go for a walk in the park.  (frequency adverb)

9. I watch English films occasionally. (frequency adverb)

10. They rarely go out.  (frequency adverb)

Exercise 2

Complete the following with suitable adverbs. Choose from the given box.

Almost Very There Ever So

Sometimes Clearly Perhaps Seldom Certainly

1. I have ………………….. finished.

2. He is ………………… clever.
3. There is …………………. something wrong.

4. ……………….. I think I should take a long break.

5. ………………… her train is late.

6. He is ……………….. late for work.

7. She is ……………….. the right person for the job.

8. Have you ………………. wanted to run away?

9. You can see lots of flowers ……………….

10. They are ………………… beautiful.

Answers

1. I have almost finished.

2. He is very clever.

3. There is clearly something wrong.

4. I sometimes think I should take a long break.

5. Perhaps her train is late.

6. He is seldom late for work.

7. She is certainly the right person for the job.

8. Have you ever wanted to run away?

9. You can see lots of flowers there.

10. They are very beautiful.

image: http://www.yourdictionary.com/index.php/image/articles/18867.ThinkstockPhotos-
115869297_homework.jpg
 Adverbs are words that describe or modify verbs and sometimes adjectives and other adverbs. They
often answer the questions HOW, WHERE, or WHEN.
For example:
 Even after one year of lessons, Luke plays the piano badly.
“Badly” is an adverb that modifies the verb “play” and tells us how Luke plays the piano.
 The class is very difficult. Many students don’t pass it.
“Very” is an adverb that modifies the adjective “difficult” and tells us how difficult the class is.
Now let's get some practice using adverbs!

Worksheet to Test Adverbs Skills

I. Fill in the Gap
 Complete the sentences with the best adverb.
    Hint: Not every adverb is needed.
slowly     carefully   beautifully      well        loudly        carelessly       easily       excitedly       finally     
suddenly       quickly           quietly
 
1. Come here ____________. You have to see this!
2. We knew that she had got the job when we saw her _________ talking on the phone.
3. He ______________ put the vase on the table. It fell to the floor.
4. Sharon is throwing a party on Saturday. She ___________ finished her PhD.
5. Let’s walk ________________. I don’t want to be the first one at the meeting.
6. Alex _____________ put up the bookshelves. It was too difficult for me to do on my own.
7. Every thing happened so ______________. We had to move to California in less than a month.
8. Why does he always have to talk so ____________. You can hear him in the next room!
9. Although she speaks five languages, she did not do ___________ on the translation exam.
10. I was so surprised. His new apartment was _____________ decorated.
 
Answer Key: 1. quickly, 2. excitedly, 3. carelessly, 4. finally, 5. slowly, 6. easily, 7. suddenly, 8.
loudly, 9. well, 10. beautifully

II.  Adverb or Adjective?

Complete the sentence using an adjective or adverb.
To make adverbs we often add –ly at the end of an adjective (words that describe a noun)
Example: beautiful (adjective) girl (noun) 
               beautiful + ly = beautifully (adverb)
 
1. He’s always in a rush. I don’t understand why he walks so ____________ (quick/quickly).
2. I prefer studying in the library. It’s always_______________ (quiet/quietly).
3. Michael __________ (happy/happily) took the assistant job. He had been looking for a position all
summer. 
4. Marta dances _____________ (beautiful/beautifully). She’s been taking ballet since she was five
years old.
5. They speak French very ____________ (good/well). They lived in France for two years. 
6. My neighbor always plays ___________ (loud/loudly) music on the weekends. It’s so annoying.
7. Please be __________ (careful/carefully) in the hallway. The walls have just been painted.
8. Dan is very smart, but he is not a very___________ (good/well) student.
9. He reacted __________ (angry/angrily) to the news. I have never seen him so upset.
10. We didn’t ______________ (complete/completely) understand the teacher’s instructions. Most of
us did not finish the assignment.
 
Answer Key: 1. quickly, 2. quiet, 3. happily, 4. beautifully, 5. well, 6. loud, 7. careful, 8. good, 9.
angrily, 10. completely

Read more at http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/adverbs/adverb-

worksheet.html#YBTMJ0kH6CUrazEt.99