2. Grammar 1: Adverbs
Adjectives describe a noun or pronoun. A word that describes a
verb is an adverb. Adverbs tell How, When, and Where.
HOW Example: The plane landed smoothly at the airport.
WHEN Example: Soon Jeff would see his grandparents at the gate.
WHERE Example: They were waiting for him there.
Many adverbs end with –ly. Some are included in the chart on the
next slide.
3. Adverbs
How When Where
Fast Tomorrow Here
Hard Later Inside
Together Again Far
Happily Often Upstairs
Quietly First Downtown
Secretly Next Somewhere
Slowly Then Forward
4. Usage 2: Comparing with Adverbs
You can use adjectives to compare people, places, or things.
You can use adverbs to compare actions. Like adjectives,
adverbs have special forms for comparisons. To compare two
actions, add –er to most short adverbs. To compare three or
more actions, add –est to most short adverbs.
One action: Amy will finish the book soon.
Two actions: Amy will finish sooner then Jessie.
Three or more: Amy will finish soonest of all.
5. Rules for Comparing with Adverbs
1. Most short adverbs:
Add –er or –est to
the adverb
Late
Later
Latest
Early
Earlier
Earliest
2. Most adverbs of
two or more
syllables:
Use more or most
with the adverb
Often
More often
Most often
Quickly
More quickly
Most quickly
7. Usage 3: Adjective or Adverb
Many adverbs are formed by adding –ly to an adjective.
These words look similar and are easily confused. Be
careful to use them correctly in a sentence.
Incorrect Example: Robert writes clear. Adjective
Correct Example: Robert writes clearly. Adverb
8. Adjective or Adverb
Remember to use an adjective to describe a noun or a
pronoun. Use an adverb to describe a verb.
Adjective Example: Lee made quick moves.
Adverb Example: She moves quickly.
9. Adjective or Adverb
The words good and well are often confused. Good is
always an adjective. Use good before a noun or after a
linking verb. Do NOT use good when you mean “healthy.”
Adjective: Sam has a good vocabulary.
Adjective: His stories are good.
10. Adjective or Adverb
Use well as an adverb to describe a verb. Use it as an
adjective to mean “healthy.”
Adverb: Sam describes building well.
Adjective: Because Todd ate too fast, he is not well now.
11. Usage 4: Negatives
Words that mean “no” or “not” are negatives.
She has no tickets. There are none left.
You have learned to form a contraction from a verb and not.
These contractions are also negatives. The letters n’t stand
for not. The word not is an adverb.
We won’t be able to go. She couldn’t get the tickets.
13. Negatives
A sentence should have only one negative. Using double
negatives in a sentence is usually incorrect.
Incorrect Example: Ralph hasn’t no homework.
Correct Example: Ralph hasn’t any homework.
Correct Example: Ralph has no homework.
Incorrect Example: Isn’t nobody at home?
Correct Example: Isn’t anybody at home?
Correct Example: Is nobody at home?
14. Grammar 5: Prepositions
Small words make a big difference in meaning.
Sue found it on the shelf. Sue found it under the shelf.
The words on and under show very different relationships
between found and shelf. The words that show these
relationships are prepositions.
A preposition relates another word in the sentence to the
noun or the pronoun that follows the preposition. The noun
or pronoun that follows a preposition is the object of the
preposition.
I liked the book with the blue cover. She gave it to me.
15. Prepositions
About Around Beside For Near Outside Under
Above At By From Of Over Until
Across Before Down In Off Past Up
After Behind During Inside On Through With
Along Below Except Into Out To Without
16. Grammar 6: Prepositional Phrases
A preposition is always followed by an object. A
prepositional phrase is made-up of a preposition, the
object of the preposition, and all words between them.
A prepositional phrase describes another word in the
sentence.
We packed the fruit in our knapsacks.
The object of the preposition can be a compound object.
We took enough oranges for Manuel and Anita.
17. Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase can be at the beginning, in the
middle, or at the end of a sentence.
At dawn, we began our walk.
The map of the area was helpful.
The path went by a forest and a large lake.
18. Usage 7: Pronouns in Prepositional Phrases
The object of a preposition is the noun or pronoun that follows the
preposition. When the object of preposition is a pronoun, use an
object pronoun. Object pronoun are me, you, him, her, it, us, and
them.
People sometimes get confused when the pronoun is part of a
compound object. To see whether the pronoun is correct, remove
the other object and check the pronoun alone.
I gave the picture to Tom and her. I gave the picture to her.
19. TIP:
Never use a subject pronoun (like I or he) after a preposition.
20. Usage 8: Adverb or Preposition
Some words can be used as either an adverb or a preposition.
Adverb: Susan ran inside.
Preposition: Her hat was inside the store.
Adverb: The shopkeeper looked up.
Preposition: Susan raced up the stairs.
21. Adverb or Preposition
You can tell the difference between an adverb and a
preposition if you look carefully at how the word is used in a
sentence. If the word begins a prepositional phrase, it is a
preposition. Otherwise, it is an adverb.
22. Adverbs or Prepositions
The words in the following chart may be either an
adverb or a preposition depending up how they are
used in a sentence.
Above Below In Off Outside
Along By Inside Over Under
Around Down Near Out Up
