Grammar: sentence building tools.

1. Grammar
Modifiers:
Opening Adjectives and
Adverbs

2. Modifiers
Adjectives and Adverbs modify nouns and verbs.
These are two types of sentence modifiers you
are familiar with.
Adjective Modifiers Adverb Modifiers
“The angry bear
attacked me.”
“Crazy Andy chases
his brother.”
“The bear ferociously
attacked me.”
“Andy always chases
his brother.”

3. Modifiers
Sometimes longer phrases modify sentences
as well. Learning how to use these phrases in
your own writing is the key to developing a
mature writing style.
A group of words
Example:
“Without a doubt, Emily, my friend since first grade,
is the most important person in my life.”

4. Adjective Phrase
A group of words that describes a noun or pronoun.
An adjective phrase acts just like a single adjective.
Adjective Adjective Phrase
A word that describes
a noun.
“The angry bear
attacked me.”
A phrase (2+ words)
that describes a noun.
“The bear is way too
scary.”

5. Adjective Phrase
Examples:
1. The final exams were unbelievably difficult.
2. The extremely tired kitten fell asleep.
3. A dog covered in mud makes a mess in a car.
4. The overly enthusiastic fans painted their bodies.
5. My brother is older than me.
6. The candy was dark chocolate brown.
A group of words that describes a noun or pronoun.
An adjective phrase acts just like a single adjective.

6. Practice 1
Directions:
Underline all adjective phrases.
On your note sheet, complete PRACTICE 1.
1. The dancing was exquisitely graceful.
2. A tapestry beautifully stitched by hand is worth
the cost.
3. I wanted to paint it eggplant purple.
4. Superman was faster than a speeding bullet.
5. A person smarter than me needs to figure this out.

7. Opening Adjective
An adjective at the beginning of a sentence, either
as the first word of the sentence or as the first word
in an adjective phrase.
You must ALWAYS put a comma after an opening adjective.
Example:
“Speechless, Bryson scanned the
small living room.”

8. Opening Adjective
(An adjective at the beginning of a sentence, either as the first word of
the sentence or as the first word in an adjective phrase.)
Examples (With Just Adjectives):
1. Asleep, I heard a shout and a noise that
sounded like a cheer, and I woke
immediately.
2. Cooly, she set her gaze at the passing
trees as though Ani did not exist.
3. Powerless, we witnessed the sacking of
our launch.

9. Opening Adjective
(An adjective at the beginning of a sentence, either as the first word of
the sentence or as the first word in an adjective phrase.)
Examples (With Adjective Phrases):
1. Numb of all feeling, empty as a shell, he
clung to life and the hours droned by.
2. Afraid that we might not find anything
better, we bought the house.
3. Tear-stained and weary, we must have
looked like the original ragged survivors of
the Trojan War.

10. Practice 2
Directions:
Underline all opening adjectives.
On your note sheet, complete PRACTICE 2.
1. Bloodthirsty and brutal, the giants brought
themselves to the point of extinction by warring
amongst themselves.
2. Comfortable, I lay on my back and waited for sleep.
3. Certain of herself, certain of her friends in the
audience, certain of her voice and her success,
Carlotta flung herself into her part without restraint.

11. Practice 3
Directions:
Write your own sentence that
includes an opening adjective.
On your note sheet, complete PRACTICE 3.

12. Adverb Phrase
A group of words that describes a verb.
An adverb phrase acts just like a single adverb.
Adverb Adverb Phrase
A word that describes
a verb (and sometimes describes
adjectives and other parts of speech).
“I accidentally bit my
tongue.”
A phrase (2+ words)
that describes a verb.
“I bit my tongue so
hard that it hurt.”

13. Adverb:
Adverbs answer these questions:
1.Where did the action happen?
2. When did it happen?
3. How did it happen? (or, in what
way did it happen?)
4. To what extent did it happen? (or,
how often did it happen?)

14. Adverb:
Where?
When?
How?
To What
Extent?
She ate the muffin here.
She ate the muffin today.
She quickly ate the muffin.
She completely ate the muffin.
Adverb

15. Practice 4
Directions:
Underline the adverb in each sentence and answer
the question that follows.
On your note sheet, complete PRACTICE 4.
1. The moonlight shone wonderfully on the ocean.
What question does this adverb answer about
the main verb, “shone?”
2. The light twinkled underneath the surface.
What question does this adverb answer about
the main verb, “twinkled?”

16. Opening Adverb
An adverb or adverb phrase at the beginning of a
sentence, giving information about an action.
Example:
“Accidentally, I bit my tongue.”
The opening adverb answers the question of HOW.
How did I bite my tongue? => accidentally.

17. Opening Adverb
(An adverb or adverb phrase at the beginning of a sentence, giving
information about an action.)
Examples (With Just Adverbs):
1. Unfairly, we poked fun at him.
2. Then, Harry felt as though an invisible pillow
had quite suddenly been pressed over his
mouth and nose.
3. Incredibly, the man was still chasing after us.
4. Outside, I found a taxi for her.

18. Opening Adverb
(An adverb or adverb phrase at the beginning of a sentence, giving
information about an action.)
Examples (With Adverb Phrases):
1. Quietly as possible, we crept into the cave.
2. Unlike me, he listened to the monk and
bowed at the appropriate times.
3. After the game, we went to the beach.
4. In silence, my mother sat and waited for me
to respond.

19. Practice 5
Directions:
Underline all opening adverbs.
On your note sheet, complete PRACTICE 5.
1. Suddenly, an eagle swooped over my head.
2. In the dark, headlights illuminate the road.
3. With a nationalistic and forceful tone loud
enough to scare anyone, the dictator spoke into
the microphone.

20. Practice 6
Directions:
Write your own sentence that
includes an opening adverb.
Remember, an adverb modifies
the main VERB of your sentence
(not a noun).
On your note sheet, complete PRACTICE 6.

21. Worksheet
Complete the worksheet:
“Opening Adjectives & Adverbs”!
Good Luck!