Adjectives and Adverbs

As words that describe other words, adjectives and adverbs add liveliness and color to writing, helping writers show rather than just tell. In addition, adjectives and adverbs often provide indispensable meanings to the words they modify. In basketball, for example, there is an important difference between a flagrant foul and a technical foul, or an angry coach and an abusively angry coach. In each instance, the modifiers are crucial to accurate communication.

Chapter contents:

Quick Help: Editing adjectives and adverbs

Quick Help: Understanding the difference between adjectives and adverbs

Using adjectives after linking verbs

Using adverbs

Comparatives and superlatives

Using nouns as modifiers

Using adjectives ending in -ed and -ing

Putting adjectives in order