Saturday 18 June 2011

Graduation Day


Yesterday, Graduation Day. With an exceptional godfather. Really inspiring.
M ยช Angeles, I missed you. Laura, you're great. For all, has been a tough year, but brilliant. Thank you.

http://www.bernardohernandez.com/ 

Sunday 10 April 2011

What is an adverb?

What is an adverb?

Basically, most adverbs tell you how, where, or when something is done. In other words, they describe the manner, place, or time of an action. Here are some examples:
Type
Adverb
Example
Manner
slowly
Jane drives slowly.
Place
here
The party is going to take place here.
Time
yesterday
I called him yesterday.


How to recognize an adverb

Many adverbs end with the suffix -LY. Most of these are created by adding -LY to the end of an adjective, like this:
Adjective
Adverb
slow
slowly
delightful
delightfully
hopeless
hopelessly
aggressive
aggressively
However, this is NOT a reliable way to find out whether a word is an adverb or not, for two reasons: many adverbs do NOT end in -LY (some are the same as the adjective form), and many words which are NOT adverbs DO end in -LY (such as kindly, friendly, elderly and lonely, which are adjectives). Here are some examples of adverbs which are the same as adjectives:

Adjective
Adverb
fast
fast
late
late
early
early
The best way to tell if a word is an adverb is to try making a question, for which the answer is the word. If the question uses how, where or when, then the word is probably an adverb. Here is an example:

Word in context
Question
Adverb?
Junko plays tennis aggressively.
How does Junko play tennis?
Yes -- uses HOW.
They have a small house.
What kind of house do they have?
No -- uses WHAT KIND OF, so this is an adjective.
Matthew called the police immediately.
When did Matthew call the police?
Yes -- uses WHEN.

Monday 14 March 2011

Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary Verbs are the verbs be, do, have, will when they are followed by another verb (the full verb) in order to form a question, a negative sentence, a compound tense or the passive.

The verb "to be"

The verb be can be used as an auxiliary and a full verb. As an auxiliary we use this verb for compound tenses and the passive voice. Note that be is an irregular verb:
Simple Present:
I am, he/she/it is, we/you/they are
Simple Past:
I/he/she/it was, we/you/they were
Past Participle:
been
You can tell that in the following sentences be is an auxiliary because it is followed by another verb (the full verb). (For progressive forms use the "-ing" form of the full verb; for passive voice, use the past participle of the full verb.)
Progressive Forms
Present Progressive:
He is playing football.
Past Progressive:
He was playing football.
Present Perfect Progressive:
He has been playing football.
Past Perfect Progressive:
He had been playing football.
Passive
Simple Present/Past:
The house is/was built.
Present/Past Perfect:
The house has/had been built.
Future I:
The house will be built.
"be" as a full verb
The verb be can also be a full verb. In this case, it's not followed by another verb. If be is used as a full verb, we do not need an auxiliary in negative sentences or questions.
positive sentence:
They are fifteen years old.
negative sentence:
They are not fifteen years old.
question:
Are they fifteen years old?

The verb "have"

The verb have, too, can be used both as an auxiliary and as a full verb. As an auxiliary we use this verb to form compound tenses in active and passive voice. (Use the past participle of the full verb.)
Compound Tenses - Active Voice
Present Perfect Simple:
He has played football.
Past Perfect Simple:
He had played football.
Present Perfect Progressive:
He has been playing football.
Past Perfect Progressive:
He had been playing football.
Compound Tenses - Passive Voice
Present/Past Perfect:
The house has/had been built.
Note that have is an irregular verb, too:
Simple Present:
I/we/you/they have, he/she/it has
Simple Past:
I/he/she/it/we/you/they had
Past Participle:
had
"have" in positive sentences
As a full verb have indicates possession. In British English, however, we usually use have got (have being the auxiliary, got the full verb).
full verb:
I have a car.
auxiliary verb:
I have got a car.
"have" in negative sentences and questions
When we use have as a full verb, we must use the auxiliary do in negative sentences and questions. If we use have got, however, we do not need another auxiliary.
have as a full verb:
I do not have a car.
Do I have a car?
have as an auxiliary verb:
I have not got a car.
Have I got a car?

The verb "will"

The verb will can only be used as an auxiliary. We use it to form the future tenses.
The auxiliary verb "will"
Future I:
He will not play football.
Future II:
He will have played football.
The verb will remains the same for all forms (no "s" for 3rd person singular). The short form for negative sentences is won't.'
Examples:
I will, he will
I will not = I won't

The verb "do"

The verb do can be both an auxiliary and a full verb. As an auxiliary we use do in negative sentences and questions for most verbs (except not for be, will, have got and modal verbs) in Simple Present and Simple Past. (Use the infinitive of the full verb.)
The auxiliary "do" in negative sentences
Simple Present:
He does not play football.
Simple Past:
He did not play football.
The auxiliary "do" in questions
Simple Present:
Does he play football?
Simple Past:
Did he play football?
The verb do is irregular:
Simple Present:
I/we/you/they do, he/she/it does
Simple Past:
I/he/she/it/we/you/they did
The full verb "do"
As a full verb we use do in certain expressions. If we want to form negative sentences or questions using do as a full verb, we need another do as an auxiliary.
positive sentence:
She does her homework every day.
negative sentence:
She doesn't do her homework every day.
question:
Does she do her homework every day?

Sentences without the auxiliary "do"

In the following cases, the auxiliary do is not used in negative sentences/questions:
the full verb is "be"
Example:
I am not angry. / Are you okay?
the sentence already contains another auxiliary (e.g. have, be, will)
Example:
They are not sleeping. / Have you heard that?
the sentence contains a modal verb (can, may, must, need, ought to, shall, should)
Example:
We need not wait. / Can you repeat that, please?
the question asks for the subject of the sentence
Example:
Who sings that song?

Irregular verbs

Infinitive Simple Past Past Participle
alight alighted, alit alighted, alit
arise arose arisen
awake awoke, awaked awoken, awaked
be was, were been
bear bore borne, born
beat beat beaten, beat
become became become
beget begot begotten
begin began begun
bend bent bent
bereave bereaved, bereft bereaved, bereft
beseech besought, beseeched besought, beseeched
bet bet, betted bet, betted
bid bade, bid bidden, bid, bade
bide bade, bided bided
bind bound bound
bite bit bitten
bleed bled bled
bless blessed, blest blessed, blest
blow blew blown
break broke broken
breed bred bred
bring brought brought
broadcast broadcast, broadcasted broadcast, broadcasted
build built built
burn burnt, burned burnt, burned
burst burst burst
bust bust, busted bust, busted
buy bought bought
can could (kein Participle)
cast cast cast
catch caught caught
choose chose chosen
cleave cleft, cleaved, clove cleft, cleaved, cloven
cling clung clung
clothe clothed, clad clothed, clad
come came come
cost cost cost
creep crept crept
crow crowed crew, crowed
cut cut cut
deal dealt dealt
dig dug dug
do did done
draw drew drawn
dream dreamt, dreamed dreamt, dreamed
drink drank drunk
drive drove driven
dwell dwelt, dwelled dwelt, dwelled
eat ate eaten
fall fell fallen
feed fed fed
feel felt felt
fight fought fought
find found found
flee fled fled
fling flung flung
fly flew flown
forbid forbad, forbade forbid, forbidden
forecast forecast, forecasted forecast, forecasted
forget forgot forgotten
forsake forsook forsaken
freeze froze frozen
geld gelded, gelt gelded, gelt
get got got, gotten
gild gilded, gilt gilded, gilt
give gave given
gnaw gnawed gnawed, gnawn
go went gone
grind ground ground
grip gripped, gript gripped, gript
grow grew grown
hang hung hung
have had had
hear heard heard
heave heaved, hove heaved, hove
hew hewed hewed, hewn
hide hid hidden, hid
hit hit hit
hold held held
hurt hurt hurt
keep kept kept
kneel knelt, kneeled knelt, kneeled
knit knitted, knit knitted, knit
know knew known
lay laid laid
lead led led
lean leant, leaned leant, leaned
leap leapt, leaped leapt, leaped
learn learnt, learned learnt, learned
leave left left
lend lent lent
let let let
lie lay lain
light lit, lighted lit, lighted
lose lost lost
make made made
may might (kein Participle)
mean meant meant
meet met met
melt melted molten, melted
mow mowed mown, mowed
pay paid paid
pen pent, penned pent, penned
plead pled, pleaded pled, pleaded
prove proved proven, proved
put put put
quit quit, quitted quit, quitted
read read read
rid rid, ridded rid, ridded
ride rode ridden
ring rang rung
rise rose risen
run ran run
saw sawed sawn, sawed
say said said
see saw seen
seek sought sought
sell sold sold
send sent sent
set set set
sew sewed sewn, sewed
shake shook shaken
shall should (kein Participle)
shear sheared shorn, sheared
shed shed shed
shine shone shone
shit shit, shitted, shat shit, shitted, shat
shoe shod, shoed shod, shoed
shoot shot shot
show showed shown, showed
shred shred, shredded shred, shredded
shrink shrank, shrunk shrunk
shut shut shut
sing sang sung
sink sank sunk
sit sat sat
slay slew slain
sleep slept slept
slide slid slid
sling slung slung
slink slunk slunk
slit slit slit
smell smelt, smelled smelt, smelled
smite smote smitten
sow sowed sown, sowed
speak spoke spoken
speed sped, speeded sped, speeded
spell spelt, spelled spelt, spelled
spend spent spent
spill spilt, spilled spilt, spilled
spin spun spun
spit spat spat
split split split
spoil spoilt, spoiled spoilt, spoiled
spread spread spread
spring sprang, sprung sprung
stand stood stood
steal stole stolen
stick stuck stuck
sting stung stung
stink stank, stunk stunk
stride strode stridden
strike struck struck
string strung strung
strive strove striven
swear swore sworn
sweat sweat, sweated sweat, sweated
sweep swept swept
swell swelled swollen, swelled
swim swam swum
swing swung swung
take took taken
teach taught taught
tear tore torn
telecast telecast, telecasted telecast, telecasted
tell told told
think thought thought
throw threw thrown
thrust thrust thrust
tread trod trodden
understand understood understood
wake woke, waked woken, waked
wear wore worn
weave wove woven
wed wed, wedded wed, wedded
weep wept wept
wet wet, wetted wet, wetted
win won won
wind wound wound
wring wrung wrung
write wrote written

Regular verbs list

  • accept
  • add
  • admire
  • admit
  • advise
  • afford
  • agree
  • alert
  • allow
  • amuse
  • analyse
  • announce
  • annoy
  • answer
  • apologise
  • appear
  • applaud
  • appreciate
  • approve
  • argue
  • arrange
  • arrest
  • arrive
  • ask
  • attach
  • attack
  • attempt
  • attend
  • attract
  • avoid
 
  • back
  • bake
  • balance
  • ban
  • bang
  • bare
  • bat
  • bathe
  • battle
  • beam
  • beg
  • behave
  • belong
  • bleach
  • bless
  • blind
  • blink
  • blot
  • blush
  • boast
  • boil
  • bolt
  • bomb
  • book
  • bore
  • borrow
  • bounce
  • bow
  • box
  • brake
  • brake
  • branch
  • breathe
  • bruise
  • brush
  • bubble
  • bump
  • burn
  • bury
  • buzz
 
  • calculate
  • call
  • camp
  • care
  • carry
  • carve
  • cause
  • challenge
  • change
  • charge
  • chase
  • cheat
  • check
  • cheer
  • chew
  • choke
  • chop
  • claim
  • clap
  • clean
  • clear
  • clip
  • close
  • coach
  • coil
  • collect
  • colour
  • comb
  • command
  • communicate
  • compare
  • compete
  • complain
  • complete
  • concentrate
  • concern
  • confess
  • confuse
  • connect
  • consider
  • consist
  • contain
  • continue
  • copy
  • correct
  • cough
  • count
  • cover
  • crack
  • crash
  • crawl
  • cross
  • crush
  • cry
  • cure
  • curl
  • curve
  • cycle
 
  • dam
  • damage
  • dance
  • dare
  • decay
  • deceive
  • decide
  • decorate
  • delay
  • delight
  • deliver
  • depend
  • describe
  • desert
  • deserve
  • destroy
  • detect
  • develop
  • disagree
  • disappear
  • disapprove
  • disarm
  • discover
  • dislike
  • divide
  • double
  • doubt
  • drag
  • drain
  • dream
  • dress
  • drip
  • drop
  • drown
  • drum
  • dry
  • dust
 
  • earn
  • educate
  • embarrass
  • employ
  • empty
  • encourage
  • end
  • enjoy
  • enter
  • entertain
  • escape
  • examine
  • excite
  • excuse
  • exercise
  • exist
  • expand
  • expect
  • explain
  • explode
  • extend
 
  • face
  • fade
  • fail
  • fancy
  • fasten
  • fax
  • fear
  • fence
  • fetch
  • file
  • fill
  • film
  • fire
  • fit
  • fix
  • flap
  • flash
  • float
  • flood
  • flow
  • flower
  • fold
  • follow
  • fool
  • force
  • form
  • found
  • frame
  • frighten
  • fry
 
  • gather
  • gaze
  • glow
  • glue
  • grab
  • grate
  • grease
  • greet
  • grin
  • grip
  • groan
  • guarantee
  • guard
  • guess
  • guide
 
  • hammer
  • hand
  • handle
  • hang
  • happen
  • harass
  • harm
  • hate
  • haunt
  • head
  • heal
  • heap
  • heat
  • help
  • hook
  • hop
  • hope
  • hover
  • hug
  • hum
  • hunt
  • hurry
 
  • identify
  • ignore
  • imagine
  • impress
  • improve
  • include
  • increase
  • influence
  • inform
  • inject
  • injure
  • instruct
  • intend
  • interest
  • interfere
  • interrupt
  • introduce
  • invent
  • invite
  • irritate
  • itch
 
  • jail
  • jam
  • jog
  • join
  • joke
  • judge
  • juggle
  • jump
 
  • kick
  • kill
  • kiss
  • kneel
  • knit
  • knock
  • knot
 
  • label
  • land
  • last
  • laugh
  • launch
  • learn
  • level
  • license
  • lick
  • lie
  • lighten
  • like
  • list
  • listen
  • live
  • load
  • lock
  • long
  • look
  • love
 
  • man
  • manage
  • march
  • mark
  • marry
  • match
  • mate
  • matter
  • measure
  • meddle
  • melt
  • memorise
  • mend
  • mess up
  • milk
  • mine
  • miss
  • mix
  • moan
  • moor
  • mourn
  • move
  • muddle
  • mug
  • multiply
  • murder
 
  • nail
  • name
  • need
  • nest
  • nod
  • note
  • notice
  • number
 
  • obey
  • object
  • observe
  • obtain
  • occur
  • offend
  • offer
  • open
  • order
  • overflow
  • owe
  • own
 
  • pack
  • paddle
  • paint
  • park
  • part
  • pass
  • paste
  • pat
  • pause
  • peck
  • pedal
  • peel
  • peep
  • perform
  • permit
  • phone
  • pick
  • pinch
  • pine
  • place
  • plan
  • plant
  • play
  • please
  • plug
  • point
  • poke
  • polish
  • pop
  • possess
  • post
  • pour
  • practise
  • pray
  • preach
  • precede
  • prefer
  • prepare
  • present
  • preserve
  • press
  • pretend
  • prevent
  • prick
  • print
  • produce
  • program
  • promise
  • protect
  • provide
  • pull
  • pump
  • punch
  • puncture
  • punish
  • push
 
  • question
  • queue


 
  • race
  • radiate
  • rain
  • raise
  • reach
  • realise
  • receive
  • recognise
  • record
  • reduce
  • reflect
  • refuse
  • regret
  • reign
  • reject
  • rejoice
  • relax
  • release
  • rely
  • remain
  • remember
  • remind
  • remove
  • repair
  • repeat
  • replace
  • reply
  • report
  • reproduce
  • request
  • rescue
  • retire
  • return
  • rhyme
  • rinse
  • risk
  • rob
  • rock
  • roll
  • rot
  • rub
  • ruin
  • rule
  • rush
 
  • sack
  • sail
  • satisfy
  • save
  • saw
  • scare
  • scatter
  • scold
  • scorch
  • scrape
  • scratch
  • scream
  • screw
  • scribble
  • scrub
  • seal
  • search
  • separate
  • serve
  • settle
  • shade
  • share
  • shave
  • shelter
  • shiver
  • shock
  • shop
  • shrug
  • sigh
  • sign
  • signal
  • sin
  • sip
  • ski
  • skip
  • slap
  • slip
  • slow
  • smash
  • smell
  • smile
  • smoke
  • snatch
  • sneeze
  • sniff
  • snore
  • snow
  • soak
  • soothe
  • sound
  • spare
  • spark
  • sparkle
  • spell
  • spill
  • spoil
  • spot
  • spray
  • sprout
  • squash
  • squeak
  • squeal
  • squeeze
  • stain
  • stamp
  • stare
  • start
  • stay
  • steer
  • step
  • stir
  • stitch
  • stop
  • store
  • strap
  • strengthen
  • stretch
  • strip
  • stroke
  • stuff
  • subtract
  • succeed
  • suck
  • suffer
  • suggest
  • suit
  • supply
  • support
  • suppose
  • surprise
  • surround
  • suspect
  • suspend
  • switch
 
  • talk
  • tame
  • tap
  • taste
  • tease
  • telephone
  • tempt
  • terrify
  • test
  • thank
  • thaw
  • tick
  • tickle
  • tie
  • time
  • tip
  • tire
  • touch
  • tour
  • tow
  • trace
  • trade
  • train
  • transport
  • trap
  • travel
  • treat
  • tremble
  • trick
  • trip
  • trot
  • trouble
  • trust
  • try
  • tug
  • tumble
  • turn
  • twist
  • type
 
  • undress
  • unfasten
  • unite
  • unlock
  • unpack
  • untidy
  • use
 
  • vanish
  • visit


 
  • wail
  • wait
  • walk
  • wander
  • want
  • warm
  • warn
  • wash
  • waste
  • watch
  • water
  • wave
  • weigh
  • welcome
  • whine
  • whip
  • whirl
  • whisper
  • whistle
  • wink
  • wipe
  • wish
  • wobble
  • wonder
  • work
  • worry
  • wrap
  • wreck
  • wrestle
  • wriggle
 
  • x-ray



 
  • yawn
  • yell


 
  • zip
  • zoom

What is a verb?

A verb is often defined as a word which shows action or state of being. The verb is the heart of a sentence - every sentence must have a verb. Recognizing the verb is often the most important step in understanding the meaning of a sentence. In the sentence The dog bit the man, bit is the verb and the word which shows the action of the sentence.  In the sentence The man is sitting on a chair, even though the action doesn't show much activity, sitting is the verb of the sentence.  In the sentence She is a smart girl, there is no action but a state of being expressed by the verb is. The word be is different from other verbs in many ways but can still be thought of as a verb.
Unlike most of the other parts of speech, verbs change their form.  Sometimes endings are added (learn - learned) and sometimes the word itself becomes different (teach-taught).  The different forms of verbs show different meanings related to such things as tense (past, present, future), person (first person, second person, third person), number (singular, plural) and voice (active, passive). Verbs are also often accompanied by verb-like words called modals (may, could, should, etc.) and auxiliaries(do, have, will, etc.)  to give them different meanings.
One of the most important things about verbs is their relationship to time.  Verbs tell if something has already happened, if it will happen later, or if it is happening now.  For things happening now, we use the present tense of a verb; for something that has already happened, we use the past tense; and for something that will happen later, we use the future tense.  Some examples of verbs  in each tense are in the chart below:
 
Present
Past
Future
look
looked
will look
move
moved
will move
talk
talked
will talk
Verbs like those in the chart above that form the past tense by adding -d or -ed are called regular verbs.  Some of the most common verbs are not regular and the different forms of the verb must be learned.  Some examples of such irregular verbs are in the chart below:
 
Present
Past
Future
see
saw
will see
hear
heard
will hear
speak
spoke
will speak
The charts above show the simple tenses of the verbs.  There are also progressive or continuous forms which show that the action takes place over a period of time, and perfect forms which show completion of the action.  These forms will be discussed more in other lessons, but a few examples are given in the chart below:
 
Present Continuous
Present Perfect
is looking
has looked
is speaking
has spoken
is talking
has talked
Simple present tense verbs have a special form for the third person singular. Singular means "one" and plural means "more than one."  Person is used here to show who or what does the action and can have the following forms:
    1st person or the self (I, we)

    2nd person or the person spoken to (you)

    3rd person or a person not present (he, she, it, they)

The third person singular forms are represented by the pronouns he, she, it.  The chart below shows how the third person singular verb form changes:

 
Singular
Plural
1st Person (I)see
hear

come
1st Person (we)see
hear

come
2nd Person (you)see
hear

come
2nd Person (you)see
hear

come
3rd Person (he, she, it)sees
hears

comes
3rd Person (they)see
hear

come
A verb must "agree" with its subject. Subject-verb agreement generally means that  the third person singular verb form must be used with a third person subject in the simple present tense. The  word be - the most irregular and also most common verb in English - has different forms for each person and even for the simple past tense.  The forms of the word be are given in the chart below:
 
Number
Person
Present
Past
Future
Singular
1st (I)
am
was
will be
2nd (you)
are
were
will be
3rd (he, she, it)
is
was
will be
Plural
1st (we)
are
were
will be
2nd (you)
are
were
will be
3rd (they)
are
were
will be
Usually a subject comes before a verb and an object may come after it.  The subject is what does the action of the verb and the object is what receives the action.  In the sentence Bob ate a humburger, Bob is the subject or the one who did the eating and the hamburger is the object or what got eaten.  A verb which has an object is called a transitive verb and some examples are throw, buy, hit, love.  A verb which has no object is called an intransitive verb and some examples are go, come, walk, listen.
As you can see in the charts above, verbs are often made up of more than one word. The future forms, for example, use the word will and the perfect forms use the word have.  These words are called helping or auxiliary verbs.  The word be can serve as an auxiliary and will and shall are also auxiliary forms. The chart below shows two other verbs which can also be used as auxiliaries:
 
NumberPersonPresentPast
Singular
1st (I)
have
do
had
did
2nd (you)
have
do
had
did
3rd (he, she, it)
has
does
had
did
Plural
1st (we)
have
do
had
did
2nd (you)
have
do
had
did
3rd (they)
have
do
had
did
There is a type of auxiliary verb called a modal which changes the meaning of a verb in different ways.  Words like can, should, would, may, might, and must are modals and are covered in other lessons.

Sequence of Multiple Adjectives

Adjectives can be classified into many categories. In English, adjectives are generally used in the order: quantity-->opinion-->size-->age-->shape-->color-->origin-->material-->purpose. Some of these categories are (roughly in the order in which adjectives are used in English):
  • quantity - few, no, one, two, three, four, several, many, all, some, every, each, ...
  • opinion - good, better, best, bad, worse, worst, mediocre, awful, fantastic, pretty, ugly, clean, dirty, wasteful, difficult, comfortable, valuable, worthless, useful, useless, important, evil, angelic, rare, scarce, poor, rich, lovely, disgusting, amazing, surprising, loathesome, unusual, usual, pointless, ...
  • personality/emotion - happy, sad, excited, scared, frightened, outgoing, funny, sad, zany, grumpy, cheerful, jolly, carefree, quick-witted, blissful, lonely, elated, ...
  • sound - loud, soft, silent, vociferous, screaming, shouting, thunderous, blaring, quiet, noisy, talkative, rowdy, deafening, faint, muffled, mute, speechless, whispered, hushed, ...
  • taste - sweet, sour, acidic, bitter, salty, tasty, delicious, savory, delectable, yummy, bland, tasteless, palatable, yummy, luscious, appetizing, tasteless, spicy, watery, ...
  • touch - hard, soft, silky, velvety, bumpy, smooth, grainy, coarse, pitted, irregular, scaly, polished, glossy, lumpy, wiry, scratchy, rough, glassy, ...
  • size, weight - heavy, light, big, small, tiny, tall, short, fat, thin, slender, willowy, lean, svelte, scrawny, skeletal, underweight, lanky, wide, enormous, huge, vast, great, gigantic, monstrous, mountainous, jumbo, wee, dense, weighty, slim, trim, hulking, hefty, giant, plump, tubby, obese, portly, ...
  • smell - perfumed, acrid, putrid, burnt, smelly, reeking, noxious, pungent, aromatic, fragrant, scented, musty, sweet-smelling,...
  • speed - quick, fast, slow, speeding, rushing, bustling, rapid, snappy, whirlwind, swift, hasty, prompt, brief, ...
  • temperature - hot, cold, freezing, icy, frigid, sweltering, wintry, frosty, frozen, nippy, chilly, sizzling, scalding, burning, feverish, fiery, steaming, ...
  • age - young, old, baby, babyish, teenage, ancient, antique, old-fashioned, youthful, elderly, mature, adolescent, infantile, bygone, recent, modern, ...
  • distance - short, long, far, distant, nearby, close, faraway, outlying, remote, far-flung, neighboring, handy, ...
  • shape - round, circular, square, triangular, oval, sleek, blobby, flat, rotund, globular, spherical, wavy, straight, cylindrical, oblong, elliptical, zigzag, squiggly, crooked, winding, serpentine, warped, distorted, ...
  • miscellaneous qualities- full, empty, wet, dry, open, closed , ornate, ...
  • brightness - light, dark, bright, shadowy, drab, radiant, shining, pale, dull, glowing, shimmering, luminous, gleaming, ...
  • color - pink, red, orange, yellowish, dark-green, blue, purple, black, white, gray, brown, tanned, pastel, ...
  • time - early, late, morning, night, evening, everlasting, initial, first, last, overdue, belated, long-term, delayed, punctual, ...
  • origin/location - lunar, northern, oceanic, polar, equatorial, Floridian, American, Spanish, Canadian, Mexican, French, Irish, English, Australian, ...
  • material - glass, wooden, cloth, concrete, fabric, cotton, plastic, leather, ceramic, china, metal, steel, ...
  • purpose - folding, swinging, work, racing, cooking, sleeping, dance, rolling, walking, ... 
Example of the Sequence of Multiple Adjectives in Chart Form:
QUANTITY OPINION SIZE AGE SHAPE COLOR ORIGIN MATERIAL PURPOSE NOUN
five   huge young   black Canadian     bears
  battered   old shapeless gray   cotton work pants
many magnificent   antique     British   reference books
one studious   teenaged     American     boy
few shiny     round blue Indian     gems
many well-made tiny   elongated brown   wooden fishing boats
several cheap large     purple   polyester sleeping bags

Thursday 10 March 2011

Adjectives or adverbs? confusing cases

Adjectives ending in -ly

Most adverbs end in -ly. There are also some adjectives ending in -ly. Examples are: costly, cowardly, deadly, friendly, likely, lively, lonely, lovely, silly, ugly etc.
  • She is a lovely girl. (Here lovely is an adjective. It modifies the noun girl.)
  • I love his friendly nature. (Here the adjective friendly modifies the noun nature.)
There are no adverbs friendly / friendlily, lovely / lovelily etc.
Some words can be used both as adjectives and as adverbs. Examples are: daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, early, leisurely etc.
  • We should catch an early train. (Here early is an adjective. It modifies the noun train.)
  • I got up early. (Here early is an adverb. It modifies the verb got up.)
Adjectives and adverbs with the same form

Some adjectives and adverbs have the same form. Examples are: fast and hard.
  • A fast car goes fast.
  • If you do hard work, you work hard.
In some cases, the adverb may have two forms: one like the adjective and the other ending in -ly. There is usually a difference of meaning or use.
Examples are: dead and deadly, fine and finely, free and freely, hard and hardly etc.
The adverb dead is used in some expressions to mean ‘exactly’ or ‘very’.
  • He was dead drunk.
Note that deadly is an adjective meaning ‘fatal’. The adverb for this meaning is fatally.
  • She was fatally injured in the accident. (NOT She was deadly injured in the accident.)
Fine and finely

The adverb fine means ‘well’. It is used in some informal expressions.
  • She is doing fine.
The adverb finely is used to talk about small careful adjustments.
  • finely ground particles
  • a finely tuned machine
Free and freely

The adverb free means ‘without payment’. The adverb freely means ‘without restriction’.
  • Buy two shirts and get one free.
  • Speak freely. (= Speak without fear or inhibition.)
Hard and hardly

The adverb hard has a similar meaning to the adjective hard.
  • He works hard.
  • Hit it hard.
Hardly has a negative meaning. It means ‘almost not’.
  • We have got hardly any rice left.
High and highly

High is used to talk about height. Highly often means ‘very much’.
  • He threw it as high as he could.
  • It is highly amusing.
Late and lately

The adverb late has a similar meaning to the adjective late. Lately means ‘recently’.
  • He arrived late.
  • Have you read anything interesting lately?
Most and mostly

Most is the superlative form of much.
  • This is the most interesting film I have ever seen.
Most can mean ‘very’ in a very formal style.
  • It is a most interesting novel. (= It is a very interesting novel.)
Mostly means ‘mainly’.
  • My friends are mostly vegetarians.
Real and really

In informal American English, real is often used instead of really.
  • She sings real well. (= She sings really well.)

Monday 7 March 2011

Adjectives

This week, after meeting our great qualifications in Linguistics, we must study "the adjectives". I hope this material will help my colleagues. Good job, guys!

List of Adjectives

The list of adjectives is something of wonder. Behold the modest adjective. It can leap tall buildings in a single bound. It makes the average citizen smarter and kinder. It keeps you in the cleanest car on the block. Such potent words should be used wisely. Read on and learn how to use your adjective powers for good.
An adjective's job is to modify a noun or pronoun. They are always near the noun or pronoun they are describing. Be careful how you use adjectives such as interesting, beautiful, great, wonderful, or exciting. Many adjectives like these are overused and add little definition to a sentence. Instead, show your reader or listener what you are talking about by using verbs and nouns creatively. Sprinkle fewer well-chosen adjectives for interest.

Adjectives are often used to describe the degree of modification.
The adjective forms are positive, comparative, and superlative.

This tree is tall. (positive)
That tree is taller. (comparative)
The last tree in the row is the tallest. (superlative)

A handful of adjectives have irregular forms of positive, comparative, and superlative usage.These include good/better/best, bad/worse/worst, little/less/least, much-many-some/more/most, far/further/furthest.

My lunch was good, hers was better, and yours was the best.

Proper adjectives are derived from proper nouns. They commonly describe something in terms of nationality, religious affiliation, or culture. Like proper nouns, proper adjectives have their first letter capitalized. Some examples of proper adjectives include:

American
French
Japanese
Latino
Asian
Australian
Catholic
Lutheran
Jewish

The following lists are just a sampling of adjectives in the English language. They are categorized by the type of attribute they describe. Use your dictionary or thesaurus to add to each list or use the complete list below this one.

Appearance Adjectives adorable
beautiful
clean
drab
elegant
fancy
glamorous
handsome
long
magnificent
old-fashioned
plain
quaint
sparkling
ugliest
unsightly
wide-eyed
Color Adjectives red
orange
yellow
green
blue
purple
gray
black
white
Condition Adjectives alive
better
careful
clever
dead
easy
famous
gifted
helpful
important
inexpensive
mushy
odd
powerful
rich
shy
tender
uninterested
vast
wrong.
Feelings (Bad) Adjectives
angry
bewildered
clumsy
defeated
embarrassed
fierce
grumpy
helpless
itchy
jealous
lazy
mysterious
nervous
obnoxious
panicky
repulsive
scary
thoughtless
uptight
worried
Feelings (Good) Adjectives
agreeable
brave
calm
delightful
eager
faithful
gentle
happy
jolly
kind
lively
nice
obedient
proud
relieved
silly
thankful
victorious
witty
zealous
Shape Adjectives broad
chubby
crooked
curved
deep
flat
high
hollow
low
narrow
round
shallow
skinny
square
steep
straight
wide.
Size Adjectives big
colossal
fat
gigantic
great
huge
immense
large
little
mammoth
massive
miniature
petite
puny
scrawny
short
small
tall
teeny
teeny-tiny
tiny
Sound Adjectives cooing
deafening
faint
hissing
loud
melodic
noisy
purring
quiet
raspy
screeching
thundering
voiceless
whispering
Time Adjectives ancient
brief
early
fast
late
long
modern
old
old-fashioned
quick
rapid
short
slow
swift
young
Taste/Touch Adjectives bitter
delicious
fresh
greasy
juicy
hot
icy
loose
melted
nutritious
prickly
rainy
rotten
salty
sticky
strong
sweet
tart
tasteless
uneven
weak
wet
wooden
yummy
Touch Adjectives boiling
breeze
broken
bumpy
chilly
cold
cool
creepy
crooked
cuddly
curly
damaged
damp
dirty
dry
dusty
filthy
flaky
fluffy
freezing
hot
warm
wet
Quantity Adjectives
abundant
empty
few
full
heavy
light
many
numerous
sparse
substantial

Why do you need a list of adjectives? Adjectives can turn the ordinary in to the extraordinary. When used properly, they can add vivid interest to your conversation or written communication. However, there can be too much of a good thing. Please keep your adjectives effective by choosing them wisely.


Comprehensive List of Adjectives


Aaback
abaft
abandoned
abashed
aberrant
abhorrent
abiding
abject
ablaze
able
abnormal
aboard
aboriginal
abortive
abounding
abrasive
abrupt
absent
absorbed
absorbing
abstracted
absurd
abundant
abusive
acceptable
accessible
accidental
accurate
acid
acidic
acoustic
acrid
actually
ad hoc
adamant
adaptable
addicted
adhesive
adjoining
adorable
adventurous
afraid
aggressive
agonizing
agreeable
ahead
ajar
alcoholic
alert
alike
alive
alleged
alluring
aloof
amazing
ambiguous
ambitious
amuck
amused
amusing
ancient
angry
animated
annoyed
annoying
anxious
apathetic
aquatic
aromatic
arrogant
ashamed
aspiring
assorted
astonishing
attractive
auspicious
automatic
available
average
awake
aware
awesome
awful
axiomatic
Bbad
barbarous
bashful
bawdy
beautiful
befitting
belligerent
beneficial
bent
berserk
best
better
bewildered
big
billowy
bite-sized
bitter
bizarre
black
black-and-white
bloody
blue
blue-eyed
blushing
boiling
boorish
bored
boring
bouncy
boundless
brainy
brash
brave
brawny
breakable
breezy
brief
bright
bright
broad
broken
brown
bumpy
burly
bustling
busy
C
cagey
calculating
callous
calm
capable
capricious
careful
careless
caring
cautious
ceaseless
certain
changeable
charming
cheap
cheerful
chemical
chief
childlike
chilly
chivalrous
chubby
chunky
clammy
classy
clean
clear
clever
cloistered
cloudy
closed
clumsy
cluttered
coherent
cold
colorful
colossal
combative
comfortable
common
complete
complex
concerned
condemned
confused
conscious
cooing
cool
cooperative
coordinated
courageous
cowardly
crabby
craven
crazy
creepy
crooked
crowded
cruel
cuddly
cultured
cumbersome
curious
curly
curved
curvy
cut
cute
cute
cynical
D
daffy
daily
damaged
damaging
damp
dangerous
dapper
dark
dashing
dazzling
dead
deadpan
deafening
dear
debonair
decisive
decorous
deep
deeply
defeated
defective
defiant
delicate
delicious
delightful
demonic
delirious
dependent
depressed
deranged
descriptive
deserted
detailed
determined
devilish
didactic
different
difficult
diligent
direful
dirty
disagreeable
disastrous
discreet
disgusted
disgusting
disillusioned
dispensable
distinct
disturbed
divergent
dizzy
domineering
doubtful
drab
draconian
dramatic
dreary
drunk
dry
dull
dusty
dusty
dynamic
dysfunctional
E
eager
early
earsplitting
earthy
easy
eatable
economic
educated
efficacious
efficient
eight
elastic
elated
elderly
electric
elegant
elfin
elite
embarrassed
eminent
empty
enchanted
enchanting
encouraging
endurable
energetic
enormous
entertaining
enthusiastic
envious
equable
equal
erect
erratic
ethereal
evanescent
evasive
even
excellent
excited
exciting
exclusive
exotic
expensive
extra-large
extra-small
exuberant
exultant
F
fabulous
faded
faint
fair
faithful
fallacious
false
familiar
famous
fanatical
fancy
fantastic
far
far-flung
fascinated
fast
fat
faulty
fearful
fearless
feeble
feigned
female
fertile
festive
few
fierce
filthy
fine
finicky
first
five
fixed
flagrant
flaky
flashy
flat
flawless
flimsy
flippant
flowery
fluffy
fluttering
foamy
foolish
foregoing
forgetful
fortunate
four
frail
fragile
frantic
free
freezing
frequent
fresh
fretful
friendly
frightened
frightening
full
fumbling
functional
funny
furry
furtive
future
futuristic
fuzzy
G
gabby
gainful
gamy
gaping
garrulous
gaudy
general
gentle
giant
giddy
gifted
gigantic
glamorous
gleaming
glib
glistening
glorious
glossy
godly
good
goofy
gorgeous
graceful
grandiose
grateful
gratis
gray
greasy
great
greedy
green
grey
grieving
groovy
grotesque
grouchy
grubby
gruesome
grumpy
guarded
guiltless
gullible
gusty
guttural
H
habitual
half
hallowed
halting
handsome
handsomely
handy
hanging
hapless
happy
hard
hard-to-find
harmonious
harsh
hateful
heady
healthy
heartbreaking
heavenly
heavy
hellish
helpful
helpless
hesitant
hideous
high
highfalutin
high-pitched
hilarious
hissing
historical
holistic
hollow
homeless
homely
honorable
horrible
hospitable
hot
huge
hulking
humdrum
humorous
hungry
hurried
hurt
hushed
husky
hypnotic
hysterical
I
icky
icy
idiotic
ignorant
ill
illegal
ill-fated
ill-informed
illustrious
imaginary
immense
imminent
impartial
imperfect
impolite
important
imported
impossible
incandescent
incompetent
inconclusive
industrious
incredible
inexpensive
infamous
innate
innocent
inquisitive
insidious
instinctive
intelligent
interesting
internal
invincible
irate
irritating
itchy
J
jaded
jagged
jazzy
jealous
jittery
jobless
jolly
joyous
judicious
juicy
jumbled
jumpy
juvenile
K
kaput
keen
kind
kindhearted
kindly
knotty
knowing
knowledgeable
known
L
labored
lackadaisical
lacking
lame
lamentable
languid
large
last
late
laughable
lavish
lazy
lean
learned
left
legal
lethal
level
lewd
light
like
likeable
limping
literate
little
lively
lively
living
lonely
long
longing
long-term
loose
lopsided
loud
loutish
lovely
loving
low
lowly
lucky
ludicrous
lumpy
lush
luxuriant
lying
lyrical



M
macabre
macho
maddening
madly
magenta
magical
magnificent
majestic
makeshift
male
malicious
mammoth
maniacal
many
marked
massive
married
marvelous
material
materialistic
mature
mean
measly
meaty
medical
meek
mellow
melodic
melted
merciful
mere
messy
mighty
military
milky
mindless
miniature
minor
miscreant
misty
mixed
moaning
modern
moldy
momentous
motionless
mountainous
muddled
mundane
murky
mushy
mute
mysterious

N
naive
nappy
narrow
nasty
natural
naughty
nauseating
near
neat
nebulous
necessary
needless
needy
neighborly
nervous
new
next
nice
nifty
nimble
nine
nippy
noiseless
noisy
nonchalant
nondescript
nonstop
normal
nostalgic
nosy
noxious
null
numberless
numerous
nutritious
nutty
O
oafish
obedient
obeisant
obese
obnoxious
obscene
obsequious
observant
obsolete
obtainable
oceanic
odd
offbeat
old
old-fashioned
omniscient
one
onerous
open
opposite
optimal
orange
ordinary
organic
ossified
outgoing
outrageous
outstanding
oval
overconfident
overjoyed
overrated
overt
overwrought
P
painful
painstaking
pale
paltry
panicky
panoramic
parallel
parched
parsimonious
past
pastoral
pathetic
peaceful
penitent
perfect
periodic
permissible
perpetual
petite
petite
phobic
physical
picayune
pink
piquant
placid
plain
plant
plastic
plausible
pleasant
plucky
pointless
poised
polite
political
poor
possessive
possible
powerful
precious
premium
present
pretty
previous
pricey
prickly
private
probable
productive
profuse
protective
proud
psychedelic
psychotic
public
puffy
pumped
puny
purple
purring
pushy
puzzled
puzzling



Q
quack
quaint
quarrelsome
questionable
quick
quickest
quiet
quirky
quixotic
quizzical



R
rabid
racial
ragged
rainy
rambunctious
rampant
rapid
rare
raspy
ratty
ready
real
rebel
receptive
recondite
red
redundant
reflective
regular
relieved
remarkable
reminiscent
repulsive
resolute
resonant
responsible
rhetorical
rich
right
righteous
rightful
rigid
ripe
ritzy
roasted
robust
romantic
roomy
rotten
rough
round
royal
ruddy
rude
rural
rustic
ruthless
S
sable
sad
safe
salty
same
sassy
satisfying
savory
scandalous
scarce
scared
scary
scattered
scientific
scintillating
scrawny
screeching
second
second-hand
secret
secretive
sedate
seemly
selective
selfish
separate
serious
shaggy
shaky
shallow
sharp
shiny
shivering
shocking
short
shrill
shut
shy
sick
silent
silent
silky
silly
simple
simplistic
sincere
six
skillful
skinny
sleepy
slim
slimy
slippery
sloppy
slow
small
smart
smelly
smiling
smoggy
smooth
sneaky
snobbish
snotty
soft
soggy
solid
somber
sophisticated
sordid
sore
sore
sour
sparkling
special
spectacular
spicy
spiffy
spiky
spiritual
spiteful
splendid
spooky
spotless
spotted
spotty
spurious
squalid
square
squealing
squeamish
staking
stale
standing
statuesque
steadfast
steady
steep
stereotyped
sticky
stiff
stimulating
stingy
stormy
straight
strange
striped
strong
stupendous
stupid
sturdy
subdued
subsequent
substantial
successful
succinct
sudden
sulky
super
superb
superficial
supreme
swanky
sweet
sweltering
swift
symptomatic
synonymous





T
taboo
tacit
tacky
talented
tall
tame
tan
tangible
tangy
tart
tasteful
tasteless
tasty
tawdry
tearful
tedious
teeny
teeny-tiny
telling
temporary
ten
tender
tense
tense
tenuous
terrible
terrific
tested
testy
thankful
therapeutic
thick
thin
thinkable
third
thirsty
thirsty
thoughtful
thoughtless
threatening
three
thundering
tidy
tight
tightfisted
tiny
tired
tiresome
toothsome
torpid
tough
towering
tranquil
trashy
tremendous
tricky
trite
troubled
truculent
true
truthful
two
typical
U
ubiquitous
ugliest
ugly
ultra
unable
unaccountable
unadvised
unarmed
unbecoming
unbiased
uncovered
understood
undesirable
unequal
unequaled
uneven
unhealthy
uninterested
unique
unkempt
unknown
unnatural
unruly
unsightly
unsuitable
untidy
unused
unusual
unwieldy
unwritten
upbeat
uppity
upset
uptight
used
useful
useless
utopian
utter
uttermost

V
vacuous
vagabond
vague
valuable
various
vast
vengeful
venomous
verdant
versed
victorious
vigorous
violent
violet
vivacious
voiceless
volatile
voracious
vulgar
W
wacky
waggish
waiting
wakeful
wandering
wanting
warlike
warm
wary
wasteful
watery
weak
wealthy
weary
well-groomed
well-made
well-off
well-to-do
wet
whimsical
whispering
white
whole
wholesale
wicked
wide
wide-eyed
wiggly
wild
willing
windy
wiry
wise
wistful
witty
woebegone
womanly
wonderful
wooden
woozy
workable
worried
worthless
wrathful
wretched
wrong
wry

Y
yellow
yielding
young
youthful
yummy
Z
zany
zealous
zesty
zippy
zonked