Adjectives, Adverbs, and Comparisons

Introduction

Choose the form by its job

An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun; an adverb modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, or a whole clause. After linking verbs such as be, seem, become, feel, and look, use an adjective to describe the subject: “The surface feels smooth.” With an action verb, an adverb commonly describes how: “She moved smoothly.”

Worked example: In “The audience grew quiet,” grew links audience to its new condition, so an adjective is correct. In “The audience listened quietly,” listened names an action, so an adverb explains how. The form changes because the word's job changes.

Make complete, logical comparisons

A comparative usually compares two items (safer; more precise); a superlative selects from three or more (safest; most precise). Avoid double marking (more safer) and nonstandard forms (worser). Irregular forms include good/better/best, bad/worse/worst, and many/more/most.

Name or clearly imply both sides of a comparison. “This year's attendance is higher than last year” illogically compares attendance with a year; revise to “higher than last year's attendance” or “higher than it was last year.” Compare like categories and use than any other when the subject belongs to the group.

Match quantity words to count and amount

Use fewer for countable items and less for an amount or mass in formal edited English. Use number with countable items and amount with mass nouns.