Three jobs, three tools: This micro covers three closely linked tools.
An adjective describes a noun — a quiet room, a difficult exam.
An adverb usually describes a verb (and often an adjective or another adverb) — it most often ends in -ly and tells you how, when or how much: she sang beautifully, *it is really cold*.[[LINEBREAK]]A comparative / superlative lets you compare* things: taller than, the tallest of all, more carefully, the most carefully*.
- adjective
- a word that describes a noun (happy, large, interesting)
- adverb
- a word that describes a verb, adjective or adverb (quickly, very, well)
- to modify
- to add information to another word — adjectives modify nouns, adverbs modify verbs
- comparative
- the form used to compare TWO things (bigger, more careful, better)
- superlative
- the form used for the top/bottom of a group of THREE or more (the biggest, the most careful, the best)
- syllable
- a beat in a word — 'big' has one, 'careful' has two; the count decides -er/-est vs more/most
- irregular
- not following the normal rule (good → better → best, not 'gooder')
Why it carries the marks: Examiners reward range and accuracy of language (Criterion A). Confusing an adjective with an adverb (she sings good) or mis-forming a comparative (more taller) is an error an examiner spots instantly. Master these three forms and you can describe, compare and give precise opinions in every skill.
Adverb from adjective: add -ly: Most adverbs are made by adding -ly to the adjective: quick → quickly, careful → carefully, happy → happily (a final -y becomes -i). A few are irregular: good → well, fast → fast (no change), hard → hard. Don't say she runs good — say she runs well**.
Comparatives & superlatives: count the syllables: Short adjectives (one syllable, or two ending in -y) take -er / -est: tall → taller → the tallest, happy → happier → the happiest. Long adjectives (two or more syllables) take more / most: careful → more careful → the most careful. Never combine them: more taller is wrong.
| Adjective | Adverb (-ly) | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|---|
| quick (short) | quickly | quicker | the quickest |
| happy (-y) | happily | happier | the happiest |
| careful (long) | carefully | more careful | the most careful |
| good (irregular) | well | better | the best |
| bad (irregular) | badly | worse | the worst |
| far (irregular) | — | further / farther | the furthest / farthest |
Spelling helpers: Watch three small rules. A short adjective ending in a single vowel + consonant doubles it: big → bigger → the biggest. A final -e just adds -r/-st: nice → nicer → the nicest. A final -y changes to -i: easy → easier → the easiest, and the adverb is easily.
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Adjective or adverb? Comparative or superlative?: Use an adjective before a noun or after be/seem/look (the food is delicious). Use an adverb with an action verb (*she cooks well*).[[LINEBREAK]]Use a comparative to compare two things, with than (*warmer than yesterday*). Use a superlative with the for one out of three or more (*the warmest* day of the year).
Comparison structures you will need
- than with comparatives — London is bigger than Bristol.
- as … as for equality (and not as … as for inequality) — He is as tall as his brother; she is not as fast as me.
- the + superlative + of / in — the most useful app of all, the best player in the team.
- less / the least — the opposite of more/most — less crowded, the least expensive.
- the … the … for linked change — the more you practise, the better you get.
After 'be', 'seem', 'look' → adjective: Linking verbs (be, seem, look, feel, sound, taste, smell) are followed by an adjective, not an adverb, because they describe the subject, not the action: the soup tastes good (not *tastes well*), *you look tired** (not look tiredly*).
All three forms in one short paragraph: Here is a short everyday description, built one sentence at a time. Watch how adjectives describe people, adverbs describe how they act, and comparatives / superlatives compare them. Read it once for meaning, then check the note under each sentence.
IB-style task — adjectives, adverbs & comparatives in action
A family of drivers, sentence by sentence
- My older sister Nadia is a careful driver. ("careful" is an adjective — it describes the noun driver.)
- She drives carefully even when the roads are busy. ("carefully" is an adverb — it tells us how she drives.)
- My brother drives faster than Nadia, but he is less careful. ("faster" and "less careful" are comparatives — comparing two people.)
- Honestly, Nadia is the most patient person in our family. ("the most patient" is a superlative — one out of the whole group.)
- When the traffic is heavy, she stays calm and just drives more slowly. (an adjective heavy, an adjective after stays, and a comparative adverb more slowly.)
Steal this for your writing: A single sentence can carry all three: She drives carefully (adverb), so she is safer (comparative) than most and probably the most reliable (superlative) driver I know. Reusing this pattern shows the range that Criterion A rewards.
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The slips to watch for: Three mistakes dominate. Using an adjective for an adverb (she sings good instead of *sings well*). Double-marking a comparative (*more taller* instead of *taller*). And mixing than with a superlative* (the most big than instead of bigger than*). Compare each right version with its typical mistake and the fix becomes obvious.
Correct
- She sings really well.
- Today is hotter than yesterday.
- It is the most expensive phone in the shop.
Common error
- She sings really good. (use the adverb — well, not good)
- Today is more hotter than yesterday. (drop 'more' — just 'hotter')
- It is the most expensive phone than the shop. (superlative takes 'in/of', not 'than')
Two quick checks before you write: 1. Adjective or adverb? If it describes a noun → adjective; if it describes a verb → adverb (usually -ly). 2. Comparing two (use a comparative + than) or picking from a group (use the + superlative + in/of)? And never write more + -er together.