Page 115 - Just Enough English Grammar Illustrated Book

5.7 When Adverbs Modify Adjectives

“Too” and “very” are commonly used adverbs of degree.
They can modify adjectives as well as other adverbs.

Adverbs can be used to add more meaning to adjectives that
describe a noun. Here is an example, expanded step by step.

Ben is a swimmer.
Ben is a bad swimmer.
Ben is a very bad swimmer.

Subject Linking Article Adverb Adjective Noun
Verb
bad modifies the noun swimmer
very modifies the adjective bad
In this example, the adverb very modifies the adjective bad.
It explains to what extent Ben is a bad swimmer.

Adverbs of degree can modify
both other adverbs and adjectives.

5.8 Comparison with Adverbs and Adjectives

The form of an adverb or adjective sometimes changes to show
degrees of quality. In grammar, these changed forms showing
a difference in degree constitute the comparative form.

There are three degrees of comparison in English:

1. The positive degree of an adjective or adverb describes
a noun without comparing it to anyone or anything else.
The positive degree of an adverb or adjective does not make
a comparison.
2. The comparative degree shows that the quality as
expressed by the adjective or adverb exists to a greater
degree.
3. The superlative degree shows that the quality as expressed
by the adjective or adverb exists to the greatest degree.

When adverbs or adjectives are used to compare,
they change form or add new words
to indicate degrees of quality.

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