Imaginative Writing

Lesson 3: Expanding adjective and

adverb vocabularies for use in
creative writing
 Highlight the adjectives in this extract
“Certainly not. It’s a yo-yo.” Smithers pulled out the string, holding it
between a podgy finger and thumb. “However, the string is a special sort of
nylon. Very advanced. There are thirty metres of it and it can lift weights of
up to one hundred kilograms. The actual yo-yo is motorized and clips on to
your belt. Very useful for climbing.”
“Amazing.” Alex was unimpressed.
“And then there’s this.” Smithers produced a small tube. Alex read the side:
ZIT-CLEAN, FOR HEALTHIER SKIN. “Nothing personal,” Smithers went on
apologetically, “but we thought it was something a boy of your age might use.
And it is rather remarkable.” He opened the tube and squeezed some of the
cream on to his finger. “Completely harmless when you touch it. But bring it
into contact with metal and it’s quite another story.” He wiped his finger,
smearing the cream on to the surface of the table. For a moment nothing
happened. Then a wisp of acrid smoke twisted upwards in the air, the metal
sizzled and a jagged hole appeared.

Extension: Use a different colour to identify adverbs.

 Replacing adjectives
In groups of four, can you find dynamic and sophisticated adjectives
for the gaps below?
“Certainly not. It’s a yo-yo.” Smithers pulled out the string, holding it between
a ________ finger and thumb. “However, the string is a ________ sort of
nylon. Very ____________. There are thirty metres of it and it can lift weights
of up to one hundred kilograms. The actual yo-yo is _________ and clips on to
your belt. Very __________ for climbing.”
“_____________.” Alex was ______________.
“And then there’s this.” Smithers produced a small tube. Alex read the side:
ZIT-CLEAN, FOR ____________ SKIN. “Nothing personal,” Smithers went on
apologetically, “but we thought it was something a boy of your age might use.
And it is rather ____________.” He opened the tube and squeezed some of
the cream on to his finger. “Completely ___________ when you touch it. But
bring it into contact with metal and it’s quite another story.” He wiped his
finger, smearing the cream on to the surface of the table. For a moment
nothing happened. Then a wisp of _________ smoke twisted upwards in the
air, the metal sizzled and a ____________ hole appeared.
Feed back to the board and add the best words to your bank!
 Using verbs as adjectives
• Words that are normally verbs can often be used as adjectives. If a
word modifies a noun or pronoun, it is an adjective, even if that
word is usually associated with a different part of speech.
Sometimes the present participle (verb plus ing) form of a verb
becomes an adjective: A rolling stone gathers no moss.
• Spot the verb used as an adjective below in the Dracula extract:

I stood in silence where I was, for I did not know what to do. Of bell
or knocker there was no sign; through these frowning walls and dark
window openings it was not likely that my voice could penetrate.
The time I waited seemed endless, and I felt doubts and fears
crowding upon me. What sort of place had I come to, and among
what kind of people? What sort of grim adventure was it on which I
had embarked? Was this a customary incident in the life of a
solicitor’s clerk sent out to explain the purchase of a London estate
to a foreigner?
 What are adverbs?
Can anyone who did the extension at the beginning of the lesson tell
us?
• Adverbs are words that typically modify a verb, an
adjective, another adverb or an entire sentence:
‘I keep hoping they'll come back,’ Tanya said
despairingly.
• In this case the adverb modifies the verb said.

It’s a very fast road all the way.

• In this case the adverb modifies the adjective fast.

• In the next example the adverb very modifies the adverb rarely, and

in turn very rarely is an adverb phrase that modifies the verb worked:
We very rarely worked with each other.
• Many adverbs end in –ly… but not all do, and there are also some
words that end in -ly that aren’t adverbs (lonely, ugly, silly).
 Superlatives
• Many adverbs can also be formed into comparative and superlative
forms with the addition or -er or -est, examples being:
John works hard — Mary works harder — I work hardest.
• However, many don't take such forms, and therefore need to be used
with comparative adverbs in front of them instead.
 It seems that physical illnesses can be diagnosed more
reliably than mental illnesses.
 I did my Maths homework less carefully than my English.
 Buckton was by far the most seriously injured.
 Of the group of hurrying girls, Amy walked the least
quickly.
In four teams, you have five minutes to record as many
adverbs as possible in your word bank. Can you beat the
other groups?
Extension: Can you lead your team to victory
and Achievement Points?
 Using adverbs and
adjectives
• Using your bank of new vocabulary, you have
10 minutes to re-write a section of your
imaginative writing.
• Aim to include at least five new examples of
each – including comparative/superlative
adverbs.
• Let’s hear some examples! Add any
interesting vocabulary to your word bank.