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ADJECTIVES

Adjectives are describing words, i.e. words that qualify a noun or a pronoun, e.g. Ria is a beautiful girl.

Here, the word ‘beautiful’ is an adjective that describes the noun ‘girl’.

Kinds of Adjectives

1. Adjective of Quality- shows the quality, such as tall, old, large, etc. e.g. He is a tallboy.
2. Adjective of Quantity- gives the quantity of a thing, such as some, little, enough, etc. e.g. I have some money.
3. Adjective of Number- gives the number of a thing, etc.

(a) Definite Numeral– refers to an exact number, e.g. one, two, second, etc.

(b) Indefinite Numeral– does not refer to the exact number, e.g. all, few, some, etc.

(c) Distributive Numeral– refers to each one of a number, e.g. each, every, both, etc.

4. Demonstrative Adjective– indicates towards the noun that is meant such as this, such, those, etc. e.g. Those books are new

5. Interrogative Adjectives– are used to ask questions such as what, which, whose etc. e.g. Whose bag is this?

6. Possessive Adjectives– show the relation of a thing with someone such as her, my, their, etc. e.g. This is my dress.

7. Proper Adjectives – are formed with Proper Nouns such as Christian, American, Punjabi. etc. e.g. He is an American resident.

Degrees of Comparison Rules

There are three degrees of Comparison. Study the following table.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
big   small sweet	bigger   smaller sweeter	biggest   smallest sweetest

Rules to form degrees of comparison:

1. Adjectives of one syllable and some adjectives of two syllables form their comparative and superlative by adding-er and -est to the positive form.

 [Words ending in -er, -y, -ly add -er, -est. Note that ‘y’ becomes T.]

Positive Comparative Superlative

clever                 cleverer                    cleverest

happy                 happier                     happiest

ugly                     uglier                          ugliest

2. Adjectives of two syllables ending in did, -less, -able form they are comparative and superlative by adding more and most to the original word.

Positive Comparative Superlative

useful               more useful                most useful

careless           more careless            most careless

capable           more capable             most capable

3. Adjectives of three or more syllables also form they are comparative and superlative by adding more and most to the positive form.

Positive Comparative Superlative

beautiful             more beautiful             most beautiful

interesting         more interesting        most interesting

courageous       more courageous   most courageous

4. Irregular Comparisons, e.g.

Positive Comparative Superlative

good                           better                                  best

bad                             worse                                 worst

little                             less                                     least

many                          more                                  most

much                          more                                  most

DEGREES OF COMPARISON

Degrees of comparison is meant to compare or express similarities or differences of quantity or quality between two persons or things and also among three or more persons or things.

Study the following sentences

• Noni’s apple is sweet.
• Nikunj’s apple is sweetest than Noni’s.
• Aditya’s apple is the sweetest of all.

In sentence (a), the adjective sweet merely tells us that Noni ’s apple has the quality of sweetness, without saying how much of this quality it has.

In sentence (b), the adjective sweeter tells us that Nikunj’s apple compared with Noni’s has more of the quality of sweetness.

In sentence (c), the adjective sweetest tells us that of all these Aditya’s apple has the greatest amount or highest degree of the quality of sweetness. We, thus, see that adjectives change in form (sweet. sweeter, sweetest) to show comparison. They are called the degrees of comparison.

The adjective sweet is said to be in the Positive Degree.

The adjective sweeter is said to be in the Comparative Degree.

The adjective sweetest is said to be in the Superlative Degree.

The Positive Degree is used to denote the mere existence of some quality or quantity of what we speak about. It is used when no comparison is Made, as,

Mridul is a tall boy.

 Vibbuti is an intelligent girl.

The Comparative Degree is used w denotes a higher degree of quality than the positive and is used when two persons or things are compared. As

Ajay is teller than Mridul.

Vibbuti is cleverer than Vrinda.

The Superlative Degree denotes the highest degree of quality and is used when more than two things or persons are compared.

Sonu is the tallest boy of the five.

Vibhuti is the cleverest of all the girls.

Note the following things:

1. The Comparative Degree is generally followed by the conjunction than, as,

•  Sonu is taller than Ronit.
• But the comparatives may be used without ‘than’ as
• We have seen worse days.

2The Superlative Degree is preceded by ‘the’ and is followed by the preposition ‘of ‘ or ‘in’.

• Rohit is the tallest of all the boys.
• Kolkata is the biggest town in India.
• But we see can also say –
•  Preeti is the most intelligent girl.

Note: the following things:

Formation of Comparative and Superlative

All kinds of adjectives don’t have three different forms. These different forms, in fact, indicate different degrees of quality or quantity. Therefore only adjectives of quality can have three different forms.

1.More adjectives or one syllable and some of more than one form the comparative by adding — er and superlative by adding –est. to the Positive Degree.

        Positive        Comparative      Superlative

• Bold               bolder                     boldest 
• deep              deeper                    deepest
• old                 older                       oldest
• high               higher                     highest
•  weak            weaker                   weakest
• young           younger                  youngest 
• small            smaller                    smallest

1. When the Positive Degree ends in –e, only –r and –st are added to form the Comparative and Superlative Degree.

          Positive        Comparative      Superlative

• able                 abler                        ablest
• fine                  finer                        finest 
• large               larger                       largest 
• brave             braver                     bravest
• wise               wiser                        wisest 
• White            whiter                      whitest
• noble             nobler                       noblest
• truer             truer                         truest

1. When the Positive is a word of one syllable and ends in a Single consonant preceded by a short vowel, this consonant is doubled adding -er or -est. to form the Comparative and Superlative.

        Positive        Comparative    Superlative

•  big                bigger                    biggest
•  hot               hotter                    hottest
• Fat                fatter                     fattest
• red                redder                   reddest
• sad                sadder                   saddest
• thin               thinner                  thinnest
• wet               wetter                    wettest

1. If the positive ends in-y and the- y is preceded by a Consonant, the – y is changed into -i and -er and –est. are added to form the Comparative and Superlative

          Positive        Comparative       Superlative

• dry                  drier                         driest
• heavy             heavier                     heaviest
• easy                easier                       easiest
• happy             happier                    happiest
• pretty             prettier                   prettiest
• wealthy         wealthier                 wealthiest
• merry            merrier                    merriest

1. But if the -y is preceded by a vowel, the -y is not changed into -i before adding er or –est

        Positive       Comparative      Superlative

•  gay              gayer                       gayest
• grey             greyer                     greyest

1. Adjectives of more than two syllables, and many of those with two forms the comparative by using the adverb more with the positive, and the superlative by using the adverb most with the positive.

             Positive       Comparative         Superlative

• Intelligent        more intelligent         most intelligent
• beautiful          more beautiful            most beautiful
• boring              more boring                most boring
• careful             more careful               most careful
• difficult            more difficult              Most difficult
• proper             more proper               Most proper
• obscure           more obscure              Most obscure 
• useful              more useful                 most useful

IRREGULAR COMPARISON

Some adjectives are compared irregularly, that is their comparative and superlatives are not formed from the positive. 

            Positive               Comparative        Superlative

• Good, well               better                         best
• bad,  evil, iII           worse                         worst
• far (distance)          farther                       farthest
• far (movement)     further                       furthest
• fore                          former                        foremost, first
• little                         less/lesser                 least
• in                              inner                           inmost, innermost
• out outer,                utter utmost,            uttermost
• much (quantity)    More                          Most
• many (number)     More                          Most
• up                            Upper                         upmost uppermost 
• old (of people and things) older              oldest
• old                           elder                           eldest  (of people only, used for close family relations and can’t be followed by than)

THE USE OF ADJECTIVES

(i)   The words –superior, inferior, senior, junior, prior. Anterior; posterior are always used as Comparative Degree but they are followed by to instead of then as,

• Ramneek is junior/ senior to me.
• This cloth is superior/inferior to me.

(ii) Double Comparatives and Double Superlatives should not be used, as,

• He is cleverer than his sister. (Incorrect)
• He is cleverer than his sister. (Correct)
• She is the tallest of all girls. (Incorrect)
• She is the tallest of all girls: (Correct)

(iii) If an adjective follows the phrase one of, it should be in the superlative degree: as,

• Gaurav is one of the best boys in our school.
• Sheena is one of the most intelligent girls in our school.

(iv) When two persons or things are unequal. The comparative ( not the superlative) should be used.

• This book is better (not best) than that.

(v) When two things or persons of the same kind of quality are to be compared. We should use: as + positive degree + as or no/not + comparative degree + than

• This boy is as intelligent as that.
• This boy is no less intelligent than that.

(vi) This is not used when the superlative degree has a possessive, adjective before it.

• Hari is my best friend.
• It was his kindest act.

(vii) Preferable has a force of a comparative and is followed by to. We must not say more preferable.

• Health is preferable to wealth.
• I prefer tea to coffee,

Adjective Types, Rules, Error Spotting & Exercises

Degrees of Comparison

Adjective Types, Rules, Error Spotting & Exercise- 1 & 2

Comparison

(A)       There are three degrees of comparison:

Positive                     Comparative                    Superlative

Dark                             darker                                   darkest    Tall                              taller                                      tallest  useful                        more useful                              most useful

(B)       One-syllable adjectives form they’re comparative and superlative by adding er and est to the positive form:

Bright                          brighter                                   brightest

Adjectives ending in e add r and st:

brave                          braver                                     bravest

(C) Adjectives of three or more syllables form they’re comparative and superlative by putting more and most before the positive:

 interested                  more interested                     most interested

 frightening                 more frightening                   most frightening

(D)Adjectives of two syllables follow one or other of the above rules. Those ending in full or re usually take more and most:

doubtful                      more doubtful                        most doubtful

obscure                       more obscure                         most obscure

Those ending in er, y or ly usually add er, est:

 Clever                        cleverer                                   cleverest

Pretty                         prettier                                   prettiest (note that they become i)

silly                             sillier                                        silliest

(E)Irregular comparisons:

 bad                            worse                                      worst

far                              farther                                     farthest (of distance only)

further                      farther                                     furthest/ farthest

good                          better                                       best

little                          less                                            least

many/much            more                                         most

old                            elder                                          eldest (of people only)

                                 older                                          oldest (of people and things)

(F) farther/farthest and further/furthest

Both forms can be used for distances:

• York is farther/further than Lincoln or Selby.
• York is the farthest/furthest town or
• York is the farthest/furthest of the three.

further can also be used, mainly with abstract nouns, to mean ‘additional/extra’:

• Further supplies will soon be available.
• Further discussion/debate would be pointless.

 Similarly: further enquiries/delays/demands/information/instructions etc.

 furthest can be used similarly, with abstract nouns:

• This was the furthest point they reached in their discussion.
• This was the furthest concession he would make.

(G) far (used for distance) and near

In the comparative and superlative both can be used quite freely:

the farthest/furthest mountain              the nearest river

 But in the positive form, they have limited use.

far and near are used chiefly with bank, end, side, wall etc.:

• the far bank (the bank on the other side)
• the near bank (the bank on this side of the river)

near can also be used with the east, and far with north, south, east and west.

With other nouns far is usually replaced by assistant/re, note and nearby/neighbouring: a remote island, the neighbouring village.

 (H)  elder, eldest; older, oldest

elder, eldest imply seniority rather than age. They are chiefly used for comparisons within a family: my elder brother, her eldest boy/girl;

but elder is not used with than, so older is necessary here:

He is older than I am. (elder would not be possible.) In colloquial English eldest, oldest and youngest are often used of only two boys/girls/children etc.:

• His eldest boy’s at school; the other is still at home.

This is particularly common when the eldest, oldest are used as pronouns:

Tom is the eldest. (of the two)             

Constructions with comparisons

(A) With the positive form of the adjective, we use as . . . as in the affirmative and net as/not so . . . as in the negative:

• A boy of sixteen is often as tall as his father.
• He was as white as a sheet.
• Manslaughter is not as/so bad as murder.
• Your coffee is not as/so good as the coffee my mother makes.

(B) With the comparative we use then:

• The new tower blocks are much higher than the old buildings.
• He makes fewer mistakes than you (do).
• He is stronger than I expected =
• I didn’t expect him to be so strong.
• It was more expensive than I thought =
• I didn’t think it would be so expensive.

 When then. . . is omitted, it is very common in colloquial English to use a superlative instead of a comparative: This is the best way could be said when there are only two ways.

(C) Comparison of three or more people/things is expressed by the superlative with the . . . in/of:

• This is the oldest theatre in London.
• The youngest of the family was the most successful.
• A relative clause is useful especially with a perfect tense:
• It/This is the best beer (that) I have ever drunk.
• It/This was the worst film (that) he had ever seen.
• He is the kindest man (that) I have ever met.
• It was the most worrying day (that) he had ever spent.

 Note- ever is used here, not never. We can, however, express the same idea with never and a comparative:

• I have never drunk better beer.          
• I have never met a kinder man.
• He had never spent a more worrying day.

Note that most + adjective, without the, means very:

You are most kind means            You are very kind.

most meaning very is used mainly with adjectives of two or more syllables: annoying, apologetic, disobedient, encouraging, exciting, helpful, important, misleading etc.

(D) Parallel increase is expressed by the + comparative . . . the + comparative:

HOUSE AGENT: Do you want a big house?

ANN’: Yes, the bigger the better.

Tom: But the smaller it is, the less it will cost us to heat.

(E)Gradual increase or decrease is expressed by two comparatives joined by and:

• The weather is getting colder and colder.
• He became less and less interested.

(F)Comparison of actions with gerunds or infinitives:

• Riding a horse is not as easy as riding a motorcycle.
• It is nicer/more fun to go with someone than to go alone.

(G) Comparisons with like (preposition) and alike:

• Tom is very like Bill.
• Bill and Tom are very alike.
• He keeps the central heating full on.
• It’s like living in the tropics.

(H) Comparisons with like and as (both adverb and adjective expressions are shown here)

 In theory like (preposition) is used only with noun, pronoun or gerund:

• He swims like a fish.
• You look like a ghost.
• Be like Peter/him: go jogging.
• The windows were all barred.
• It was like being in prison.

and as (conjunction) is used when there is a finite verb:

• Do as Peter does: go jogging.
• Why don’t you cycle to work as we do?

 Note- But in colloquial English like is often used here instead of as:

• Cycle to work as we do.

I like + noun and as + noun:

• He worked like a slave. (very hard indeed)
• He worked as a slave. (He was a slave.)
• She used her umbrella as a weapon. (She struck him with it.)

than/as + pronoun + auxiliary

(A)When the same verb is required before and after than/as we can use an auxiliary for the second verb:

• I earn less than he does. (less than he earns)

The same tense need not be used in both clauses:

• He knows more than I did at his age.

(B) When the second clause consists only of than/as + I/we/you + verb and there is no change of tense, it is usually possible to omit the verb:

• I’m not as old as you (are).
• He has more time than I/we (have).

Informal English, we keep I/we, as the pronoun is still considered to Ix the subject of the verb even though the verb has been omitted. In informal English. however, me/us is more usual:

• He has more time than me.
• They are richer than us.

(C) When than/as is followed by he/she/it + verb, we normally keep the verb: You are stronger than he is.

 But we can drop the verb and use he/she/they in very formal English or him/her/them in very colloquial English.

These rules apply also to comparisons made with adverbs:

• I swim better than he does/better than him.
• They work harder than we do/harder than us.
• You can’t type as fast as I can/as fast as me.

the + adjective with a plural meaning

A blind, deaf, disabled, healthy/sick, living/dead, rich/poor, unemployed and certain other adjectives describing the human character or condition can be preceded by the and used to represent a class of persons. These expressions have a plural meaning: they take a plural verb and the pronoun is they:

• The poor get poorer; the rich get richer.

 the can be used in the same way with national adjectives ending in ch or sh:

• the Dutch
• the Spanish
• the Welsh

and can be used similarly with national adjectives ending in se or ss:

• the Burmese
• the Chinese
• the Japanese
• the Swiss

though it is just possible for these to have a singular meaning.

(B) Note that the + adjective here refers to a group of people considered in a general sense only. If we wish to refer to a particular group, we must add a noun:

• These seats are for the disabled.
• The disabled members of our party were let in free.
• The French like to eat well.
• The French tourists complained about the food.

Some colours can be used in the plural to represent people but these take s like nouns: the blacks, the whites.

(C) the + Adjective can occasionally have a singular meaning:

• The accused
• the unexpected

Adjectives + one/ones and adjectives used as pronouns

(A) The Most adjectives can be used with the pronouns one/ones when one/ones represent ‘a previously mentioned noun:

• Don’t buy the expensive apples; get the cheaper ones.
• Hard beds are healthier than soft ones.
• I lost my old camera; this is a new one.

Similarly with a number + adjective:

• If you haven’t got a big plate, two small ones will do.

(B) Adjectives used as pronouns

 first/second etc. can be used with or without one/ones; i.e. they can be used as adjectives or pronouns:

• Which train did you catch?
• I caught the first (one).

 the + superlative can be used similarly:

• Tom is the best (runner).
• The eldest was only ten.

 and sometimes the + comparative:

Which (of these two) is the stronger?

But this use of the comparative is considered rather literary, and in informal English, a superlative is often used here instead:

• Which (of these two is the strongest?

Adjectives of colour can sometimes be used as pronouns:

• I like the blue (one) best.

Colours of horses, especially bay, chestnut, grey are often used as pronouns and take s in the plural:

• Everyone expected the chestnut to win.
• The coach was drawn by four greys.