Adjectives

Definition
Adjectives are words that describe or modify another person or thing in the sentence.
The Articles a, an, and the are adjectives.

the tall professor

the lugubrious lieutenant
a solid commitment
a month's pay
a six-year-old child
the unhappiest, richest man

Position of Adjectives
Unlike Adverbs, which often seem capable of popping up almost anywhere in a
sentence, adjectives nearly always appear immediately before the noun or noun
phrase that they modify. Sometimes they appear in a string of adjectives, and when
they do, they appear in a set order according to category. (See Below.) When
indefinite pronouns such as something, someone, anybody are modified by an
adjective, the adjective comes after the pronoun:
Anyone capable of doing something horrible to someone nice should
be punished.
Something wicked this way comes.

And there are certain adjectives that, in combination with certain words, are
always "postpositive" (coming after the thing they modify):
The president elect, heir apparent to the Glitzy fortune, lives in New
York proper.

Degrees of Adjectives

Adjectives can express degrees of modification:

Gladys is a rich woman, but Josie is richer than Gladys, and Sadie is the richest
woman in town.

The degrees of comparison are known as the positive, the comparative, and the superlative.
(Actually, only the comparative and superlative show degrees.) We use the comparative for
comparing two things and the superlative for comparing three or more things. Notice that the
word than frequently accompanies the comparative and the word the precedes the superlative.
The inflected suffixes -er and -est suffice to form most comparatives and superlatives, although
we need -ier and -iest when a two-syllable adjective ends in y (happier and happiest);
otherwise we use more and most when an adjective has more than one syllable.

Positive

Comparative

Superlative

rich

richer

richest

lovely

lovelier

loveliest

beautiful

more beautiful

most beautiful

Certain adjectives have irregular forms in the comparative and superlative

degrees:
Irregular Comparative and Superlative Forms
good

better

best

bad

worse

worst

little

less

least

much
many
some

more

most

far

further

furthest

I.

The categories in the following table can be described as follows:

II.

Determiners articles and other limiters. See Determiners

III.

Observation postdeterminers and limiter adjectives (e.g., a real hero, a

perfect idiot) and adjectives subject to subjective measure (e.g., beautiful,
interesting)
IV.
Size and Shape adjectives subject to objective measure (e.g., wealthy,
large, round)
V.
Age adjectives denoting age (e.g., young, old, new, ancient)

VI.
VII.

Color adjectives denoting color (e.g., red, black, pale)

Origin denominal adjectives denoting source of noun (e.g., French,

American, Canadian)
VIII. Material denominal adjectives denoting what something is made of (e.g.,
woolen, metallic, wooden)
IX.
Qualifier final limiter, often regarded as part of the noun (e.g., rocking
chair, hunting cabin, passenger car, book cover)

hastaac
COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES
FORMING THE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE

Number of syllables Comparative

Superlative

one syllable

+ -er

+ -est

tall

taller

tallest

one syllable with the spelling consonant + single vowel +

consonant: double the final consonant:
fat

fatter

fattest

big

bigger

biggest

sad

sadder

saddest

Number of syllables Comparative

Superlative

two syllables

+ -est OR most + adj

+ -er OR more + adj

ending in: -y, -ly, -ow

ending in: -le, -er or -ure
these common adjectives - handsome, polite, pleasant, common,

quiet
happy

happier/ more happy

happiest/ most happy

yellow
yellower/ more yellow yellowest/ most
yellow
simple

simpler/ more simple

simplest/ most
simple

tender

tenderer/ more tender tenderest/ most

tender

If you are not sure, use MORE + OR MOST +

Note: Adjectives ending in '-y' like happy, pretty, busy, sunny, lucky
etc:. replace the -y with -ier or -iest in the comparative and
superlative form
busy

busier

busiest

Number of syllables Comparative

Superlative

three syllables or
more

most + adj

more + adj

important

most important
more important

expensive

more expensive

most expensive

Examples:
a. A cat is fast, a tiger is faster but a cheetah is the fastest
b. A car is heavy, a truck is heavier, but a train is the heaviest
c. A park bench is comfortable, a restaurant chair is more
comfortable, but a sofa is the most comfortable

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES
IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

These adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative

forms:

Adjective

Comparative

Superlative

good

better

best

bad

worse

worst

little

less

least

much

more

most

far

further / farther

furthest / farthest

Adjectives that are really Participles, verb forms with -ing and -ed endings, can be
troublesome for some students. It is one thing to be a frightened child; it is an
altogether different matter to be a frightening child. Do you want to go up to your
professor after class and say that you are confused or that you are confusing?
Generally, the -ed ending means that the noun so described ("you") has a passive
relationship with something something (the subject matter, the presentation) has
bewildered you and you are confused. The -ing ending means that the noun described
has a more active role you are not making any sense so you are confusing (to others,
including your professor).
The

-ed ending modifiers are often accompanied by prepositions (these are not the

only choices):

We were amazed at all the circus animals.

We were amused by the clowns.

We were annoyed by the elephants.

We were bored by the ringmaster.

We were confused by the noise.

We were disappointed by the motorcycle daredevils.

We were disappointed in their performance.

We were embarrassed by my brother.

We were exhausted from all the excitement.

We were excited by the lion-tamer.

We were excited about the high-wire act, too.

We were frightened by the lions.

We were introduced to the ringmaster.

We were interested in the tent.

We were irritated by the heat.

We were opposed to leaving early.

We were satisfied with the circus.

We were shocked at the level of noise under the big tent.

We were surprised by the fans' response.

We were surprised at their indifference.

We were tired of all the lights after a while.

We were worried about the traffic leaving the parking lot.