ADJECTIVES

An adjective is a word used to describe a person, place or thing. It adds color to language. Two Kinds Of Adjectives

1. Descriptive Adjective tells what kind, size, shape, or color of noun.

Example: A Family Picnic Last summer, our family had a picnic in Soleo Beach. The picnic area we visited was cool and clean and everything was beautiful and nice. We had an enjoyable time there. The outing was a different experience from what we used to. STUDY HOW EACH OF THE ADJECTIVES IS USED. ADJECTIVES Our A The Cool, clean Beautiful, nice Enjoyable The Different WORDS MODIFIED Family Picnic Picnic area Picnic area Picnic area Everything Time Outing WHAT THEY TELL ABOUT Whose family? Which one? Which one? What kind? What kind? What kind? Which one? What kind?

Notice that in the chart, there are adjectives that tell what kind of noun is described. They are
considered descriptive adjectives. They also tell what color or what size.

2. Limiting Adjective tells which one, how many, or how much.

Limiting Adjectives Include Three Classifications

1. Articles the, a, an
The is a definite article which may be used to describe either singular or plural nouns. Examples:

b)

a) The book is yours. [not any book, but one particular book] The books are yours. [ many books]
An is an indefinite article which is used only with singular nouns that begin with vowel sounds. Example: They saw an acrobat. [no particular one] A is an indefinite article which is used only with singular nouns that begin with consonant sounds, or when the word that comes right after, it begins with a consonant. Example: We talked to a priest. [no particular priest]

2. Numerals tell the exact number or order.

Examples:

a) Six boys volunteered to help. b) They found the sixth door locked.

3. Pronominal are adjectives that may also be used as pronouns.

Examples:

a) My daughter is a student of Queen of Peace School.

[ as adjective showing ownership]

b) That was used in the preparation. [as a pronoun] c) That room is locked. [ as an adjective showing which one ]

Pronominal adjectives include the following:

a. Demonstrative Adjectives this, that, these, those b. Possessive Adjectives my, our, your, his, her, its, their c. Distributive Adjectives each, every, either, neither d. Indefinite Adjectives any, all, another, both, few, many, several, some, such e. Interrogative Adjectives which, what

Articles As Modifiers Articles such as a, an, the, can also be used as limiting adjectives/noun determiners. sentences below: Example 1: I saw a family picture hanging on the wall. (the article a is a limiting adjective that modifies the singular noun picture (with indefinite identity and it comes right before the word family with begins with a consonant.) Rule 1: A is used before words which begin with consonant sound, and modifies only singular nouns with indefinite identity. Example 2: An honest man is a principled person. (the article an is a limiting adjective that modifies the singular noun person (with indefinite identity) and comes before the word honest which begins with a vowel sound.) Rule 2: An is used before words which begins with a vowel sound and modifies only singular nouns with indefinite identity. Example 3: The sandcastle that she made was a symbol of her weakness. [the article the is a limiting adjective that modifies the singular noun sandcastle which refers to a particular or definite thing. Rule 3: The is used to modify singular or plural nouns which refer to definite identity. Study the

Note: The articles a, an, the are also limiting adjectives which answer the question Which one? Degrees Of Comparison COMPARISON is the change that adjectives undergo to express different degrees of quality, quantity or value.

1. Positive Degree used to modify a person, place or thing without any comparison. It is the simple or
ordinary form of adjectives. Examples: Sweet, young, old, big, fast, dark Sentence: Banaue might lose its wondrous appeal in less than a decade unless the government helps in its maintenance and preservation. Explanation: The word wondrous is used to modify the word appeal without any comparison. This is called the positive degree.

2. Comparative Degree is used to show comparison between two items or persons or used when two persons
or things are compared. Examples: sweeter, younger, older, bigger, faster, darker Sentence: Many young Ifugaos are now looking for better paying jobs in the lowlands. Explanation: The adjective better paying shows comparison between planting and getting jobs in the lowlands. Therefore, this is comparative degree.

3. Superlative Degree used to show comparison among three or more items or persons.
Examples: sweetest, youngest, oldest, biggest, fastest, darkest Sentence: These rice terraces are the highest, best built, and the most extensive in the word. Explanation: The words highest, best built, and most extensive are adjectives that compare the rice terraces in Banaue with rice terraces in other parts of the world. When three or more items are compared, and one of them is singled out as having the best or the worst quality, the adjective is in the superlative degree. This is formed by adding the suffix est to the ending of the adjective or by using the word most or least together with the adjective to be used but this is true only to regular adjectives and adverbs Rules In Forming The Degree Of Comparison

1. With short words A comparative degree is formed by adding er.

Examples: Positive Degree tall hard sweet old young Comparative Degree taller harder sweeter older younger

 The superlative degree is formed by adding est.

Examples: Positive Degree Superlative Degree tall tallest hard hardest sweet sweetest old oldest young youngest However, in some other cases the final consonant is doubled before adding er or est. Examples: Positive Degree Comparative Degree Superlative Degree hot hotter hottest big bigger biggest fat fatter fattest thin thinner thinnest

With adjective ending in y after a consonant, y is changes into i before adding er or est.
Examples: Positive Degree dry pretty lovely Comparative Degree drier prettier lovelier Superlative Degree driest prettiest loveliest

With adjectives ending in y after a vowel, you simply add the er or est.
Examples: Positive Degree grey or gray gay 2. With long words Comparative Degree greyer or grayer gayer Superlative Degree greyest or grayest gayest

The comparative is formed by using more or less before the adjective.

Examples: Positive Degree beautiful charitable Comparative Degree more beautiful / less beautiful more charitable / less charitable

The superlative is formed by using most or least.

Examples: Positive Degree beautiful charitable intelligent diligent successful approachable Comparative Degree most beautiful / least beautiful most charitable / least charitable most intelligent / least intelligent most diligent / least diligent most successful / least successful most approachable / least approachable

Some adjective have irregular degrees of comparison. Examples: Positive Degree Comparative Degree good, well better little less, lesser bad, ill worse many, much more up upper late later, latter old older, elder

Superlative Degree best least worst most uppermost latest, last oldest, eldest