Adjective

ADJECTIVES

1. Kinds of Adjectives2. Comparison of Adjectives3. Forming Adjectives4. Correct Usage of AdjectivesAdjectivesare words which tell us something aboutnouns, that is about a person, an animal, a thing or a place. They usually come before the nouns they describe. But sometimes they come after the nouns.His hands and legs arethin.Everyone knows a giraffe has alongneck.None of my tables isround.Myoldcar didn't have air conditioning.The words 'thin', 'long', 'round' and 'old' tell us something about the nouns: hands and legs, giraffe, table and car. These words called adjectives tell us about theirsize,shapeandcondition. An adjective is therefore a word added to a noun to describe it so that we know more about the noun.Some words can be bothadjectivesandadverbsas follow:early,fast, and late. It is important to distinguish how they are used.We arrived a littleearlyfor lunch. (Adjective)We arrivedearlyso we still had time before lunch. (Adverb)You are afastdriver these days. (Adjective)You drivefastthese days. (Adverb)I overslept and so I waslate. (Adjective)I overslept and so I got uplate. (Adverb)1. Kinds of Adjectives

An adjective that tells us about the quality of the noun.Known as Descriptive AdjectiveorAdjective of Quality, it tells us about the colour, shape, size or condition of a noun.Example:awhitedog, thebluesky, aroundtable, asquarebox, abig house, atalltree, acoldmorning, anoldlorry. An adjective that tells us about the quantity of the noun.This adjective is called anAdjective of Quantity. An adjective of quantity tells us the quantity or amount, and that is 'how many' or 'how much'.Example:I have eatenthreeapples. / I don't havemuchmoney. / The pen has notmuchink left. / She hasmanyfriends. / The zoo hasmanyanimals. An adjective that tells us about the ownership of the noun.This adjective is called aPossessive Adjective. A possessive adjective showsownershiporpossession. It tells us that something belongs to a person or thing.Example:That isyourcat. / This ismydog. / Is thattheirhouse? / Those areourbicycles. An adjective which poses questions in an 'interrogative' manner.It is called anInterrogative Adjective. Like most adjectives, an interrogative adjective comes before a noun.Example:Whichmonkey bit you? /Whichschool do you go to? /Whatcolour is your new car? /Whosecap is this?In the example, "which", "what" and "whose" come before the nouns "monkey", "school", "colour" and "cap" respectively. They tell about the nouns and so "which", "what" and "whose" areadjectives. An adjective which specifies a noun.Called aDemonstrative Adjective, it is one that points out a fact about a person or thing.Example:Thispuppy is mine. /Thisboy is a member of the club. /Thatpiglet is yours./Thatwoman is not my wife. /Thesespiders have long legs. /Thosefaces are beautiful.In the example, "this", "that", "these" and "those" come before the nouns "puppy", "boy", "piglet", "woman", "spiders" and "faces". They tell something about the nouns and so areadjectives. Adjectives which end in '-ing', e.g. aninterestingfilm, anamazingplayer, anannoyinghabit, Adjectives which end in '-ed', e.g. thedamagedgoods, theescapedprisoners,improvedversion,

2. Comparison of Adjectives

We use thePositive degreeto comparetwo equal nouns.Example:His head isas big asmy head. We use theComparative degreeto comparetwo unequal nouns.Example:His head isbigger thanmy head. We use theSuperlative degreeto comparethree or more Nouns.Example:His head isthe biggestin the family.

List 17 - The Comparison of Adjectives

PositiveComparativeSuperlative

bigbiggerbiggest

blackblackerblackest

boldbolderboldest

bravebraverbravest

brightbrighterbrightest

busybusierbusiest

cleancleanercleanest

clearclearerclearest

clevercleverercleverest

coldcoldercoldest

coolcoolercoolest

darkdarkerdarkest

deardearerdearest

deepdeeperdeepest

dirtydirtierdirtiest

drydrierdriest

easyeasiereasiest

fairfairerfairest

fastfasterfastest

fatfatterfattest

finefinerfinest

funnyfunnierfunniest

greatgreatergreatest

greengreenergreenest

happyhappierhappiest

hardharderhardest

healthyhealthierhealthiest

heavyheavierheaviest

highhigherhighest

hothotterhottest

kindkinderkindest

largelargerlargest

latelaterlatest

lazylazierlaziest

lightlighterlightest

longlongerlongest

lowlowerlowest

luckyluckierluckiest

madmaddermaddest

merrymerriermerriest

narrownarrowernarrowest

naughtynaughtiernaughtiest

nearnearernearest

newnewernewest

noisynoisiernoisiest

oldolderoldest

palepalerpalest

poorpoorerpoorest

prettyprettierprettiest

proudprouderproudest

quickquickerquickest

redredderreddest

richricherrichest

sadsaddersaddest

safesafersafest

shallowshallowershallowest

sharpsharpersharpest

shortshortershortest

slowslowerslowest

smallsmallersmallest

smoothsmoothersmoothest

strongstrongerstrongest

sweetsweetersweetest

talltallertallest

thickthickerthickest

thinthinnerthinnest

tinytiniertiniest

uglyuglierugliest

warmwarmerwarmest

wealthywealthierwealthiest

wetwetterwettest

whitewhiterwhitest

widewiderwidest

wildwilderwildest

wisewiserwisest

youngyoungeryoungest


ancientmore ancientmost ancient

beautifulmore beautifulmost beautiful

brilliantmore brilliantmost brilliant

carefulmore carefulmost careful

carelessmore carelessmost careless

cheerfulmore cheerfulmost cheerful

comfortablemore comfortablemost comfortable

dangerousmore dangerousmost dangerous

delightfulmore delightfulmost delightful

difficultmore difficultmost difficult

enjoyablemore enjoyablemost enjoyable

foolishmore foolishmost foolish

forgetfulmore forgetfulmost forgetful

frighteningmore frighteningmost frightening

generousmore generousmost generous

handsomemore handsomemost handsome

helpfulmore helpfulmost helpful

ignorantmore ignorantmost ignorant

importantmore importantmost important

intelligentmore intelligentmost intelligent

interestingmore interestingmost interesting

pleasantmore pleasantmost pleasant

powerfulmore powerfulmost powerful

prosperousmore prosperousmost prosperous

sensiblemore sensiblemost sensible

terriblemore terriblemost terrible

thoughtfulmore thoughtfulmost thoughtful

unusualmore unusualmost unusual

usefulmore usefulmost useful

valuablemore valuablemost valuable

wonderfulmore wonderfulmost wonderful


badworseworst

farfartherfarthest

farfurtherfurthest

goodbetterbest

littlelessleast

manymoremost

muchmoremost

3. Forming Adjectives

There are various ways to formadjectivesfromnounsandverbsas follow:Add 'al': music=musical; nation=national; person=personal.Add 'ful': care=careful; doubt=doubtful; peace=peaceful.Add 'ic': acrobat=acrobatic; artist=artistic; photograph=photographic.Add 'ive': attract*=attractive; effect=effective; act*=active; instruct*=instructive; progress=progressive.Add 'ous': mountain=mountainous; danger=dangerous.Add 'y': greed=greedy; oil=oilyChange 'y' to 'i' and add 'ful': beauty=beautiful; pity=pitiful.Change 'y' to 'i' and add 'ous': mystery=mysterious; glory=glorious.Drop 'e' and add 'y': anger=angry; ease=easy; ice=icy.Drop 'e' and add 'al': nature=natural; agriculture=agricultural.* Verb

List 2 - Forming Adjectives

NOUNSADJECTIVESNOUNSADJECTIVES

accidentaccidentalmountainmountainous

adventureadventurousmusicmusical

angerangrynationnational

beautybeautifulnaturenatural

boyboyishnoisenoisy

carecareful/carelessnorthnorthern

cautioncautiousparentparental

centrecentralpeacepeaceful

childchildish/childlikepersonpersonal

ChinaChinesepitypitiful

circlecircularpoisonpoisonous

comfortcomfortablepovertypoor

comiccomicalprideproud

cowardcowardlyquarrelquarrelsome

crueltycruelresponsibilityresponsible

cultureculturalsciencescientific

dangerdangeroussensesensible

daydailysilksilky

disasterdisastrousskillskilful

distancedistantsmokesmoky

dutydutiful, dutiablesorrowsorrowful

easteasternsouthsouthern

EuropeEuropeanspeedspeedy

factfactualstarstarry

faithfaithfulstonestony

famefamousstormstormy

fatherfatherlystrengthstrong

fearfearfulsuccesssuccessful

feverfeverishsunsunny

foolfoolishtailtailless

fortunefortunatetalenttalented

FranceFrenchterrorterrible

friendfriendlythirstthirsty

furyfuriousthoughtthoughtful

girlgirlishthoughtthoughtless

gloryglorioustopictopical

godgodly/godlesstropictropical

goldgoldentroubletroublesome

harmharmfultruthtruthful

heighthighvaluevaluable

heroheroicvictoryvictorious

hungerhungrywarwarlike

IndiaIndianwaterwatery

joyjoyfulwavewavy

lawlawfulwestwestern

lengthlongwindwindy

lifelive, livelywinterwintry

lovelovelywisdomwise

manmanlywoodwooden

mercymercifulwoolwoollen

minemyyearyearly

mischiefmischievousyouthyoung/youthful

VERBSADJECTIVESVERBSADJECTIVES

breakbreakableimagineimaginary

breakbrokeninstructinstructive

choosechoosylovelovable

closecloseneedneedful, needy

collectcollectiveobeyobedient

constructconstructiveplayplayful

continuecontinuouspleasepleasant

continuecontinualpreventpreventive

correctcorrectiveprosperprosperous

describedescriptivequarrelquarrelsome

destroydestructiverunrunning

enjoyenjoyablespeakspoken

forgetforgetfulstealstolen

harmharmfulstudystudious

hatehatefultalktalkative

helphelpfulthinkthoughtful

hopehopefulworkworkable

hurthurtfulwritewritten

ADJECTIVESADJECTIVESADJECTIVESADJECTIVES

bigbiggishelderelderly

cleancleanlygoodgoodly

comiccomicalredreddish

correctcorrectivesicksickly

4. Correct Usage of Adjectives - 'SOME' and 'ANY'

We usesomein apositivestatement andanyin anegativestatement or aquestion.Example:I havesomemoney to buy a couple of lollipops. (Positive statement)Example:I haven'tanymoney to buy her a birthday card. (Negative statement)Example:Do you needanyhelp? (A question) We can use 'some' withcountablenouns anduncountablenouns.Example:I have boughtsome applesfor you. (Countable noun)Example:There issome teain the pot. (Uncountable noun) We can use 'some' in a question if it is aninvitationor arequest.Example:Would you like to havesomecoffee? (invitation)Example:Will you please give mesomemedicine for my cough? (request) We can join 'some' and 'any' with 'one', 'body' or 'thing' to formcompoundwords.Example:There issomeoneasking for you.Example:The police are looking forsomebody.Example:He is hidingsomethingunder his bed.Example:There wasn'tanyonearound when I arrived.Example:Hasanybodyseen a ghost?Example:It hasn'tanythingto do with you, so please stop asking.

Documents

Adjective