THE ADJECTIVE

Words which are used to modify nouns or pronouns are usually referred to as adjectives. For
instance, the adjectives in the following sentences are underlined.

e.g. Large trees could be seen. They are happy.

In the preceding examples, the adjective large modifies the noun trees, and the adjective happy
modifies the pronoun they.

It should be noted that adjectives can be formed from two or more words combined by the use of
hyphens.
e.g. the three-month-old baby
a ninety-dollar jacket
a two-hour trip

As illustrated in these examples, the nouns in such hyphenated expressions are generally in the
singular. Thus, the singular forms of the nouns month, dollar and hour are used.

Proper adjectives

Proper adjectives are adjectives derived from proper nouns. In English, proper adjectives must
begin with a capital letter. The proper adjectives in the following sentences are underlined.
e.g. The French town has an interesting history.
Many of my friends are American.
This house is a fine example of Victorian architecture.

Attributive adjectives

Adjectives which precede the noun they modify are usually referred to as attributive adjectives.
For instance, in the following examples, the attributive adjectives are underlined.
e.g. Heavy rain is expected.
We saw white swans on the river.

Order of attributive adjectives

It is possible for a noun to be preceded by many different types of attributive adjective. In the
following example, the attributive adjectives are underlined.
e.g. Two large red cardboard milk cartons stood on the steps.

In this example, two is a cardinal number, large is an adjective indicating size, red is an adjective
indicating color, cardboard is an adjective indicating a type of material, and milk is a defining
adjective indicating purpose.

When a noun is preceded by more than one type of attributive adjective, the different types of
adjective are usually arranged in a particular order. For instance, the following example contains
eleven different types of attributive adjective.
e.g. a small, heavy, snug, warm, 100-year-old, round-bellied black iron Norwegian wood stove

In this example, a is an article, small is an adjective indicating size, heavy is an adjective

indicating weight, snug is a general descriptive adjective, warm is an adjective indicating
temperature, 100-year-old is an adjective indicating age, round- bellied is an adjective indicating
shape, black is an adjective indicating color, iron is an adjective indicating a type of material,
Norwegian is a proper adjective, and wood is a defining adjective indicating a method of
operation.

The different types of attributive adjective are usually arranged In the order shown in the
following table.
Usual Order of Attributive Adjectives

 certain determiners such as all, both and half

 determiners including the articles a, an, the;
 possessive adjectives e.g. my, his, her, our, their;
 demonstrative adjectives e.g. that, these, this, those;
 certain other determiners such as another, any, each, either, enough, every, neither, no,
some, what, which
 cardinal numbers e.g. one, two, three;
 certain other determiners such as few, many and several
 determiners such as fewer, fewest, least, less, more, most

general descriptive adjectives, often in the following order:

 adjectives indicating size e.g. large, long, narrow
 adjectives indicating weight e.g. heavy, light
 participles and other adjectives e.g. clever, excited, interesting
 adjectives indicating temperature e.g. cold, hot, warm
 adjectives indicating humidity e.g. dry, damp, wet
 adjectives indicating age e.g. new, six-month-old, young
 adjectives indicating shape e.g. barrel-shaped, round, square
 adjectives indicating color e.g. blue, grey, white
 adjectives indicating materials e.g. cloth, leather, metal
 proper adjectives e.g. American, Victorian
 defining adjectives, usually indicating purpose, method of operation, location, time or
categories of people

Predicate adjectives

Attributive adjectives which can be used as predicate adjectives

An adjective which is separated from the noun or pronoun it modifies by a verb is often referred
to as a predicate adjective. The predicate adjectives in the following examples are underlined.

e.g. The horse is black.

The streets are long and narrow.
It is large, heavy and awkward.

Adjectives used only Predicatively

Afloat, afraid, aglow, alive, alone, asleep
In some cases, related words can be used as attributive adjectives. In the following examples,
words used only as predicate adjectives and related words used as attributive adjectives are
underlined.

Predicate Adjectives Attributive Adjectives

The boat is afloat. the floating boat
The child is afraid. the frightened child
The sky is aglow. the glowing sky
The animal is alive. the live animal
The boy is asleep. the sleeping boy

Participles used as adjectives

As has already been mentioned, present and past participles of verbs can be used as adjectives.
Present participles
Present participles used as adjectives refer to actions being performed by the things being
described. In the following examples the present participles used as adjectives are underlined.
e.g. the falling star
the barking dog
The first example indicates that the star is performing the action of falling. The second example
indicates that the dog is performing the action of barking.

Past participles
Past participles used as adjectives refer to actions which have been performed on the things
being described. In the following examples, the past participles used as adjectives are
underlined.
e.g. the scattered leaves
the broken drum
The first example indicates that something has scattered the leaves. The second example
indicates that something has broken the drum.

ADJECTIVES USED IN COMPARISON

As well as being used to describe persons and things, adjectives which refer to qualities can also
be used to compare two or more different persons or things. For instance, in the following
sentences, the adjectives used in comparisons are underlined.
e.g. He is as tall as his brother.
She is older than her sister.
They are the youngest students in the class.

Positive forms of adjectives preceded and followed by As

The positive forms of adjectives referring to qualities can be used in making certain types of
comparisons. For example, in the following sentences, the positive forms of the adjectives proud
and intelligent are combined with the word as in order to make comparisons.
e.g. She is as proud as a peacock. They are as intelligent as I am.

Swansare as white as snow.

Tom is as tall as his father.

This type of construction can be used to indicate that the things being compared are equal in
some respect. For instance, the first example indicates that swans and snow are equally white.
The second example indicates that Tom and his father are equally tall.

Comparative and superlative forms of adjectives which use endings

e.g. She is more careful than I am.

He is the most excitable boy in the class.
e.g. She is taller than I am.
He is the oldest boy in the class.
The adjectives which use endings in order to express different types of comparison include most
one-syllable adjectives, and two-syllable adjectives ending in y. For example:

brave tall easy happy

In the above examples, brave and tall are one-syllable adjectives, while easy and happy are two-
syllable adjectives ending in y.

A few other two-syllable adjectives are also sometimes used with endings. For example:
able simple clever quiet narrow shallow

Comparative forms of adjectives which use endings

e.g. Louis is younger than Mark.
You are a better actor than he is.

The comparative form of adjectives which use endings is formed with the ending er. As
illustrated below, the spelling rules which apply when adding the ending er to an adjective are
the same as those which apply when adding the ending ed to a verb.

Spelling Rules
In most cases, the ending er is simply added to the positive form of the adjective. For example:
Positive Form Comparative Form
fast faster
strong stronger
tall taller
young younger

However, when an adjective ends in a silent e, the silent e is dropped before the ending er is
added. For example:
Positive Form Comparative Form
brave braver
close closer
late later

When an adjective ends in y preceded by a consonant, the y is changed to i before the ending er
is added. For example:
Positive Form Comparative Form
dry drier
early earlier
easy easier

When an adjective ends in a single consonant other than w, x or y, following a single stressed
vowel, the final consonant is doubled before the ending er is added. For example:
Positive Form Comparative Form
big bigger
hot hotter
sad sadder

When an adjective ends in w, x or y, following a single stressed vowel, the final consonant is not
doubled before the ending er is added. For example:
Positive Form Comparative Form
slow slower
lax laxer
grey greyer
Irregular adjectives
A few of the adjectives which are used with endings have irregular comparative forms. The
comparative forms of the irregular English adjectives are as follows.
Positive Form Comparative Form
bad worse
far farther or further
good better
little less
many more
much more

The comparative form followed by Than

When used in comparisons, the comparative forms of adjectives are usually followed by the word
than. For instance, the way in which two things differ in some respect can be expressed by using
the comparative form of an adjective as a predicate adjective followed by than.
e.g. Paul is wiser than Greg.
The tree is taller than the house.

Progressive comparisons
As well as being used in combination with than to compare objects which differ in some respect,
the comparative form of an adjective can also be used to describe a characteristic which is
becoming progressively more pronounced.
e.g. The waves are growing rougher and rougher. The sounds became fainter and fainter.
e.g. The noise is getting louder and louder. The lights got brighter and brighter.

Superlative forms of adjectives which use endings

The superlative form of an adjective is used to describe something which possesses a
characteristic in the greatest degree. In the following examples, the superlative forms of the
adjectives are underlined.
e.g. Louis is the youngest boy in our class. She is the best actress I have ever seen.

Spelling rules
The superlative form of adjectives which use endings is formed with the ending est. As illustrated
in the following table, the spelling rules for adding the ending est to the positive form of an
adjective are the same as those which apply when adding the ending er.
Illustration of Spelling Rules for Adjectives which use Endings

two consonants (other than y)

fast faster fastest
y preceded by a consonant dry drier driest
silent e brave braver bravest
one consonant preceded by 2 loud louder loudest
vowels
w, x or y preceded by a vowel new newer newest
one consonant (other than w, x or fat fatter fattest
y),
preceded by a single stressed
vowel

Irregular adjectives
As can be seen from the following table, the superlative forms of the English irregular adjectives
are closely related to the comparative forms of these adjectives.
English Irregular Adjectives

Positive Form Comparative Form Superlative Form

bad worse worst
far farther or further farthest or furthest
good better best
little less least
many more most
much more most

The superlative form preceded by The

e.g. Frank is the tallest boy in the class. Nancy is the fastest runner on the team.
The first example indicates that no other boy in the class is as tall as Frank. The second example
indicates that no one else on the team is as fast a runner as Nancy.

Comparative and superlative forms of adjectives which do not use endings

Comparative forms: The use of More

The comparative form of an adjective which does not take endings is formed by placing the word
more before the positive form of the adjective.
e.g. She is more intelligent than her sister. He is more determined than his brother.
In these examples, the comparative forms of the adjectives intelligent and determined have
been formed by placing the word more before the positive forms of the adjectives.

With the exception of two-syllable adjectives ending in y, most adjectives of more than one
syllable form the comparative with the adverb more.

In addition, a few one-syllable adjectives, including one-syllable past participles used as

adjectives, form the comparative with the adverb more.
e.g. This nail is more bent than that one. He is more skilled than his brother. She is more spoiled
than her cousin.

The use of Less

Adjectives which form the comparative with the adverb more may also be used in a similar way
with the adverb less. Less and more have opposite meanings.

The construction Less ... Than

The following examples illustrate the use of adjectives preceded by less and followed by than.
e.g. Arnold is less confident than Charles is.
The red bicycle is less expensive than the blue one.

Superlative Forms
As illustrated in the following table, the superlative form of adjectives which do not use endings
is formed by placing the word most before the positive form of the adjective.

Positive Form Comparative Form Superlative Form

beautiful more beautiful most beautiful
dangerous more dangerous most dangerous
intelligent more intelligent most intelligent
interesting more interesting most interesting

For example:
She is the most intelligent child in the family. This is the most interesting book I have ever read.

THE ADJECTIVE – SEMINAR

I. Place the adjectives given in brackets before the accompanying nouns, arranging the
adjectives in the correct order. For example:

bags (heavy, three) three heavy bags

windows (two, large, the) the two large windows

1. envelopes (large, four, her) her four large__________________________

2. tables (small, both, the) the both small __________________________
3. birds (tiny, those, three) those three tiny __________________________
4. brothers (tall, two, her) her two tall __________________________
5. quilts (six, thick, all) all six thick __________________________
6. coats (heavy, his, two) his two heavy coats __________________________
7. rooms (these, four, huge) these four huge __________________________
8. pumpkins (ten, his, medium-sized) his ten medium-sized __________________________

II. Place the adjectives given in brackets before the accompanying nouns, arranging the
adjectives in the correct order. For example:

mirror (small, octagonal, the, highly-polished)  the small, highly-polished, octagonal mirror
horses (frisky, their, young, three)  their three frisky, young horses

1. jacket (light, your, short-sleeved) your, light, short-sleeved__________________________

2. lenses (curved, small, three) three small curved __________________________
3. puppy (four-week-old, our, damp, warm) our warm damp four-week-old
__________________________
4. discoveries (two, unexpected) two unexpected__________________________
5. carpet (heavy, a, round, thick) a heavy thick round __________________________
6. climate (humid, hot, the) the hot humid__________________________
7. blankets (dry, warm) warm dry __________________________
8. table (low, oval, their) their low oval
__________________________

III. For each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with either the present participle or
the past participle of the verb shown in brackets. Use a present participle to refer to
something being done by the thing being described; and use a past participle to refer
to something which has been done to the thing being described. For example:
The evidence is ___________ . (to convince) The evidence is convincing.
The___________ treasure was discovered accidentally. (to hide) The hidden treasure was
discovered accidentally.

Yesterday she heard ___________ surprising news. (to surprise)

The ___________rented tools must be returned by five o'clock. (to rent)
The ___________ frightened rabbit stayed perfectly still. (to frighten)
We had a ___________ frightening experience. (to frighten)
The play is entertaining ___________. (to entertain)
The ___________ completed picture hung on the wall. (to complete)
That is an ___________ interesting story. (to interest)
The king sat on a ___________ raised chair. (to raise)
The situation is alarming ___________ . (to alarm)
An ___________ inverted bowl covered the cake. (to invert)
The ___________soothing lullaby sent the infant to sleep. (to soothe)
A ___________covered walkway joined the two buildings. (to cover)
They laid the___________ folded clothes on the bed. (to fold)
___________ smells floated out of the kitchen. (to entice)
He stacked the ___________ wood near the fireplace. (to chop) Answers

IV. Rewrite each of the following sentences as a comparison, using the word or words
given in brackets as the second part of the comparison. For example:
He has a heavy workload. (Tom)
He has as heavy a workload as Tom.

She was a good actress. (her cousin)

She was as good an actress as her cousin.

1. They are talented musicians. (their parents) They are as talented musicians as their
parents.
2. She is a skilled carpenter. (her father)
3. Terry is an efficient manager. (Kay)
4. They are wonderful performers. (their predecessors)
5. He won a prestigious prize. (his competitor)
6. The white hens are good layers. (the brown ones)
7. Rupert is an able administrator. (his boss)
8. She is carrying a heavy parcel. (you)
9. He is a brilliant engineer. (we had been told)
10.She found an important clue. (anyone)
11.They are experienced directors. (one could wish) Answers

V. Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with the comparative forms of
the irregular adjectives given in brackets. For example:
Pam is a ____ student than Roger. (good) Pam is a better student than Roger.
His cough is ____ than yours. (bad) His cough is worse than yours.

1. I have _______ more eggs than I need. (many)

2. The bread tastes even _______better than the rolls. (good)
3. She does not want to travel _______ farther than necessary. (far)
4. Alice drinks _______ less coffee than Jerry does. (little)
5. We have _______ more honey than we need. (much)
6. Things may be _______ worse than you think. (bad)
7. Business is _______ better this year than it was last year. (good)
8. Alan has _______ less money than Ben. (little)
9. She has _______more self-confidence than I do. (much)
10.The weather was _______ worse yesterday than it is today. (bad) Answers

VI. Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with the superlative forms of
the irregular adjectives shown in brackets. For example:
Pam is the _______ student in the class. (good) Pam is the best student in the class.
That is the _______ essay I have ever read. (bad) That is the worst essay I have ever read.

This is the _______ farthest we have ever traveled in one day. (far)
Their farm has produced the _______ most tomatoes. (many)
Our strawberries have the _______ best flavor. (good)
He ate the _______ least jam. (little)
That is the _______ worst news I have heard yet. (bad)
She has the______ most cheese. (much)
They have eaten the _______ most pancakes. (many)
That is the ______ worst thing that could happen. (bad)
We have used the _______ most honey. (much)
That is the _______ best suggestion we have heard yet. (good)
This is the _______ worst stretch of road. (bad)
They produced the _______ least butter this year. (little)

VII. For each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with the comparative form of the
adjective indicated in brackets. For example:
They are than they used to be. (careful) They are more careful than they used to be.

Wool is __________________ than cotton. (resilient)

He is __________________ than I had expected. (excited)
She is a __________________ scholar than her sister is. (diligent)
Bev is a __________________ engineer than Pat. (experienced)
Russian is a __________________ language to learn than English is. (difficult)
This book is __________________ than that one. (interesting)

VIII. Paying attention to which adjectives form the comparative with the adverb more and
which form the comparative with the ending er, fill in the blanks with the comparative
forms of the adjectives indicated in brackets. For example:
The clothes are __________________ than I had expected. (dry) The clothes are drier than I had
expected.
Walter Scott is __________________ than Walter Brooks. (famous) Walter Scott is more famous than
Walter Brooks.

The pears are __________________ than the plums. (hard)

The roses are __________________ than the nasturtiums. (beautiful)
The tomatoes are __________________ than the apples. (expensive)
My bicycle is __________________ than yours. (new)
Cold lemonade is __________________ than water. (refreshing)
The front yard is __________________ than the back yard. (big)
This map is __________________ than that one. (good)
Spinach is __________________ than Swiss chard. (delicate)
His room is __________________ than yours. (tidy)
Her report is __________________ than ours. (accurate)

IX. Paying attention to which adjectives form the comparative with the adverb more and
which form the comparative with the ending er, rewrite the following sentences as
comparisons, in the manner indicated by the examples. Use the words given in
brackets as the second parts of the comparisons. For example:
Collies have long hair. (dalmations do) Collies have longer hair than dalmations do.
He is an experienced architect. (we thought) He is a more experienced architect than we
thought.

Terry is a good cook. (I am)

That is a complex question. (you realize)
My puppy has big feet. (yours does)
It was a difficult decision. (you might think)
That is a sandy part of the beach. (this is)
He runs a successful business. (his father did)
Cliff has a bad temper. (his brother does)
This rose bush has small flowers. (that one does)
They own expensive bicycles. (we do)
Robin proved to be a courageous leader. (anyone had expected)
The school has a large auditorium. (the city library does)
That car has an efficient engine. (this one does) Answers