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Adjective
What is an adjective?

What are adjectives?

What are various examples of adjectives?

What are the different types of adjectives?

Where should an adjective be placed in s simple declarative sentence?

Can two or more adjectives be placed together in a simple declarative sentence?

What is the difference between types and forms of adjectives?

Demonstrative adjectives

What is a demonstrative adjective?

What are examples of demonstrative adjectives?

What are examples of simple declarative sentences beginning with demonstrative adjectives?

What are examples of simple questions with demonstrative adjectives?

What is the difference between a demonstrative pronoun and a demonstrative adjective?

What are examples of possessive adjectives?

What are examples of simple declarative sentences beginning with possessive adjectives?

What are examples of simple declarative sentences with possessive adjectives?

What are examples of simple questions with possessive adjectives?

How many types of pronouns, verbs, nouns, prepositions, adverbs, adjectives, conjunctions, and interjections are there?

What is the correct order for two or more adjectives?

What are adjectives?

What are the different types of determiners?

How are they used in a sentence?

Can determiners be used as pronouns as well?

Are determiners one of the classifications of adjectives?

How many kinds of articles are there in English?

What do comparisons of adjectives (positive / comparative / superlative degrees) look like in English?

What kind is it?

How many are there?

Which one is it?

What verb should you use with singular nouns?

What verb should you use with a plural noun?

What is the specific combination of noun and verb called in English grammar?

Are there any exceptions?

What are the exceptions?

What is subject and verb agreement?

What are the guidelines for subject and verb agreement?

Where do you use the word is?

Where do you use the word are?

What are the words similar to this word?
What are adjectives?

What are the different types of adjectives?

What are the different types of determiners?

How are they used in a sentence?

Can determiners be used as pronouns as well?

Are determiners one of the classifications of adjectives?

What kind is it?

How many are there?

Which one is it?

What do comparisons of adjectives (positive / comparative / superlative degrees) look like in English?

ADJECTIVES: POSITION IN A SENTENCE

Examples of Adjective Clauses

Noun and adjective forms

Adjective Order
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ADJECTIVES


What is an adjective?

An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun by describing, identifying, or quantifying words. An adjective usually precedes the noun or the pronoun which it modifies.


An adjective is a word that modifies or describes a noun or pronoun.
An adjective can indicate what kind of, how many, whose, or which.

Articles are special kinds of adjectives.

Adjectives describe nouns. Often, writers use only one adjective to describe a noun either by placing the adjective in front of the noun or by using a stative verb and placing the adjective at the end of the sentence. For example:

He's an excellent teacher.
She seems very shy.

Many adjectives in English are formed by adding suffixes to nouns and verbs. For example, adding the suffix -ful to the noun beauty makes the adjective beautiful, and adding the suffix -able to the verb read makes the adjective readable. Other suffixes often used to create adjectives include -al, -ary, -able and -ible, -ish, -ic, -less, -like, -ous, -some, and -y.

What are adjectives?

Adjectives are words used to describe or modify nouns—for example, red, quick, happy, obnoxious.
Adjectives can be one word or a group of words.
Adjectives are sometimes used with certain verbs (such as the verb "to be").
Adjectives are used to clarify the subject that is doing the action.
Adjectives are used to describe color, material, shape, size, amount, price, quality, origin, personality, weight, temperature, age, direction, etc.
Adjectives are placed before the noun.
Adjectives can be used with all forms of nouns (see nouns).

What are the different types of adjectives?
Determiners
the, a/an, this, some, any

Descriptive Adjectives (Adjective Order)
beautiful, long, dark brown

Comparative Adjectives
richer, more exciting

Superlative Adjectives
the richest, the most exciting

Gradable and Non-gradable Adjectives

Determiners
    Articles: a, an, the
    Demonstratives: this, that, these, those, which etc.
    Possessives: my, your, our, their, his, hers, whose, my friend's, our friends', etc.
    Quantifiers:few, a few, many, much, each, every, some, any etc.
    Numbers: one, two, three, twenty, forty
    Ordinals: first, second, 1st 2nd, 3rd, last, next, etc. Other determiners:
    either, neither
    some, any, no
    little, less, least
    both, half, all
    several
    enough

    What are various examples of adjectives?

    adjectives-list.html

    What are the different types of adjectives?
Where should an adjective be placed in s simple declarative sentence?
Can two or more adjectives be placed together in a simple declarative sentence?
Kinds
What is the difference between types and forms of adjectives?
Function of Adjectives
What are the different types of determiners?
There are eight classes of determiners
Descriptive Adjectives
Adjective Quiz
Demonstrative adjectives

What is a demonstrative adjective?
What are examples of demonstrative adjectives?
What are examples of simple declarative sentences beginning with demonstrative adjectives?
What are examples of simple questions with demonstrative adjectives?
You need to practice example sentences.
What is the difference between a demonstrative pronoun and a demonstrative adjective?
A demonstrative pronoun stands alone.
A demonstrative adjective qualifies a noun.
That smells. (That is a demonstrative pronoun.)
That book is good. (That is a demonstrative adjective, book is a noun.)

Possessive Adjectives

What are examples of possessive adjectives?
What are examples of simple declarative sentences beginning with possessive adjectives?
What are examples of simple declarative sentences with possessive adjectives?
What are examples of simple questions with possessive adjectives?
Descriptive Adjectives
Adjective Quiz
How many types of pronouns, verbs, nouns, prepositions, adverbs, adjectives, conjunctions, and interjections are there?
What is the correct order for two or more adjectives?
-------
-----
Adjective List
List of Adjectives
Attributive adjectives
Predicative adjectives
What are adjectives?
What are the different types of determiners?
How are they used in a sentence?
Can determiners be used as pronouns as well?
Are determiners one of the classifications of adjectives?
How many kinds of articles are there in English?
What do comparisons of adjectives (positive / comparative / superlative degrees) look like in English?
What kind is it?
How many are there?
Which one is it?
What verb should you use with singular nouns?
Singular nouns and pronouns go with singular verbs.

What verb should you use with a plural noun?
Plural nouns and pronouns go with plural verbs.

What is the specific combination of noun and verb called in English grammar?
Subject verb agreement.

Are there any exceptions?
What are the exceptions?
What is subject and verb agreement?
What are the guidelines for subject and verb agreement?
Where do you use the word is?
Where do you use the word are?
What are the words similar to this word?
Adjective Order (with Quiz)
beautiful, long, dark brown
Comparative Adjectives
richer, more exciting
Superlative Adjectives
the richest, the most exciting
Gradable and Non-gradable Adjectives | Quiz
Noun as Adjective
coffee cup, bus station, research centre

What are the different types of determiners?
How are they used in a sentence?
Can determiners be used as pronouns as well?
Are determiners one of the classifications of adjectives?
Determiners
    Articles: a, an, the
    Demonstratives: this, that, these, those, which etc.
    Possessives: my, your, our, their, his, hers, whose, my friend's, our friends', etc.
    Quantifiers:few, a few, many, much, each, every, some, any etc.
    Numbers: one, two, three, twenty, forty
    Ordinals: first, second, 1st 2nd, 3rd, last, next, etc. Other determiners:
    either, neither
    some, any, no
    little, less, least
    both, half, all
    several
    enough
The words a and an are called indefinite articles. The word the is a definite article. They are adjectives too.

A, An or The?

When do we say "the dog" and when do we say "a dog"? (On this page we talk only about singular, countable nouns.)

The and a/an are called "articles". We divide them into "definite" and "indefinite" like this:

Articles
DefiniteIndefinite
thea, an

We use "definite" to mean sure, certain. "Definite" is particular.

We use "indefinite" to mean not sure, not certain. "Indefinite" is general.

When we are talking about one thing in particular, we use the. When we are talking about one thing in general, we use a or an.

Think of the sky at night. In the sky we see 1 moon and millions of stars. So normally we would say:

  • I saw the moon last night.
  • I saw a star last night.

Look at these examples:

thea, an
  • The capital of France is Paris.
  • I have found the book that I lost.
  • Have you cleaned the car?
  • There are six eggs in the fridge.
  • Please switch off the TV when you finish.
  • I was born in a town.
  • John had an omelette for lunch.
  • James Bond ordered a drink.
  • We want to buy an umbrella.
  • Have you got a pen?

Of course, often we can use the or a/an for the same word. It depends on the situation, not the word. Look at these examples:

  • We want to buy an umbrella. (Any umbrella, not a particular umbrella.)
  • Where is the umbrella? (We already have an umbrella. We are looking for our umbrella, a particular umbrella.)
This little story should help you understand the difference between the and a, an:

A man and a woman were walking in Oxford Street. The woman saw a dress that she liked in a shop. She asked the man if he could buy the dress for her. He said: "Do you think the shop will accept a cheque? I don't have a credit card."
Determiners with countable and uncountable nouns (SOME, ANY, NO, MANY, MUCH, FEW, LITTLE etc.)
Determiners modify nouns and are always placed before the noun which they modify. Countable and uncountable nouns may take different determiners. (SING: singular noun; PL: plural noun)
with countable nouns with uncountable nouns (singular only)
a, an, the, zero article the, zero article
this, that + SING this, that
these, those + PL -
some, any, no + PL some, any, no every + SING -
few, a few, many, fewer, fewest, more, most + PL, most of the + PL little, a little, much, less, least, more, most, most of the
a lot of, lots of, plenty of etc. + PL a lot of, lots of, plenty of etc.
a number of + PL an amount of
other + PL, another + SING, the other + SING (the) other
enough + PL enough
all + PL, all the + PL all, all the
both + PL -
neither, either + SING -
none of the + PL none of the
each + SING, each of the + PL -
Example sentences -
countable nouns uncountable nouns
This film is good. This juice is good.
Those apples are delicious. -
I've got some problems. I need some time to fix this.
I don't have any problems with that. I don't have any time for you now.
That boy has no friends at all. I have no time for you now.
Every cloud has a silver lining. -
There were few people at the concert. (= not many) There's little hope that he will survive. (= not much)
There were a few people at the concert. (= some) There's a little hope that he will survive. (= some)
There were not many people at the concert. (= few) There's not much hope that he will survive. (= little)
Most mammals live on land. Most furniture is made of wood.
Most of the patrons were art students. Most of the time I'm not at home.
This medicine has the fewest side effects. This medicine does the least harm.
There were a lot of people at the concert. -
There were lots of people at the concert. -
A number of questions arose at the meeting. -
Other boys would have done the same. I have other advice for you.
Give me another example. -
Here's the other example. His other advice is to take up swimming.
Have you got enough pens for everyone? Is there enough milk in the fridge?
All students are to take the Academic English Exam. -
I don't like either cup. -
Neither side won. -
None of them were interested but him. None of the music they played attracted me.
Each question carries one mark. -
Each of the questions carries one mark. -
Possessive Adjectives

my, your, his, her, its, our, your, their
whose (interrogative)
This is my book.
my

I like your hair.
your

His name is "John".
his

Her name is "Mary".
her

The dog is licking its paw.
its

We have _____ our house.
our

Your children are lovely.
your

The students thanked their teacher.
their

Whose phone did you use?
whose
Each, Every
He was carrying a suitcase in each hand.
each

The bus leaves every hour.
every


What kind is it?
How many are there?
Which one is it? Adjectives can be classified into many categories. In English, adjectives are generally used in the order: quantity-->opinion-->size-->age-->shape-->color-->origin-->material-->purpose. Some of these categories are (roughly in the order in which adjectives are used in English):
  • quantity - few, no, one, two, three, four, several, many, all, some, every, each, ...
  • opinion - good, better, best, bad, worse, worst, mediocre, awful, fantastic, pretty, ugly, clean, dirty, wasteful, difficult, comfortable, valuable, worthless, important, evil, angelic, rare, scarce, poor, rich, ...
  • personality/emotion - happy, sad, excited, scared, frightened, outgoing, funny, sad, zany, grumpy, cheerful, jolly, carefree, quick-witted, ...
  • sound - loud, soft, silent, vociferous, screaming, shouting, thunderous, blaring, quiet, noisy, talkative, rowdy, deafening, faint, muffled, mute, speechless, whispered, hushed, ...
  • taste - sweet, sour, acidic, bitter, salty, tasty, delicious, savory, delectable, yummy, bland, tasteless, palatable, yummy, luscious, appetising, tasteless, spicy, watery, ...
  • touch - hard, soft, silky, velvety, bumpy, smooth, grainy, coarse, pitted, irregular, scaly, polished, glossy, lumpy, wiry, scratchy, rough, glassy, ...
  • size, weight - heavy, light, big, small, tiny, tall, short, fat, thin, slender, willowy, lean, svelte, scrawny, skeletal, underweight, lanky, wide, enormous, huge, vast, great, gigantic, monstrous, mountainous, jumbo, wee, dense, weighty, slim, trim, hulking, hefty, giant, plump, tubby, obese, portly, ...
  • smell - sweaty, acrid, putrid, burnt, smelly, reeking, noxious, pungent, aromatic, fragrant, scented, musty, sweet-smelling, perfumed, ...
  • speed - quick, fast, slow, speeding, rushing, bustling, rapid, snappy, whirlwind, swift, hasty, prompt, brief, ...
  • temperature - hot, cold, freezing, icy, frigid, sweltering, wintry, frosty, frozen, nippy, chilly, sizzling, scalding, burning, feverish, fiery, steaming, ...
  • age - young, old, baby, babyish, teenage, ancient, antique, old-fashioned, youthful, elderly, mature, adolescent, infantile, bygone, recent, modern, ...
  • distance - short, long, far, distant, nearby, close, faraway, outlying, remote, far-flung, neighboring, handy, ...
  • shape - round, circular, square, triangular, oval, sleek, blobby, flat, rotund, globular, spherical, wavy, straight, cylindrical, oblong, elliptical, zigzag, squiggly, crooked, winding, serpentine, warped, distorted, ...
  • miscellaneous qualities- full, empty, wet, dry, open, closed , ornate, ...
  • brightness - light, dark, bright, shadowy, drab, radiant, shining, pale, dull, glowing, shimmering, luminous, gleaming, ...
  • color - pink, red, orange, yellowish, dark-green, blue, purple, black, white, gray, brown, tanned, pastel, ...
  • time - early, late, morning, night, evening, everlasting, initial, first, last, overdue, belated, long-term, delayed, punctual, ...
  • origin/location - lunar, northern, oceanic, polar, equatorial, Floridian, American, Spanish, Canadian, Mexican, French, Irish, English, Australian, ...
  • material - glass, wooden, cloth, concrete, fabric, cotton, plastic, leather, ceramic, china, metal, steel, ...
  • purpose - folding, swinging, work, racing, cooking, sleeping, dance, rolling, walking, ...

The Basic Rules: Adjectives

A countable noun is one that can be expressed in plural form, usually with an "s." For example, "cat--cats," "season--seasons," "student--students."

An uncountable noun is one that usually cannot be expressed in a plural form. For example, "milk," "water," "air," "food."

Most of the time, this doesn't matter with adjectives. For example, you can say, "The cat was gray" or "The air was gray." However, the difference between a countable and uncountable noun does matter with certain adjectives, such as the following:

* some/any
* much/many
* little/few
* a lot of/lots of
* a little bit of
* plenty of
* enough
* no

Some/Any:

Both "some" and "any" can modify countable and uncountable nouns.

* "There is some water on the floor."
* "There are some Mexicans here."
* "Do you have any food?"
* "Do you have any apples?"

Much/Many:

"Much" modifies only uncountable nouns.

* "They have so much money in the bank."
* "The horse drinks so much water."

"Many" modifies only countable nouns.

* "Many Americans travel to Europe."
* "I collected many sources for my paper."

Little/Few:

"Little" modifies only uncountable nouns.

* "He had little food in the house."
* "When I was in college, there was little money to spare."

"Few" modifies only countable nouns.

* "There are a few doctors in town."
* "He had few reasons for his opinion."

A lot of/lots of:

"A lot of" and "lots of" are informal substitutes for much and many. They are used with uncountable nouns when they mean "much" and with countable nouns when they mean "many."

* "They have lots of (much) money in the bank."
* "A lot of (many) Americans travel to Europe."
* "We got lots of (many) mosquitoes last summer."
* "We got lots of (much) rain last summer."

A little bit of:

"A little bit of" is informal and always precedes an uncountable noun.

* "There is a little bit of pepper in the soup."
* "There is a little bit of snow on the ground."

Plenty of:

"Plenty of" modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

* "They have plenty of money in the bank."
* "There are plenty of millionaires in Switzerland."

Enough:

Enough modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

* "There is enough money to buy a car."
* "I have enough books to read."

No

No modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

* "There is no time to finish now."
* "There are no squirrels in the park."
Proper Adjectives
Articles
There are only three of these special types of adjectives: a, an , and the.
Regular Comparatives and Superlatives
Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives
Adjectives That Cannot Be Comparative or Superlative

List of Descriptive Adjectives

Descriptive adjectives can be divided into different categories such as colors, sizes, sound, taste, touch, shapes, qualities, time, personality and ages. The following lists provide a few examples of descriptive adjectives in each of their categories:

Colors are adjectives
Colors - examples: black, blue, white, green, red

Sizes
Sizes - examples: big, small, large, thin, thick

Shapes
Shapes- examples: triangular, round, square, circular

Qualities
Qualities- examples: good, bad, mediocre

Personality Traits
Personality - examples: happy, sad, angry, depressed

Time related
Time - examples: Yearly , monthly, annually

Age related
Ages - examples: new, young, old, brand-new, second-hand

Sound related
Sound related - examples: loud, noisy, quiet, silent

Touch related
Touch related - examples: slippery, sticky

Taste related
Taste related - examples: juicy, sweet

Positive Adjectives
The positive adjective is the simple form of the adjective without expressing increase or diminution of the original quality: nice. Adjectives expressive of properties or circumstances which cannot be increased have only the positive form; a circular road; the chief end; an extreme measure.

Comparative Adjectives
The comparative adjective is that form of the adjective which expresses increase or diminution of the quality: nicer. Examples are older than or more expensive than or bigger than or faster than or taller than etc. Adjectives are compared in two ways, either by adding er to the positive to form the comparative and est to the positive to form the superlative. The following adjectives are exceptions to this rule ( irregular ):

bad becomes worse or worst

good becomes better or best.

Comparative adjectives are also formed by prefixing more to the positive for the comparative and most to the positive for the superlative; handsome, handsomer, handsomest or handsome, more handsome, most handsome

Superlative Adjectives

The superlative adjective is that form which expresses the greatest increase or diminution of the quality: nicest. An adjective is in the superlative form when it expresses a comparison between one and a number of individuals taken separately; "John is the richest man in Boston.".

An adjective is also in the positive form when it does not express comparison; as, "A rich man." Adjectives of two or more syllables are generally compared by prefixing more and most. Example: Paris is the most romantic city in the world.

Predicate Adjective

A Predicate Adjective is an adjective that functions as a predicate, such as "John is handsome", handsome being the Predicate Adjective.

Overview

An adjective is in the superlative form when it expresses a comparison between one and a number of individuals taken separately; "John is the richest man in Boston."

Adjectives expressive of properties or circumstances which cannot be increased have only the positive form; a circular road; the chief end; an extreme measure.

Adjectives are compared in two ways, either by adding er to the positive to form the comparative and est to the positive to form the superlative, or by prefixing more to the positive for the comparative and most to the positive for the superlative; handsome, handsomer, handsomest or handsome, more handsome, most handsome

Adjectives of two or more syllables are generally compared by prefixing more and most

Many adjectives are irregular in comparison; bad, worse, worst or good, better, best.

Examples Help - Understanding the Different Adjectives! Understanding the different types of Adjectives is a basic requirement of the English language. We hope the above information will be of some assistance.

Proper Adjectives

Just like proper nouns, proper adjectives start with a capital letter. In fact, proper adjectives are made from proper nouns. They normally answer the adjective question, "What kind?"

Comparatives and Superlatives

Many adjectives can have different degrees. By this I mean that something can have more or less of an adjective's quality.

For instance, you may find the weather in California to be hot, Tahiti's weather to be hotter, and the Sahara Desert's to be the hottest.

See how there are different degrees of the adjective hot? We've just used the comparative and superlative forms of the word hot to show this adjective's different degrees.

Positive Comparative Superlative hot hotter hottest

Comparative Adjectives

Use the comparative form when you are comparing two things.

In the examples below, we are comparing Talia and her neighbor.

Examples

: Talia is richer than her neighbor.

Talia is more beautiful than her neighbor.

Okay, now that we'd all like to meet the rich and beautiful Talia, let's look at the patterns of comparative adjectives.

Most comparative adjectives end in -er (richer, happier, taller...) or begin with more (more beautiful, more peaceful, more spontaneous). There are also irregular comparatives which do not follow this -er or more pattern (better, less, worse...).

Superlative Adjectives

Use the superlative form when you are comparing three or more things.

In the examples below, we are comparing Talia with her neighbor AND her librarian.

Examples
: Out of Talia, her neighbor, and her librarian, Talia is the richest.

Out of Talia, her neighbor, and her librarian, Talia is the most beautiful.

Most superlative adjectives end in -est (richest, happiest, tallest...) or begin with most (most beautiful, most peaceful, most spontaneous). But, just like comparative adjectives, there are some irregularities (best, least, worst...).

Examples

In the chart below, positive simply means the form of the adjective before it is in its comparative or superlative form.

Regular Comparatives and Superlatives
Positive Comparative Superlative
happy happier happiest
beautiful more beautiful most beautiful

Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives
Positive Comparative Superlative good better best
little less least
bad worse worst

Neither Comparative Nor Superlative!
There are adjectives, however that cannot change degrees.

For example, a woman is either pregnant or she isn't. There is no "pregnanter" or "pregnantest."

Your best buddy might be your main man, but you don't have a "mainer" or "mainest" man.

Feeling overwhelmed? Just remember the answer to the question, "What is an adjective?" (It's a word that describes a noun or pronoun, remember?) That's the most important thing to remember.

Want to see more examples of adjectives? Click here.

Adjective or Pronoun?

Some words can be either adjectives or pronouns depending on how they are acting in the sentence.

How are you going to tell the difference?

Well, what is an adjective? It's a word that describes a noun or pronoun, right?

So, if a word describes a noun or pronoun, it's an adjective. If a word takes the place of a noun instead of describing it, then it is a pronoun. Confused? Here are a few examples:

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
Possessive Adjectives We use possessive adjectives to show who owns or "possesses" something. The possessive adjectives are:

my, your, his, her, its, our, their
whose (interrogative)
numberpersongenderpossessive
adjective
example sentence
singular1stmale/femalemyThis is my book.
2ndmale/femaleyourI like your hair.
3rdmalehisHis name is "John".
femaleherHer name is "Mary".
neuteritsThe dog is licking its paw.
plural1stmale/femaleourWe have sold our house.
2ndmale/femaleyourYour children are lovely.
3rdmale/female/neutertheirThe students thanked their teacher.
     
singular/plural1st/2nd/3rdmale/female (not neuter)whoseWhose phone did you use?
 
Compare:

your = possessive adjective
you're = you are

its = possessive adjective
it's = it is OR it has

their = possessive adjective
they're = they are
there = adverb (I'm not going there / look over there / there is a car outside)

whose = possessive adjective
who's = who is OR who has

 

Compare:

your = possessive adjective
you're = you are

its = possessive adjective
it's = it is OR it has

their = possessive adjective
they're = they are
there = adverb (I'm not going there / look over there / there is a car outside)

whose = possessive adjective
who's = who is OR who has

Be careful! There is no apostrophe (') in the possessive adjective "its". We use an apostrophe to write the short form of "it is" or "it has". For example:
it's raining = it is raining
it's finished = it has finished

I'm taking my dog to the vet. It's broken its leg.


What do comparisons of adjectives (positive / comparative / superlative degrees) look like in English?

Positive Comparative Superlative
red redder reddest
happy happier happiest
ingenious more ingenious most ingenious
good better best

In English, some comparisons are regular, like the ones that add -(i)er and -(i)est, or more and most. And some are irregular, like good-better-best.

One-syllable adjectives.

Form the comparative and superlative forms of a one-syllable adjective by adding –er for the comparative form and –est for the superlative.

One-Syllable Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form

tall taller tallest
old older oldest
long longer longest

* Mary is taller than Max.
* Mary is the tallest of all the students.
* Max is older than John.
* Of the three students, Max is the oldest.
* My hair is longer than your hair.
* Max's story is the longest story I've ever heard.

If the one-syllable adjective ends with an e, just add –r for the comparative form and –st for the superlative form.

One-Syllable Adjective with Final -e Comparative Form Superlative Form
large larger largest
wise wiser wisest

* Mary's car is larger than Max's car.
* Mary's house is the tallest of all the houses on the block.
* Max is wiser than his brother.
* Max is the wisest person I know.

If the one-syllable adjective ends with a single consonant with a vowel before it, double the consonant and add –er for the comparative form; and double the consonant and add –est for the superlative form.

One-Syllable Adjective Ending with a Single Consonant with a Single Vowel before It Comparative
Form Superlative Form
big bigger biggest
thin thinner thinnest
fat fatter fattest

* My dog is bigger than your dog.
* My dog is the biggest of all the dogs in the neighborhood.
* Max is thinner than John.
* Of all the students in the class, Max is the thinnest.
* My mother is fatter than your mother.
* Mary is the fattest person I've ever seen.

Two-syllable adjectives.

With most two-syllable adjectives, you form the comparative with more and the superlative with most.
Two-Syllable Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form
peaceful more peaceful most peaceful
pleasant more pleasant most pleasant
careful more careful most careful
thoughtful more thoughtful most thoughtful

* This morning is more peaceful than yesterday morning.
* Max's house in the mountains is the most peaceful in the world.
* Max is more careful than Mike.
* Of all the taxi drivers, Jack is the most careful.
* Jill is more thoughtful than your sister.
* Mary is the most thoughtful person I've ever met.

If the two-syllable adjectives ends with –y, change the y to i and add –er for the comparative form.
For the superlative form change the y to i and add –est.
Two-Syllable Adjective Ending with -y Comparative Form Superlative Form
happy happier happiest
angry angrier angriest
busy busier busiest

* John is happier today than he was yesterday.
* John is the happiest boy in the world.
* Max is angrier than Mary.
* Of all of John's victims, Max is the angriest.
* Mary is busier than Max.
* Mary is the busiest person I've ever met.

Two-syllable adjectives ending in –er, -le, or –ow take –er and –est to form the comparative and superlative forms.
Two-Syllable Adjective Ending with -er, -le, or -ow Comparative Form Superlative Form
narrow narrower narrowest
gentle gentler gentlest

* The roads in this town are narrower than the roads in the city.
* This road is the narrowest of all the roads in California.
* Big dogs are gentler than small dogs.
* Of all the dogs in the world, English Mastiffs are the gentlest.

Adjectives with three or more syllables.

For adjectives with three syllables or more, you form the comparative with more and the superlative with most.
Adjective with Three or More Syllables Comparative Form Superlative Form
generous more generous most generous
important more important most important
intelligent more intelligent most intelligent

* John is more generous than Jack.
* John is the most generous of all the people I know.
* Health is more important than money.
* Of all the people I know, Max is the most important.
* Women are more intelligent than men.
* Mary is the most intelligent person I've ever met.

Exceptions.

Irregular adjectives.
Irregular Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form
good better best
bad worse worst
far farther farthest
little less least
many more most

* Italian food is better than American food.
* My dog is the best dog in the world.
* My mother's cooking is worse than your mother's cooking.
* Of all the students in the class, Max is the worst.

Two-syllable adjectives that follow two rules. These adjectives can be used with -er and -est and with more and most.
Two-Syllable Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form
clever cleverer cleverest
clever more clever most clever
gentle gentler gentlest
gentle more gentle most gentle
friendly friendlier friendliest
friendly more friendly most friendly
quiet quieter quietest
quiet more quiet most quiet
simple simpler simplest
simple more simple most simple

* Big dogs are gentler than small dogs.
* Of all the dogs in the world, English Mastiffs are the gentlest.
* Big dogs are more gentle than small dogs.
* Of all the dogs in the world, English Mastiffs are the most gentle.
The Basic Rules: Adjectives

A countable noun is one that can be expressed in plural form, usually with an "s." For example, "cat--cats," "season--seasons," "student--students."

An uncountable noun is one that usually cannot be expressed in a plural form. For example, "milk," "water," "air," "money," "food." Usually, you can't say, "He had many moneys."

Most of the time, this doesn't matter with adjectives. For example, you can say, "The cat was gray" or "The air was gray." However, the difference between a countable and uncountable noun does matter with certain adjectives, such as the following:

* some/any
* much/many
* little/few
* a lot of/lots of
* a little bit of
* plenty of
* enough
* no

Some/Any:

Both "some" and "any" can modify countable and uncountable nouns.

* "There is some water on the floor."
* "There are some Mexicans here."
* "Do you have any food?"
* "Do you have any apples?"

Much/Many:

"Much" modifies only uncountable nouns.

* "They have so much money in the bank."
* "The horse drinks so much water."

"Many" modifies only countable nouns.

* "Many Americans travel to Europe."
* "I collected many sources for my paper."

Little/Few:

"Little" modifies only uncountable nouns.

* "He had little food in the house."
* "When I was in college, there was little ______ to spare."

"Few" modifies only countable nouns.

* "There are a few doctors in town."
* "He had few reasons for his opinion."

A lot of/lots of:

"A lot of" and "lots of" are informal substitutes for much and many. They are used with uncountable nouns when they mean "much" and with countable nouns when they mean "many."

* "They have lots of (much) ______ in the ______."
* "A lot of (many) Americans travel to ______."
* "We got lots of (many) mosquitoes last summer."
* "We got lots of (much) rain last summer."

A little bit of:

"A little bit of" is informal and always precedes an uncountable noun.

* "There is a little bit of pepper in the soup."
* "There is a little bit of snow on the ground."

Plenty of:

"Plenty of" modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

* "They have plenty of ______ in the ______."
* "There are plenty of ______ in ______."

Enough:

Enough modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

* "There is enough money to buy a car."
* "I have enough books to read."

No

No modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

* "There is no time to finish now."
* "There are no squirrels in the park."
ADJECTIVES: POSITION IN A SENTENCE
1. Proper adjectives
2. Attributive adjectives
3. Predicate adjectives
4. Interpolated adjectives
5. Adjectival phrases and clauses
6. Participles used as adjectives
Examples of Adjectives
Adjective placement
Examples of Adjective Clauses
Adjective Quiz
Noun and adjective forms
Adjective Order
•Adjective before noun •Adjective after certain verbs •Adjective order quiz
Adjective Before Noun
Adjective After Certain Verbs
Adjective Order Quiz
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ADJECTIVES
TYPES OF ADJECTIVE
Adjective Order
Types Of Adjectives
List of Descriptive Adjectives
Tips for using adjectives
English Adjectives, Determiners and Order of Adjectives in a Sentence
Forming Comparatives and Superlatives from Adjectives The table below shows the rules for forming comparatives and superlatives from adjectives:

Type of Adjective Example of Type of Adjective How to Form the Comparative How to Form the Superlative
One Syllable strong add er
stronger
add est
strongest
One Syllable Ending Vowel Consonant big
thin
double consonant and add er
bigger
thinner
double consonant and add est
biggest
thinnest
More Than One Syllable famous add less or more
more famous
add most or least
least famous
More Than One Syllable Ending y silly remove y add ier
sillier
for less
less silly
remove y add iest
silliest
for least
least silly
Irregular bad
good
many
no rules
worse
better
more
no rules
worst
best
most
Forming Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

One-syllable adjectives.

Form the comparative and superlative forms of a one-syllable adjective by adding –er for the comparative form and –est for the superlative.

One-Syllable Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form
tall taller tallest
old older oldest
long longer longest
  • Mary is taller than Max.
  • Mary is the tallest of all the students.
  • Max is older than John.
  • Of the three students, Max is the oldest.
  • My hair is longer than your hair.
  • Max's story is the longest story I've ever heard.

If the one-syllable adjective ends with an e, just add –r for the comparative form and –st for the superlative form.

One-Syllable Adjective with Final -e Comparative Form Superlative Form
large larger largest
wise wiser wisest
  • Mary's car is larger than Max's car.
  • Mary's house is the tallest of all the houses on the block.
  • Max is wiser than his brother.
  • Max is the wisest person I know.

If the one-syllable adjective ends with a single consonant with a vowel before it, double the consonant and add –er for the comparative form; and double the consonant and add –est for the superlative form.

One-Syllable Adjective Ending with a Single Consonant with a Single Vowel before It Comparative Form Superlative Form
big bigger biggest
thin thinner thinnest
fat fatter fattest
  • My dog is bigger than your dog.
  • My dog is the biggest of all the dogs in the neighborhood.
  • Max is thinner than John.
  • Of all the students in the class, Max is the thinnest.
  • My mother is fatter than your mother.
  • Mary is the fattest person I've ever seen.

Two-syllable adjectives.

With most two-syllable adjectives, you form the comparative with more and the superlative with most.

Two-Syllable Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form
peaceful more peaceful most peaceful
pleasant more pleasant most pleasant
careful more careful most careful
thoughtful more thoughtful most thoughtful
  • This morning is more peaceful than yesterday morning.
  • Max's house in the mountains is the most peaceful in the world.
  • Max is more careful than Mike.
  • Of all the taxi drivers, Jack is the most careful.
  • Jill is more thoughtful than your sister.
  • Mary is the most thoughtful person I've ever met.

If the two-syllable adjectives ends with –y, change the y to i and add –er for the comparative form. For the superlative form change the y to i and add –est.

Two-Syllable Adjective Ending with -y Comparative Form Superlative Form
happy happier happiest
angry angrier angriest
busy busier busiest
  • John is happier today than he was yesterday.
  • John is the happiest boy in the world.
  • Max is angrier than Mary.
  • Of all of John's victims, Max is the angriest.
  • Mary is busier than Max.
  • Mary is the busiest person I've ever met.

Two-syllable adjectives ending in –er, -le, or –ow take –er and –est to form the comparative and superlative forms.

Two-Syllable Adjective Ending with -er, -le, or -ow Comparative Form Superlative Form
narrow narrower narrowest
gentle gentler gentlest
  • The roads in this town are narrower than the roads in the city.
  • This road is the narrowest of all the roads in California.
  • Big dogs are gentler than small dogs.
  • Of all the dogs in the world, English Mastiffs are the gentlest.

Adjectives with three or more syllables.

For adjectives with three syllables or more, you form the comparative with more and the superlative with most.

Adjective with Three or More Syllables Comparative Form Superlative Form
generous more generous most generous
important more important most important
intelligent more intelligent most intelligent
  • John is more generous than Jack.
  • John is the most generous of all the people I know.
  • Health is more important than money.
  • Of all the people I know, Max is the most important.
  • Women are more intelligent than men.
  • Mary is the most intelligent person I've ever met.

Exceptions.

Irregular adjectives.

Irregular Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form
good better best
bad worse worst
far farther farthest
little less least
many more most
  • Italian food is better than American food.
  • My dog is the best dog in the world.
  • My mother's cooking is worse than your mother's cooking.
  • Of all the students in the class, Max is the worst.

Two-syllable adjectives that follow two rules. These adjectives can be used with -er and -est and with more and most.

Two-Syllable Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form
clever cleverer cleverest
clever more clever most clever
gentle gentler gentlest
gentle more gentle most gentle
friendly friendlier friendliest
friendly more friendly most friendly
quiet quieter quietest
quiet more quiet most quiet
simple simpler simplest
simple more simple most simple
  • Big dogs are gentler than small dogs.
  • Of all the dogs in the world, English Mastiffs are the gentlest.
  • Big dogs are more gentle than small dogs.
  • Of all the dogs in the world, English Mastiffs are the most gentle.
  • Comparative and superlative adjectivesThe comparative form of an adjective is used for comparing two people or things (e.g. he is taller than me), while the superlative is used for comparing one person or thing with every other member of their group (e.g. he was the tallest boy in the class).

    Adjectives make their comparative and superlative forms in different ways, depending on the base adjective itself. Here’s a quick-reference guide to the spelling of comparative and superlative adjectives:

    Adjectives with one syllable

    In general, if the adjective has one syllable, then the letters -er or -est are added:

    warm warmer warmest
    quick quicker quickest
    tall taller tallest

    Adjectives with one syllable ending in e

    If the adjective has one syllable and ends in e, just add -r or -st:

    late later latest
    nice nicer nicest
    large larger largest

    Adjectives with two syllables

    Adjectives with two syllables vary. Some add -er/-est or -r/-st:

    feeble feebler feeblest

    Some use the words ‘more’ for the comparative and ‘most’ for the superlative:

    famous more famous most famous

    Many can do either, like clever:

    clever cleverer/more clever cleverest/most clever

    Adjectives with three syllables or more

    If the adjective has three syllables or more, then the words ‘more’ and ‘most’ are used:

    interesting more interesting most interesting
    attractive more attractive most attractive

    Adjectives that change their spelling

    Some adjectives change their spelling when forming the comparative and superlative:

    •Some one-syllable adjectives that end with a single consonant (e.g. big, wet, sad, fat) double this consonant before adding -er or -est:

    big bigger biggest
    wet wetter wettest
    sad sadder saddest

    •If the adjective ends in y (e.g. happy, greedy, or tidy), change the y to an i and add -er or -est:

    happy happier happiest
    greedy greedier greediest
    tidy tidier tidiest

    •Some common adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms that you just have to learn:

    bad worse worst
    good better best
    little (of a quantity) less least
    much more most