Adjectives (8 PARTS OF SPEECH)

1. Adjectives

2. Adjectives - are words that are used to
describe (what kind of?) nouns and
pronouns and to quantify (how much
of?) and identify (which one?) them. In a
nutshell, Adjectives are what define
nouns and give them characteristics to
differentiate them from other nouns.

3. Types
of
Adjectives

4. Adjectives of Quality
These adjectives are used to describe the
nature of a noun. They give an idea about
the characteristics of the noun by
answering the question ‘what kind’.

5. Examples:
 Honest, Kind, Large, Bulky, Beautiful,
Ugly etc.
 New Delhi is a large city with many
historical monuments.
 Sheila is a beautiful woman.

6. Adjectives of Quantity
These adjectives help to show the amount
or the approximate amount of the noun or
pronoun. These adjectives do not provide
exact numbers; rather they tell us the
amount of the noun in relative or whole
terms.

7. Examples:
All, Half, Many, Few, Little, No,
Enough, Great etc.
They have finished most of the
rice.
Many people came to visit the
fair.

8. Adjectives of Number
These adjectives are used to show the
number of nouns and their place in an
order. There are three different sections
within adjectives of number; they are

9. Definite Numeral Adjective - Those which
clearly denote an exact number of nouns or
the order of the noun.
Examples:
 One, Two, Twenty, Thirty-Three etc. also
known as Cardinals.
 First, Second, Third, Seventh etc. also
known as Ordinals.

10. Indefinite Numeral Adjective - Those
adjectives that do not give an exact numerical
amount but just give a general idea of the
amount.
Examples:
 Some, Many, Few, Any, Several, All etc.
 There were many people present at the
meeting.

11. Distributive Numeral Adjective -Those
adjectives that are used to refer to individual
nouns within the whole amount.
Examples:
 Either, Neither, Each, Another, Other etc.
 Taxes have to be paid by every employed
citizen.

12. Demonstrative Adjectives
These adjectives are used to point out or
indicate a particular noun or pronoun
using the adjectives - This, That, These and
Those.

13. Examples:
That bag belongs to Neil.
Try using this paintbrush in art
class.
I really like those shoes.
These flowers are lovely.

14. Interrogative Adjectives
These adjectives are used to ask questions
about nouns or in relation to nouns, they
are - Where, What, Which and Whose.

15. Examples:
Where did he say he was going?
What assignment did I miss out
on?
Which is your favorite author?
Whose pen is this?

16. Comparison of Adjectives
When we want to compare two or more
nouns using adjectives, we use the
comparative and superlative forms of the
adjective to show the comparison between
the nouns.

17. Examples:
 Honey is sweet, sugar is sweeter but
victory is the sweetest.
 In this sentence, we are comparing the
three nouns using the positive,
comparative and superlative forms of
the word ‘sweet’.

18. Positive Form
These are the simple adjectives that simply
describe the noun without comparing it to
another - big, sweet, clean, etc.

19. Examples:
 She has a big black dog.
 He is a sweet boy.
 The cupboard is clean.

20. Comparative Form
These are used when we are comparing
two nouns and need to show which noun
possesses the adjective or character in a
greater or lesser amount, when compared
with the other. - bigger, sweeter, cleaner,
etc.

21. Examples:
 I have a big dog but hers is bigger.
 He is sweeter than the other boys.
 The cupboard is cleaner than before.

22. Superlative Form
This form is used when three or more
nouns are being compared and we need to
show that one or more of the nouns posses
the adjective or characteristic to the highest
amount possible. We usually add ‘the’
before the superlative form. - biggest,
sweetest, cleanest, etc.

23. Examples:
 She has the biggest dog in the colony.
 He is the sweetest boy in his class.
 The cupboard is the cleanest thing in
the house.

24. Making Comparatives and Superlatives
There are certain rules that must be
followed in the making of the comparatives
and superlatives of the adjectives. Not all
adjectives form their comparatives and
superlatives in the same way and there are
also some irregular adjectives that form
completely different comparative and
superlative forms.

25. Single Syllable Words and Double Syllable
Words ending with -y, -er, -ow, -le -
We use ‘-er’ to make the comparative and ‘-
est’ to make the superlative.

26. Examples:
Positive Comparative Superlative
Black Blacker Blackest
Fair Fairer Fairest
Clever Cleverer Cleverest

27. When there is a silent ‘e’ at the end
of the positive form, we remove that
and add ‘-er’ and ‘-est’

28. Examples:
Positive Comparative Superlative
Nice Nicer Nicest
Late Later Latest

29. When the adjective ends with a ‘y’,
we convert the ‘y’ into ‘i’ before
adding ‘-er’ and ‘-est’

30. Examples:
Positive Comparative Superlative
Pretty Prettier Prettiest
Lazy Lazier Laziest

31. If the adjective is a small one with
little stress on the vowel, we double
the last consonant.

32. Examples:
Positive Comparative Superlative
Hot Hotter Hottest
Wet Wetter Wettest

33. Other Words with Two or More Syllables
For other double syllable words that do not
end with -y, -er, -ow, -le, and for adjectives
with more than two syllables we use more
and most to form the comparatives and
superlatives.

34. Examples:
Positive Comparative Superlative
Difficult More Difficult Most Difficult
Careful More Careful Most Careful
Handsome More
Handsome
Most
Handsome
Interesting More
Interesting
Most
Interesting

35. Special Adjectives
There a few adjectives that can use both ‘-er
and -est’ and ‘more’ and ‘most’ to form
their comparative and superlative forms.
The distinction between these is that ‘-er
and -est’ are used when we are comparing
the noun to another noun and ‘more’ and
‘most’ is used when we are comparing
characteristics within the noun.

36. Examples:
Positive Comparative Superlative Example
Clever
Cleverer/ More
Clever
Cleverest/Most
Clever
He is cleverer than her.
He is more clever than
studious.
Quiet
Quieter/ More
Quiet
Quietest/ Most
Quiet
This is the most quiet
place.
This is the quietest place.
Brave
Braver/ More
Brave
Bravest/ Most
Brave
She is braver than other
girls.
She was more brave than
afraid.
Sure
Surer/ More
Sure
Surest/ Most
Sure
He was surer of the result
than others.
You’ll be more sure about
the concept after you read
the chapter.

37. Irregular Comparisons
These adjectives do not make their
comparative and superlative forms using
the rules above. Their comparative and
superlative forms are different words
altogether.

38. Examples:
Positive Comparative Superlative
Bad Worse Worst
Good Better Best
Far (place &
time)
Further Furthest
Far (place) Farther Farthest
Old (people) Elder Eldest
Little (amount) Less Least
Late (order) Latter Last

39. Exercises 1.1
Direction: Determine what type of
Adjective are the following.
1.) honest 6.) five
2.) many 7.) beautiful
3.) these 8.) best
4.) what 9.) dozen
5.) few 10.) who

40. Exercises 1.2
Direction: Give the Positive, Comparative and
Superlative form of the following Adjectives.
Positive Comparative Superlative
prettier
good
least
more brave
tall

41. Exercises 1.3
Direction: Identify the following.
________ 1.) are words that are used to
describe nouns and pronouns.
________ 2.) These adjectives are used to
describe the nature of a noun.
________ 3.) These adjectives are used to
show the number of nouns and their place
in an order.

42. Exercises 1.3
Direction: Identify the following.
________ 4.) These adjectives are used to
ask questions about nouns or in relation to
nouns, they are - Where, What, Which and
Whose.
________ 5.) These are the simple adjectives
that simply describe the noun without
comparing it to another - big, sweet, clean,
etc.
End 