What is an Adjective?

Japan Japanese
An adjective is a word that tells us more Hollywood Hollywood
about a noun or a pronoun.
Where an adjective goes in a
An adjective describes or modifies a noun.
sentence.
Adjective lists that follow each topic are
Usually an adjective comes in front of the
only partial ones.
noun it is describing.
Three Questions. The big balloon floated over
Adjectives usually answer three questions the dark sea.
about the nouns they describe:
An adjective can also come after a linking
1. What kind of? verb, like to be, and describe the subject of
I found a red rose in the cave. the sentence. In this case it is
What kind of rose? Red called predicate adjective.
The balloon was dark.
2. How many?
Comparison of adjectives:
Three tickets, please.
Positive degree the simplest form.
How many tickets? Three.
Comparative degree comparing two
things or persons.
3. Which one(s)?
Superlative degree comparing three or
I would eat these muffins.
more things or persons.
Which muffins? These.

Kinds of adjectives. Positive Comparative Superlative

1. Demonstrative adjective large larger largest
this, that, these, those are called horrible more horrible most horrible
demonstrative adjectives. They point out
nouns. How to compare adjectives
They always answer the question which 1. Add er and est to short adjectives of one
one? syllable (sometimes two syllables)
In the following example, demonstrative
adjectives areshown in color. Positive Comparative Superlative
Lets play this game and later short shorter shortest
watch that movie.
great greater greatest
Remember that this, that, these, those can small smaller smallest
also act asdemonstrative pronouns in which old older oldest
case they are not followed by nouns (as
demonstrative adjectives are), but take the 2. If a short adjective ends with consonant
place of nouns. and y, change the y to i and add er and est.
In the following example, demonstrative
pronouns areshown in color. Positive Comparative Superlative
Lets play this and later watch that. lucky luckier luckiest
heavy heavier heaviest
2. Common adjective is just a simple,
regular adjective. It describes a noun in a happy happier happiest
general way. silly sillier silliest
sharp, flexible, hot, red, hidden, dripping, ugly uglier ugliest
nice, huge.
3. If a short adjective ends with e,
3. Proper adjective is derived from a add er and st.
proper noun and is capitalized.
Positive Comparative Superlative
Proper noun Proper adjective
little littler littlest
China Chinese
fine finer finest
California Californian
Mars Martian
Spain Spanish
Christianity Christian
4. Put more(less) and most (least) in front Positive Comparative Superlative
of longer adjectives (with two or more bad worse worst
syllables) to show comparison.
far further furthest
Positive Comparative Superlative far farther farthest
appealing less appealing least good better best
appealing many more most
remarkabl more most little less least
e remarkable remarkable old elder eldest
beautiful more beautiful most beautiful well (healthy) better best
alert more alert most alert

If you are uncertain whether to
add er and est or to use more and most,
then check dictionary. In most cases, you
can trust your ears.
Some adjectives are irregular
adjectives and don't follow thee rules.
They change form considerably from one
degree to the next. You need to study these
changes carefully in order to recognize
them easily.
List of irregular adjectives.
Never use er or est at the same time you
use more or most. These are
incorrect: more shorter, most alertest
Incomparable adjectives.
Some adjectives cannot be compared
because the positive (simplest) form
expresses the only degree possible.
List of incomparable adjectives: perfect,
unique, fatal, universal, dead, wrong,
straight, blind, final, vertical, right, left