Adjectives


In linguistics, an adjective is a word that modifies a noun or noun phrase or describes its referent.

	Adjectives
	Are words that describe nouns.

4.1

Types of Adjectives

Adjectives	Examples
Adjectives describe colour	a) She puts on brown robes and a gold chain. (b) She likes red lipstick.
Adjectives describe size	(a) My uncle has a long moustache. (b) My sister has tiny feet.
Adjectives describe quality	(a) He is an ideal candidate for the Teenage Hero Programme. (b) That resort has excellent service.
Possessive adjectives	(a) She likes your hat. (b) I think her dog has eaten my gerbil.

4.2

Prefixes

You can form negative adjectives by adding prefixes such as 'dis-', 'un-', or 'im-' before the adjectives.

4.3

Comparative Adjectives

Comparative adjectives are used to compare two nouns or pronouns.

You must add '-er' and 'than' to the adjective when comparing two objects.

Note: When comparing two objects, the word 'than' must follow after the comparative adjective.

(a) This bag is lighter than that one.

(b) Her hair is thicker than Amy's.

For two syllables adjectives ending with '-y', change the 'y' to '-i' and add '-er'.

happy \(\rightarrow \) happier

lovely \(\rightarrow\) lovelier

For some adjectives with two or more syllables, use 'more' followed by the adjective and 'than'.

modern \(\rightarrow\) more modern than

comfortable \(\rightarrow\) more comfortable than

Superlative adjectives are used to compare at least three nouns or pronouns.

You must add '-est' to the adjective and 'the' before it.

(a) Jerry is the tallest boy in the class.

(b) Maya is the prettiest girl in the beauty contest.

Some adjectives are irregular.

4.4

Comparing Without 'Than'

Comparative adjectives can also be used without 'than'.

Example:

From this sentence: That bag is heavier than this.

To this sentence: This bag is heavy but that is heavier.

Note: Both examples above have the same meaning.

4.5

Comparing Similar Things

We use 'as...as' when comparing two objects that have the same quality or quantity.
Add 'not' to 'as...as' when the two objects do not have the same quality or quantity.

Examples:

1. Jeremy is as tall as Ganesh.

(This is a comparison of quality. The sentence means that if Jeremy is 160 cm tall, Ganesh is 160 cm too.)

2. Amy has as many chocolates as Amisah.

(This is the comparison of quantity. Amy has three chocolates and Amisah has three as well.)

3. Bob is not as tall as his brother.

(This shows that his brother is taller than him.)

Quick Notes