Adjectives describe or modify nouns.
I like fairy tales. A fairy tale is an imaginary story that has unrealistic characters in a fantastic
background. It makes me forget about the real world and refreshes my tired mind.
Adjectives generally appear immediately before the noun.
A pretty girl
Red flowers
A long stick
Heavy boxes
Warm weather
Commonly, adjectives of opposite meaning are formed by adding a prefix such as un, in, or dis.
clear - unclear, important - unimportant, predictable - unpredictable, believable -
unbelievable, common - uncommon, aware - unaware, ambiguous - unambiguous,
conventional - unconventional, certain - uncertain
definite - indefinite, correct - incorrect, comparable - incomparable, complete -
incomplete, evitable - inevitable, expensive - inexpensive
able - disable, assemble - disassemble, content - discontent, similar - dissimilar
When using a string of adjectives, they should appear in a set order: size/shape + age + color +
origin + material.
A big brown house
A small old English desk
A beautiful black Italian leather purse
Delicious Chinese food
The + adjective describes a class or group of people and acts as a noun.
the old, the young, the poor, the rich, the oppressed, the homeless, etc.
This popular TV show is loved by the old.
[Quiz 7.1]
Write opposite adjectives using the appropriate prefix.
1) Clear -
2) Definite -
3) Correct -
4) Expensive -
5) Complete -
[Quiz 7.2]
Underline all adjectives in the following sentences.
In the spring, red roses blossom in my cute small garden. The beautiful birds also sing in the big
oak tree.
Comparative adjectives compare two things. Superlative adjectives compare more than two
things
Commonly, adjectives that contain only one syllable or end in 'y' use 'er' to form comparatives
and 'est' to form superlatives. For adjectives ending in y, change the 'y' to 'i' before adding the 'er'
or 'est'.
old - older - oldest
young - younger - youngest
pretty - prettier - prettiest
long - longer - longest
short - shorter - shortest
bright - brighter - brightest
close - closer - closest
happy - happier - happiest
Adjectives with two or more syllables do not change but instead add more to form comparatives
and most to form superlatives.
respectable - more respectable - most respectable
beautiful - more beautiful - most beautiful
preferable - more preferable - most preferable
hardworking - more hardworking - most hardworking
Some adjectives have different forms of comparatives and superlatives.
good - better - best
bad - worse - worst
little - less - least
much (many) - more - most
far - further - furthest
The word than typically appears in comparative sentences.
Amy is smarter than Betty.
Chad is stronger than Dan.
Greg is more diligent than his brother.
I have more apples than he.
She likes him more than me.
Superlatives are typically accompanied by the word the.
Tom is the oldest man in town.
Paul is the tallest boy in the neighborhood.
That shade of blue is the most beautiful color.
This is the longest song that I have ever heard.
[Quiz 8.1]
Write the appropriate comparative or superlative form of the word cold in each blank.
Yesterday was a cold day. Today is than yesterday. Tomorrow will be
the day yet.
[Quiz 8.2]
Which of the following sentences is incorrect?
1) Mary is shorter than Jane.
2) The moon is more closer to the earth than the sun.
3) I have the best score on the exam.
[Quiz 8.3]
Fill in the blanks.
1) My friend has a pretty purse, but I have a one.
2) The weather is yet to come!
3) Today's sunshine is beautiful than yesterday's.n