Adjective
Definition:
An adjective is a word used to add something to the meaning of noun or pronoun; as,
He is a brave boy.
There are twenty boys.
Kinds of Adjective
1. Adjective of quality or Descriptive Adjective
2. Adjective of number or numeral adjective
i) Definite numeral adjective
ii) Indefinite numeral adjective
iii) Distributive numeral adjective
3. Demonstrative Adjective
4. Possessive Adjective
5. Interrogative Adjective
1. Adjective of quality or Descriptive Adjective
It is used to tell the quality of noun or pronoun.
e.g: tall, good, intelligent, beautiful
She is a beautiful girl.
2. Adjective of number or numeral adjective
It is used to show the number of noun or pronoun.
i) Definite numeral adjective
It is used to denote an exact number of noun or pronoun.
Like: one, two, three etc (cardinals numbers)
First, second, third etc. (ordinals number)
ii) Indefinite numeral adjective
It is used to denote an inexact number of noun or pronoun.
Like: some, any, much, many, all, little, few, no, and several, certain etc.
I have some friends here.
She has a few pictures.
You have no sense.
iii) Distributive numeral adjective
It is used to distribute noun or pronoun.
Like: every, each, either, neither, other, another etc.
Each student is very friendly
They speak to another person.
Neither accusation is true.
3. Demonstrative Adjective
It is used to point out noun or pronoun.
e.g: this, that, these, those.
This man is very handsome.
These girls are good looking.
4. Possessive Adjective
It is used to point out noun or pronoun that belongs to someone.
e.g: my, our, your, their, his, her etc.
This is my book.
My mother loves me.
5. Interrogative Adjective
It is used to ask question.
e.g: where, which, what, whose, … etc.
Whose book is this?
Which way shall we go?
What food do you prefer?
Definition of complement
Complement is a word, phrase or clause which is governed by verb that complete the
meaning of predicate.
1. Sit down
2. Stand up
3. Hold on
Position of Adjective in sentence
Position of adjective is used to show the place where the adjective should stand.
Adjective stand before noun
It modifies or describes noun after it.
He is a handsome boy.
They are happy students.
She is a beautiful girl.
Adjective stands after the linking verb.
Liking verb needs complements rather than object.
An adjective can be used after liking verbs as the complement to tell more
about the subject.
Some liking verbs are:
Go, smell, feel, become, get, seem, taste, look,…. Etc.
She becomes angry.
They seem happy.
It tastes delicious.
Adjective stand after adverb.
Adverb can stand before adjective in the sentences, and it is used to modify
adjective that stand after it. So adjective can stand after it.
She is very clever.
They are so kind.
It is too old.
Rules for making adjective Degrees
Rule No 1 : For adjective which contains one syllable, we add er at the end of the
adjective to make comparative form and we add est to make superlative form.
Examples:
Positive Degree Comparative Degree Superlative Degree
Old Older Oldest
Great Greater Greatest
Black Blacker Blackest
Tall Taller Tallest
Small Smaller Smallest
Rule No 2 : For adjective which contains one syllable, but ending in ‘e’ we only add
‘r’ to make comparative degree and ’st’ to form superlative degree.
Examples:
Positive Degree Comparative Degree Superlative Degree
Brave Braver Bravest
White Whiter Whitest
Large Larger Largest
Rule No 3 : For adjective which contains one syllable, but there is a vowel between
last two consonants , we add double letter of the last consonant and then we add er at the
end of the adjective to make comparative form and we add est to make superlative form.
Examples:
Positive Degree Comparative Degree Superlative Degree
Red Redder Reddest
Big Bigger Biggest
Thin Thinner Thinnest
Rule No 4 : For adjective which contains two or more syllable, but ending in ‘Y’ we
change ‘y’ into ier and iest to make comparative form and superlative form.
Examples:
Positive Degree Comparative Degree Superlative Degree
Happy Happier Happiest
Merry Merrier Merriest
Dirty Dirtier dirtiest
Note 1
If the adjective ending in ‘Y’ but contains only one syllable; we do not change ‘Y ‘ to ier or
iest we add er at the end of the adjective to make comparative form and we add est to make
superlative form.
Examples:
Positive Degree Comparative Degree Superlative Degree
Shy Shyer Shyest
Sly Slyer Slyest
Spy Spyer Spyest
Note 2
If adjective ending in ‘y’ but before ‘y’ there is a vowel, we add er at the end of the
adjective to make comparative form and we add est to make superlative form.
Examples:
Positive Degree Comparative Degree Superlative Degree
Gray Grayer grayest
Gay Gayer Gayest
Rule 5
For adjective that comprises two or more syllable; we can add more and most to form
comparative and superlative degrees.
Examples:
Positive Degree Comparative Degree Superlative Degree
Beautiful More beautiful Most beautiful
Expensive More Expensive Most Expensive
Handsome More handsome Most handsome
Rule 6 Irregular adjective
Examples:
Positive Degree Comparative Degree Superlative Degree
Bad Wore Worst
Good Better best
Little Less Least
Many/much More Most
Far Father Farthest
Fore Former First
In Inner Inner most
Out Outer Outer most
Near Nearer next
Note: Some adjective can take both forms Such as Polite, common, pleasant, stupid,
and clever
Sentence comparison
Positive Degree
Positive degree is used to tell that something and someone has same level.
Formula: Subject + be + as + adjective + as + object.
Examples:
I am as tall as you.
She is as beautiful as my sister.
Comparative Degree
Comparative Degree is used to compare a thing or person to another thing or person
that shows higher level than positive.
a) For one Syllable adjective
Formula
Subject + be + adjective with er/ier + than + object.
Examples:
I am taller than you.
This cloth is blacker than mine.
Note: For adjective that has two or more syllables, but ending in ‘y’
Examples:
She is happier than us.
Toilet is dirtier than bed room.
b) For two or more than two Syllable adjective
Formula: Subject + be + more + adjective + than + object.
Examples:
He is more handsome than us.
You are more industrious than me.
Superlative Degree
Superlative Degree is used to compare a thing or person to another thing or person that
shows Top level than comparative.
a) For one Syllable adjective
Formula: Subject + be +the + adjective with est/iest + object.
Examples:
I am the tallest boy.
This is the blackest cloth.
b) For two or more than two Syllable adjective
Formula: Subject + be +the + more + adjective + object.
Examples:
He is more the handsome man.
You are more the industrious student.
