Adjective

Adjective
a word belonging to one of the major form classes in
any of numerous languages and typically serving as a
modifier of a noun to denote a quality of the thing
named, to indicate its quantity or extent, or to specify a
thing as distinct from something else (MWD)
 13 Common Types of
Adjectives
1. Comparative
WeAdjectives
use comparative adjectives to say that one
person or thing demonstrates a high degree of a
quality or is a better example of a quality than the
other. Words like taller, smarter, and slower are
examples of comparative adjectives.
 13 Common Types of
2. Superlative Adjectives
Adjectives
Superlative adjectives are used to compare more
than two people or things by indicating which one
is the most supreme or extreme. Some examples
of superlative adjectives include words such as
smartest, loudest, most impressive, and least
valuable.
 13 Common Types of
3. PredicateAdjectives
Adjectives
Predicate adjectives
are adjectives that appear in the predicate of a se
ntence as a subject complement rather than directl
y next to the nouns or pronouns that they modify. P
redicate adjectives follow linking verbs in sentence
s and clauses.
 13 Common Types of
4. CompoundAdjectives
Adjectives
Compound adjectives
are adjectives that are formed from multiple wor
ds, which are usually connected by hyphens. So
me examples of compound adjectives include ne
ver-ending, cross-eyed, and run-of-the-mill.
 13 Common Types of
5. PossessiveAdjectives
Adjectives
Possessive adjectives
are often used to express possession or owner
ship. The most commonly used possessive adj
ectives are my, your, its, her, his, our, their, an
d whose.
 13 Common Types of
6. DemonstrativeAdjectives
Adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives
are used to express relative positions in space
and time. The most commonly used demonstr
ative adjectives are this, that, these, and those
.
 13 Common Types of
Adjectives
7. Proper Adjectives
Proper adjectives
are adjectives formed from proper nouns. In g
eneral, proper adjectives are commonly used t
o say that something is related to a specific pe
rson or place. Proper adjectives include words
such as African, Napoleonic, and Shakespearia
n.
 13 Common Types of
8. Participial Adjectives
Adjectives
Participial adjectives
are adjectives that are based on participles, w
hich are words that usually end in -ed or -
ing
and derive from verbs. Participial adjectives in
clude words like amazing, impressed, and fasci
nating.
 13 Common Types of
Adjectives
9. Limiting Adjectives
Limiting adjectives
are adjectives that restrict a noun or pronoun
rather than describe any of its characteristics
or qualities. Limiting adjectives overlap with ot
her types of adjectives such as demonstrative
adjectives and possessive adjectives. Limiting
adjectives include words such as these, your, a
nd some.
 13 Common Types of
10. Descriptive Adjectives
Adjectives
Descriptive adjectives
are adjectives that describe the characteristic
s, traits, or qualities of a noun or pronoun. Mos
t adjectives are descriptive adjectives. Words s
uch as purple, friendly, and attractive are exa
mples of descriptive adjectives.
 13 Common Types of
11. InterrogativeAdjectives
Adjectives
Interrogative adjectives
are adjectives that are used to ask questions
. The interrogative adjectives are what, which
, and whose.
 13 Common Types of
12. Attributive Adjectives
Adjectives
Attributive adjectives
are adjectives that are directly next to the no
un and pronoun that they modify. Usually, attr
ibutive adjectives come directly before nouns
and pronouns but they modify. But they can s
ometimes appear after them.
 13 Common Types of
13. DistributiveAdjectives
Adjectives
Distributive adjectives
are used to refer to members of a group i
ndividually. Examples of distributive adjec
tives include each, every, either, and neit
her.
 Coordinate
Adjectives
Coordinate adjectives are two or more adjectives
that describe the same noun. Coordinate
adjectives are equally important and are
separated by a comma.
 Cumulative
Cumulative adjectives are two or more adjectives

Adjectives
that modify the same noun. Since they belong to
different categories, such as opinion or color,
they have to follow a specific order.
 Absolute
An absolute adjective

Adjectives
is an adjective describing an absolute state that canno
t be compared. For example, the word “dead” is often c
onsidered to be an absolute adjective because it’s not
possible to be “deader” than someone else. However,
actual usage varies, and absolute adjectives are often
modified by words such as “almost.”
 Appositive
An appositive adjective
Adjectives
is an adjective (or series of adjectives) that occur
s after the noun it modifies. It is typically set off b
y commas or dashes. It works similarly to an appo
sitive noun.
 Denominal
A denominal adjective
Adjectives
is an adjective formed from a noun, often with
the addition of a suffix (e.g., “-ish,” “-ly,” “-es
que”).
 Nominal
A nominal adjective
(also calledAdjectives
a substantive adjective) is an adjec
tive that functions as a noun. Nominal adjectiv
es are typically preceded by the definite article
“the.”
 Determiners
In the English language, determiners are used before a noun
to introduce it or to provide more information on the noun,
such as how many there are. If there are any adjectives
before the noun to describe it then the determiner will also
come before them. When introducing singular nouns, a
determiner is always required. However, if you are
introducing plural nouns then the use of a determiner
beforehand is optional.
 Types of
Determiners
Articles Demonstrator
s
Articles are largely considered to be the Demonstrative pronouns are another
most commonly used determiners. In the kind of determiner, consisting of
English language, there are three specific ‘this’, ‘that’, ‘these’, and ‘those’. that
articles that can be used. These are ‘a’, are used when the noun in question is
‘an’, and ‘the’. They are used to identify there and can be pointed to.
the noun which the speaker is referring
to. However, if the sentence was talking
about a specific dog, then ‘the’ would
instead be used.
 Types of
Determiners
Quantifiers Possessive
Determiners
Quantifying determiners specifically Some nouns can belong to someone
tell you how much, or what proportion or something in particular. When this
of, the noun is being referred to. ‘All’ is the case, possessive pronouns can
can also be used in conjunction with be used to identify said ownership.
other determiners, such as ‘the’ to These can include ‘my’, ‘your’, ‘her’,
specify what proportion of the noun in ‘his’, ‘our’, and ‘their’.
question is meant.
 Rules of
Adjectives
 order of
adjectives
1 Determiner
The first component that should be placed in a
sentence according to the order of adjectives is the
determiner. Determiners include possessive adjectives,
demonstrative adjectives, demonstrative pronouns and
articles.

For example: my, his, your, her, their, its, this, that,
these, those, a, an and the.
 order of
adjectives
2 Quantity
Then comes the quantity of the particular object
in the second place.

For example: two, ten, a dozen, many, much, a

few, several, etc.
 order of
adjectives
3 Opinions
A person’s opinions about a particular noun is
placed in the third position in a sentence with
multiple adjectives. Just keep in mind that
opinions can be general or specific.

For example: beautiful, tasty, precious, horrible,

pretty, elegant, lovely, etc.
 order of
adjectives
4 Size
The size of the noun comes next.
For example: huge, tiny, big, small, medium,
long, etc.
5 Age
The fifth position can be occupied by the age of
the noun.
For example: new, old, ancient, young, etc.
 order of
adjectives
6 Shapes
The shape of the noun is what takes the sixth
position.
For example: square, cubical, round, circular,
spherical, cylindrical, triangular, etc.
7 Colors
Colours of nouns take the next position after
shapes in a sentence.
For example: grey, purple, deep blue, black,
etc.
 order of
adjectives
8 Origin
The origin of the noun comes in the eighth
position.
For example: Indian, Chinese, Spanish, Dutch,
English, Sri Lankan, etc.
9 Material
The ninth position is taken up by the material of the
noun.
For example: silk, cotton, jute, wooden, glass,
acrylic, etc.
 order of
adjectives
1 Purpose or
0 InQualifier
the last position, just before the noun, you
can write the purpose or qualifier of the
object.

For example: sports (uniform), vending

(machine), denim (shirt), jute (saree),
painting (brush), etc.
 degrees of adjectives

Positive Degree - The basic form

of adjective is a positive degree.
It simply implies the presence
of a quality.
 degrees of adjectives
Comparative Degree - When comparing
one noun or pronoun to another,
comparative degree is applied. Only two
things are being compared in these
cases. After a comparative adjective in a
phrase, words such as and ,to are used
to express contrast between the two
objects.
 degrees of adjectives
Superlative Degree - When comparing
two or more nouns, the superlative
degree is used. They may also be used
to compare one object to the remainder
of a set of things. In comparison to other
things, it represents the utmost intensity
(quality or quantity) of a thing.
 degrees of adjectives
Superlative Degree - After a superlative
adjective in a phrase, words like of and
in are used. When modifying a specific
word, the article should come before the
superlative degree.
 Rules
Rule 1 - While making comparisons between to things
the comparative degree is used and not the
superlative degree.

Example:
She is not the richest of the two sisters. (Incorrect)
She is the richer of the two sister. (Correct)
 Rules
Rule 2 - In comparative degree (adjective + er) +
than is used. ‘Than’ is used in case of comparison
between two persons or things and an adjective of
comparative degree will be used with it.

Example:
He is taller than his sister.
 Rules
Rule 3 - If a choice has to be made between two
persons or things the comparative degree will be
used. Article the will be used before the comparative
degree and (of the) will be used after the comparative
degree.

The structure will be - ... the + comparative + of

the ...
Example: Hisar is the better of the two players.
Sachin is the better of the two players.
 Rules
Rule 3 - Similarly is the choice is to be made between
more than two things or persons the superlative
degree will be used.

The structure will be - ... the + Superlative degree + of

the ...
Example: Hari is the best of all the batsmen in the
Indian cricket team.
 Rules
Rule 4 - If two qualities are to be compared of the
same person or thing the we don’t use the
comparative degree. comparative degree is used for
comparison between two different things or persons.
Instead of using the comparative degree more and
positive degree will be used.

Example: Rahul is luckier than hardworking. (Incorrect)

Rahul is more lucky than hardworking. (Correct)
 Rules
Rule 5 - If an adjective is to be used between “as ...
as” and “so ... as” the adjective should be in positive
degree.

“As ... as” is used to show that something is equally

good or bad.
“So ... as” is used to show something is not as good or
as bad.

The rule is also applicable in adverbs.

 Rules
Rule 6 - Article “the” is used before superlative
degree as it becomes define.

Example: Ludhaina is the most polluted city of Punjab.

 Rules
Rule 7 -
Puneet is taller than any boy in the class. (Incorrect)
Puneet is taller than any other boy in the class.
(Correct)

In both these sentences we are comparing Puneet to

any boy in the class but one at a time. In such
sentences where we wish to state that someone or
something is better or worse than the rest but is to be
taken one at a time “any other” will be used.
 Rules
Rule 8 - In comparative degree “than” is used. But for
adjectives ending in “ior” than is not used, instead
“to” is used.
Rule 9 - Certain adjectives can’t be used in
comparative and superlative degree.
Example:
A. The presentation was perfect. (Correct)
B. The presentation was more perfect. (Incorrect)
C. The presentation was the most perfect. (Incorrect)
 Rules
Rule 10 - If two adjectives are being used for the same
noun or pronoun than the adjective should be in the
same degree.

Rule 11 - For directions and some other adjectives

there is positive and superlative degree only. There is
no comparative degree.
Example: Top (Positive degree) Topmost
(Superlative)
Centre (Positive Degree) Centremost (Superlative)
 Rules
Rule 12 - The same word can be an adjective in a
sentence and a noun in another sentence. For certain
words that are mostly used as nouns if they are used
as an adjective in a sentence they can’t be used in the
plural form.

Example: The tables cloth was washed, ironed and

spread on the table.
 Rules
Rule 13 - (Special Note: PREFER AND PREFERABLE)

1. It is used in comparative degree only.

2. We use the preposition to with it and not than
although it is in the comparative degree. We do not
use ‘more’ with prefer.
3. ‘Prefer to’ can be replaced by rather ‘than’.
 Rules
Rule 14 - There are certain adjectives if we use the before
them they will become plural common noun. In such
sentences the verb will be plural.

Example: The rich people feel the law can be turned and
twisted.

the ‘rich’ is adjective but if the people is removed from

the sentence, ‘rich’ stands as noun.
 Rules
Rule 15 - With certain adjectives if we add ‘ly’ it becomes
an adverb.
Example: Sweet (Adjective) Sweetly (Adverb)

This does not mean that when ‘ly’ is added to all the
adjectives they become adverbs. Certain words will be
used as adjectives as well as adverbs. There won’t be any
change in their usage.
 Rules
Rule 16 - If there is the need to use two prepositions in a
sentence with two adjectives then use ‘it’.
Rule 17 - An ordinal number is an adjective that denotes
what place an object has in a certain order. Ex. First,
second, third...
Cardinal Number tells us about the number of things. Ex.
One, two, three...

Ordinal adjective is used before a cardinal adjective.

Ex.: The first two classes went smoothly.
 Rules
Rule 18 - Confusing Adjectives
Many - Much: Use much with collective nouns and
singular nouns. Use many with plural Nouns.
Few - A Few: ‘A Few” represents a positive quantity, but
can only be used with countable nouns. ‘Few’ represents
negative quantity or shortage.
Farther - Further: Farther (RW: Far) is always used for
distance, and Further (think furthermore) means
advancement.
 Activity 5
1. Elucidate adjectives and its importance.
2. Explicate the order of adjective.
3. Elucidate the degrees of adjective.
4. Expound the rules of adjectives on rule 13.
5. Expound the rules of adjectives on rule 18.