Adjectives - are words that are used to describe (what kind of?) nouns and pronouns and to quantify (how much of?) and identify (which one?) them. In a nutshell, Adjectives are what define nouns and give them characteristics to differentiate them from other nouns.

Adjectives of Quality These adjectives are used to describe the nature of a noun. They give an idea about the characteristics of the noun by answering the question what kind.

Examples: Honest, Kind, Large, Bulky, Beautiful, Ugly etc. New Delhi is a large city with many historical monuments. Sheila is a beautiful woman.

Adjectives of Quantity These adjectives help to show the amount or the approximate amount of the noun or pronoun. These adjectives do not provide exact numbers; rather they tell us the amount of the noun in relative or whole terms.

Examples: All, Half, Many, Few, Little, No, Enough, Great etc. They have finished most of the rice. Many people came to visit the fair.

Adjectives of Number These adjectives are used to show the number of nouns and their place in an order. There are three different sections within adjectives of number; they are

Definite Numeral Adjective - Those which clearly denote an exact number of nouns or the order of the noun. Examples: One, Two, Twenty, Thirty-Three etc. also known as Cardinals. First, Second, Third, Seventh etc. also known as Ordinals.

Indefinite Numeral Adjective - Those adjectives that do not give an exact numerical amount but just give a general idea of the amount. Examples: Some, Many, Few, Any, Several, All etc. There were many people present at the meeting.

Distributive Numeral Adjective -Those adjectives that are used to refer to individual nouns within the whole amount. Examples: Either, Neither, Each, Another, Other etc. Taxes have to be paid by every employed citizen.

Demonstrative Adjectives These adjectives are used to point out or indicate a particular noun or pronoun using the adjectives - This, That, These and Those.

Examples: That bag belongs to Neil. Try using this paintbrush in art class. I really like those shoes. These flowers are lovely.

Interrogative Adjectives These adjectives are used to ask questions about nouns or in relation to nouns, they are - Where, What, Which and Whose.

Examples: Where did he say he was going? What assignment did I miss out on? Which is your favorite author? Whose pen is this?

Examples: Honey is sweet, sugar is sweeter but victory is the sweetest. In this sentence, we are comparing the three nouns using the positive, comparative and superlative forms of the word sweet.

Positive Form These are the simple adjectives that simply describe the noun without comparing it to another - big, sweet, clean, etc. Examples: She has a big black dog. He is a sweet boy. The cupboard is clean.

Comparative Form These are used when we are comparing two nouns and need to show which noun possesses the adjective or character in a greater or lesser amount, when compared with the other. - bigger, sweeter, cleaner, etc.

Examples: I have a big dog but hers is bigger. He is sweeter than the other boys. The cupboard is cleaner than before.

Superlative Form This form is used when three or more nouns are being compared and we need to show that one or more of the nouns posses the adjective or characteristic to the highest amount possible. We usually add the before the superlative form. - biggest, sweetest, cleanest, etc.

Examples: She has the biggest dog in the colony. He is the sweetest boy in his class. The cupboard is the cleanest thing in the house.

Single Syllable Words and Double Syllable Words ending with -y, -er, -ow, -le - We use -er to make the comparative and -est to make the superlative.

Examples: PositiveComparativeSuperlative BlackBlackerBlackest FairFairerFairest CleverClevererCleverest

When there is a silent e at the end of the positive form, we remove that and add -er and -est

Examples: PositiveComparativeSuperlative NiceNicerNicest LateLaterLatest

When the adjective ends with a y, we convert the y into i before adding -er and -est

Examples: PositiveComparativeSuperlative PrettyPrettierPrettiest LazyLazierLaziest

If the adjective is a small one with little stress on the vowel, we double the last consonant.

Examples: PositiveComparativeSuperlative HotHotterHottest WetWetterWettest

Other Words with Two or More Syllables For other double syllable words that do not end with -y, -er, -ow, -le, and for adjectives with more than two syllables we use more and most to form the comparatives and superlatives.

Examples: PositiveComparativeSuperlative DifficultMore DifficultMost Difficult CarefulMore CarefulMost Careful Handsome More Handsome Most Handsome Interesting More Interesting Most Interesting

Special Adjectives There a few adjectives that can use both - er and -est and more and most to form their comparative and superlative forms. The distinction between these is that -er and -est are used when we are comparing the noun to another noun and more and most is used when we are comparing characteristics within the noun.

Examples: PositiveComparativeSuperlativeExample Clever Cleverer/ More Clever Cleverest/Most Clever He is cleverer than her. He is more clever than studious. Quiet Quieter/ More Quiet Quietest/ Most Quiet This is the most quiet place. This is the quietest place. Brave Braver/ More Brave Bravest/ Most Brave She is braver than other girls. She was more brave than afraid. Sure Surer/ More Sure Surest/ Most Sure He was surer of the result than others. Youll be more sure about the concept after you read the chapter.

Irregular Comparisons These adjectives do not make their comparative and superlative forms using the rules above. Their comparative and superlative forms are different words altogether.

Examples: PositiveComparativeSuperlative BadWorseWorst GoodBetterBest Far (place & time) FurtherFurthest Far (place)FartherFarthest Old (people)ElderEldest Little (amount)LessLeast Late (order)LatterLast