Adjectives

ADJECTIVES – words that create pictures in the listener’s or reader’s mind
- modify a noun a noun or pronoun


Descriptive Adjectives are picture making words that answer the question, “What kind of?” These are words that give quality, size, age, shape, color, origin and material/kind to a noun or pronoun.

(quality) excellent fit (shape) round table
(size) large shirt (origin) Japanese painting
(age) five-year-old child (material) leather shoes

Some descriptive words are compound words made up of more than one word. Some are hyphenated, some are combined.

Hyphenated Combined

soft-spoken lass overall picture
absent- minded clerk outspoken student
bright-eyed baby jigsaw puzzle
well-done steak

The present and past participles function as descriptive adjectives when found beside a noun.

dancing shoes sworn statement
drawing board written report
loving partner used clothes

Common and proper nouns also function as descriptive adjectives modifying another noun.

Common Nouns Proper Nouns

dinner table Japanese tourist
gold chain American rose
morning sessions Filipino dish
movie actress Philippine history

Comparison of Adjectives

Three degrees of comparison:

1. Positive – used when the adjective is not being compared with anything else
2. Comparative – used when two things are being compared
3. Superlative – used when three or more things are being compared

Forms of Adjective Comparison
Adjectives may be compared in one of the three ways:

1. By adding –er or –est to the positive form of regular adjectives

Positive Comparative Superlative

pretty prettier prettiest
strong stronger strongest
happy happier happiest
short shorter shortest
tall taller tallest

2. By adding more (or less) and most (or least) to the positive form of irregular adjectives

Positive Comparative Superlative

patient more (less) patient most (least) patient
beautiful more (less) beautiful most (least) beautiful
vague more (less) vague most (least) vague
awkward more (less) awkward most (least) awkward
intelligent more (less) intelligent most (least) intelligent

3. By changing the form of the word completely

Positive Comparative Superlative

good better best
bad worse wors
much, many more most
little less least
far farther, further farthest, furthest

Using Degrees of Adjective Comparison Correctly

1. When referring to two persons, places, or things, use the comparative degree.

Both girls are good swimmers, but Sarah is better.
I like apples more than oranges.

2. When referring to more than two persons, places, or things, use the superlative degree.

Among the many decisions that I have made, choosing this profession has been the best.
Who is the most intelligent student in our English class?

3. Avoid the error of double comparison. This occurs when two comparisons are used at the same time. Do not use both –er and more to form the comparative degree or both –est and most to form the superlative degree. Use only one method of comparison, not both.

Mr. Aquino is kinder (not more kinder) than Mr. Santos.
I think that this is the worst (not most worst) of all the problems we have encountered.

4. Some adjectives, called “absolute” adjectives, cannot be compared because in the positive degree, they are already the ultimate. Some absolute adjectives are:

complete immaculate right
conclusive round excellent
correct perfect spotless
dead perpendicular square
eternal perpetual superior

5. When making comparisons, make sure the comparison is made only with similar elements.

Incorrect: This tree is taller than Bernie.
(Tree, which is a thing, cannot be compared to Bernie, a person.)
Correct: This tree is taller than Bernie’s tree.
Incorrect: Last year’s fair was more successful than this year.
(A fair cannot be compared to an entire year.)
Correct: Last year’s fair was more successful than this year’s fair.