Adjectives

An adjective is a word that describes, identifies, modifies, or quantifies something (a noun or a

pronoun). In the phrase, "the black cat" the word black is an adjective because it describes the cat. In
English, an adjective usually comes before the noun it pertains to (for example, a red apple or a cute cat.).
Adjectives can be classified into many categories. In English, adjectives are generally used in the
order: quantity-->opinion-->size-->age-->shape-->color-->origin-->material-->purpose. Some of
these categories are (roughly in the order in which adjectives are used in English):
quantity - few, no, one, two, three, four, little, several, many, all, some, every, each, ...
opinion - good, better, best, bad, worse, worst, wonderful, splendid, mediocre, awful,
taste - sweet, sour, acidic, bitter, salty, tasty, delicious, savory, delectable, yummy, ...
touch - hard, soft, silky, velvety, bumpy, smooth, grainy, coarse, pitted, irregular, scaly, ...
size, weight - heavy, light, big, small, little, tiny, tall, short, fat, thin, ...
smell - perfumed, acrid, putrid, burnt, smelly, reeking, noxious, pungent, aromatic ,...
speed - quick, fast, slow, speeding, rushing, bustling, rapid, swift, hasty, prompt, brief, ...
temperature - hot, cold, freezing, icy, frigid, sweltering, wintry, frosty, frozen, ...
age - young, old, baby, babyish, teenage, ancient, antique, old-fashioned, ...
distance - short, long, far, distant, nearby, close, faraway, outlying, far-flung, neighboring, handy, ...
shape - round, circular, square, triangular, oval, sleek, blobby, flat, rotund, globular, spherical, ...
miscellaneous qualities- full, empty, wet, dry, open, closed , ornate, ...
brightness - light, dark, bright, shadowy, drab, radiant, shining, pale, dull, glowing, ...
color - pink, red, orange, yellowish, dark-green, blue, purple, black, white, gray, brown, ...
time - early, late, morning, night, evening, everlasting, initial, first, last, ...
origin/location - lunar, northern, oceanic, polar, equatorial, Floridian, ...
material - glass, wooden, cloth, concrete, fabric, cotton, plastic, leather, ...
purpose - folding, swinging, work, racing, cooking, sleeping, dance, rolling, walking, ...

Forming Adjectives
1. One-syllable adjectives.
Form the comparative and superlative forms of a one-syllable adjective by adding er for the
comparative form and est for the superlative.

One-Syllable Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form
tall taller tallest
old older oldest
long longer longest

2. Two-syllable adjectives.
With most two-syllable adjectives, you form the comparative with more and the superlative with
most.

Two-Syllable Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form
peaceful more peaceful most peaceful
pleasant more pleasant most pleasant
careful more careful most careful
thoughtful more thoughtful most thoughtful
If the two-syllable adjectives ends with y, change the y to i and add er for the comparative form.
For the superlative form change the y to i and add est.

Two-Syllable Adjective
Ending with -y
Comparative Form Superlative Form
happy happier happiest
angry angrier angriest
busy busier busiest

3. Adjectives with three or more syllables.
For adjectives with three syllables or more, you form the comparative with more and the superlative
with most.

Adjective with Three or
More Syllables
Comparative Form Superlative Form
generous more generous most generous
important more important most important
intelligent more intelligent most intelligent

4. Exceptions.

Irregular Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form
good better best
bad worse worst
far farther farthest
little less least
many more most

Two-Syllable Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form
clever cleverer cleverest
clever more clever most clever
gentle gentler gentlest
gentle more gentle most gentle
friendly friendlier friendliest
friendly more friendly most friendly
quiet quieter quietest
quiet more quiet most quiet
simple simpler simplest
simple more simple most simple