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What is an Adjective?
An adjective is a word that tells us more about a noun or a pronoun.
An adjective describes or modifies a noun. List of adjectivesAdjective lists that follow each topic are only partial ones.
Adjectives usually answer three questions about the nouns they describe:
Kinds of adjectives.
1. What kind of? 2. How many? 3. Which one(s)?
1. Demonstrative adjective
Where an adjective goes in a sentence.
this, that, these, those are called demonstrative adjectives. They point out nouns. They always answer the question which one? In the following example, demonstrative adjectives are shown in color. Remember that this, that, these, those can also act as demonstrative pronouns in which case they are not followed by nouns (as demonstrative adjectives are), but take the place of nouns. In the following example, demonstrative pronouns are shown in color. 2. Common adjective is just a simple, regular adjective. It describes a noun in a general way. sharp, flexible, hot, red, hidden, dripping, nice, huge. 3. Proper adjective is derived from a proper noun and is capitalized.
Usually an adjective comes in front of the noun it is describing.
An adjective can also come after a linking verb, like to be, and describe the subject of the sentence. In this case it is called predicate adjective. |
Comparison of adjectives:
Positive degree – the simplest form.
Adjective Links
Comparative degree – comparing two things or persons. Superlative degree – comparing three or more things or persons.
How to compare adjectives 1. Add er and est to short adjectives of one syllable (sometimes two syllables)
2. If a short adjective ends with consonant and y, change the y to i and add er and est.
3. If a short adjective ends with e, add er and st.
4. Put more(less) and most(least) in front of longer adjectives (with two or more syllables) to show comparison.
If you are uncertain whether to add er and est or to use more and most, then check dictionary. In most cases, you can trust your ears. Some adjectives are irregular adjectives and don't follow thee rules. They change form considerably from one degree to the next. You need to study these changes carefully in order to recognize them easily. List of irregular adjectives.
Never use er or est at the same time you use more or most. These are incorrect: more shorter, most alertest Incomparable adjectives. Some adjectives cannot be compared because the positive (simplest) form expresses the only degree possible. List of incomparable adjectives: perfect, unique, fatal, universal, dead, wrong, straight, blind, final, vertical, right, left |