ADJECTIVES

Adjectives An adjective modifies a noun or

a pronoun by describing, identifying, or quantifying words. An adjective usually precedes the noun or the pronoun which it modifies. In the following examples, the highlighted words are adjectives:

Examples A battered music box sat on the

mahogany sideboard.

The back room was filled with large, yellow rain boots.

The truck-shaped balloon floated over the treetops.

Many stores have already begun to play Christmas music.

Adjectives Adjectives always answer the questions:

WHAT KIND?

WHICH ONE?

HOW MANY?

HOW MUCH?

The process by which an adjective modifies a word is called modification.

Parts of Speech Used as Adjectives

Articles

Nouns

Pronouns my,your,his,her,its,our,their

this,that,these,those

which,what,whose

Indefinite pronouns Another,each,either,neither,

Both,few,many,several

All,any,more,most,other,some

Examples:

Examples:

DEGREES OF COMPARISON

Degrees of Comparison Adjectives can express degrees of

modification: Gladys is a rich woman, but Josie is richer than

Gladys, and Sandie is the richest woman in town.

The degrees of comparison are known as the positive, the comparative, and the superlative.

We use the comparative for comparing two things and the superlative for comparing three or more things.

Positive Comparative Superlative

rich richer richest

lovely lovelier loveliest

beautiful more beautiful most beautiful

Irregular Comparative and Superlative Forms

good better best

bad worse worst

little less least

much

many

some

more most

far farther farthest

Be careful, also, not to use more along with a comparative adjective formed with -er nor to use most

along with a superlative adjective formed with -est (e.g., do not write that something

is more heavier or most heaviest).

The as — as construction is used to create a comparison expressing equality:

He is as foolish as he is large.

She is as bright as her mother.

Order of Adjectives The Order of Adjectives in a Series There is a pattern to arranging adjectives in a series. The categories in the following table can be described as follows: 1. Determiners — articles and other limiters. 2. Observation — post determiners and limiter

adjectives (e.g., a real hero, a perfect idiot) and adjectives subject to subjective measure (e.g., beautiful, interesting)

3. Size and Shape — adjectives subject to objective measure (e.g., wealthy, large, round)

Order of Adjectives 4. Age — adjectives denoting age (e.g., young, old, new,

ancient) 5. Color — adjectives denoting color (e.g., red, black,

pale) 6. Origin — denominal adjectives denoting source of

noun (e.g., French, American, Canadian) 7. Material — denominal adjectives denoting what

something is made of (e.g., woolen, metallic, wooden) 8. Qualifier — final limiter, often regarded as part of the

noun (e.g., rocking chair, hunting cabin, passenger car, book cover)