Comparison of adjectives
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Adjectives I. Adjectives usually answer three questions about the nouns they describe: 1. What kind of? I found a red rose in the cave. What kind of rose? Red 2. How many? Three tickets, please. How many tickets? Three. 3. Which one(s)? I would eat these muffins. Which muffins? These. Kinds of adjectives. 1. Demonstrative adjective 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. Lets play this game and later watch that movie. 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. Lets play this and later watch that. 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. Proper noun Proper adjective China Chinese California Californian Mars Martian Spain Spanish Christianity Christian Japan Japanese Hollywood Hollywood Texas Texas Sometimes, as in last two examples, a proper noun does not change at all to become a proper adjective. Where an adjective goes in a sentence. Usually an adjective comes in front of the noun it is describing. The big balloon floated over the dark sea. 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. The balloon was dark. Comparison of adjectives: Positive degree – the simplest form. Comparative degree – comparing two things or persons. Superlative degree – comparing three or more things or persons. Positive Comparative Superlative large larger largest horrible more horrible most horrible How to compare adjectives 1. Add er and est to short adjectives of one syllable (sometimes two syllables) Positive Comparative Superlative short shorter shortest great greater greatest small smaller smallest old older oldest 2. If a short adjective ends with consonant and y, change the y to i and add er and est. Positive Comparative Superlative lucky luckier luckiest heavy heavier heaviest happy happier happiest silly sillier silliest ugly uglier ugliest 3. If a short adjective ends with e, add er and st. Positive Comparative Superlative little littler littlest fine finer finest 4. Put more(less) and most(least) in front of longer adjectives (with two or more syllables) to show comparison. Positive Comparative Superlative appealing less appealing least appealing remarkable more remarkable most remarkable beautiful alert more beautiful more alert most beautiful most alert 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. Positive Comparative Superlative bad worse worst far further furthest far farther farthest good better best many more most little less least old elder eldest well (healthy) better best 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 List of all adjectives A aback abaft abandoned abashed aberrant abhorrent abiding abject ablaze abnormal aboard aboriginal abortive abounding abrasive abrupt absent absorbed absorbing abstracted absurd abusive acceptable accessible accidental accurate acoustic acrid actually ad hoc adamant adaptable addicted adhesive adjoining adorable afraid agonizing ahead alcoholic alert alike alive alleged alluring aloof ambiguous ambitious amuck ancient animated apathetic aquatic aromatic aspiring assorted astonishing auspicious available average aware axiomatic B bad barbarous bashful bawdy beautiful befitting belligerent berserk better big billowy bizarre black boiling boorish boring boundless brash brawny breezy brief bright broad broken bumpy burly C cagey callous capable capricious ceaseless changeable cheerful childlike chilly chivalrous chubby chunky clammy classy cloistered cloudy clumsy coherent cold colossal combative comfortable cooing cool cooperative courageous cowardly crabby craven crazy credible creepy crooked cuddly cultured curly curved cynical D daffy daily damaged damaging damp dapper dashing dazzling deadpan debonair decisive decorous deep deeply defective delightful demonic deranged deserted detailed determined devilish didactic diligent direful dirty disagreeable discreet disillusioned dispensable divergent dizzy domineering draconian dramatic drunk dry dull dusty dynamic dysfunctional E eager early earsplitting earthy eatable economic educated efficacious efficient elated elderly elfin elite eminent empty enchanting encouraging endurable energetic entertaining enthusiastic equable erect erratic ethereal evanescent evasive evil excellent excited exclusive exotic expensive exuberant exultant F fabulous faded fallacious fanatical fancy fantastic fascinated fast fat faulty fearless feigned fertile festive filthy finicky flagrant flashy flawless flippant flowery foamy foregoing forgetful fortunate frail fretful friendly functional funny furtive futuristic G gabby gainful gamy gaping garrulous gaudy gentle giant giddy gigantic glamorous gleaming glib glorious glossy godly good goofy gorgeous graceful grandiose gratis great greedy green groovy grotesque grouchy gruesome grumpy guarded guiltless gullible gusty guttural H habitual half hallowed halting handsome handsomely hapless happy harmonious heady healthy heartbreaking heavenly heavy hellish helpful hesitant high highfalutin hilarious historical holistic hollow honorable horrible hospitable huge hulking humdrum humorous hungry hurried hurt hypnotic hysterical I icky idiotic ignorant illegal illustrious imaginary immense imminent impartial imperfect imported incandescent incompetent inconclusive industrious innate instinctive internal invincible irate itchy J jaded jagged jazzy jealous jittery jobless jolly joyous judicious jumbled jumpy juvenile K kaput kind kindhearted knotty knowing knowledgeable known L labored lackadaisical lacking lamentable languid large late laughable lavish lazy lean learned legal lethal level lewd light likeable literate little lively long longing lopsided loutish lovely loving low lowly lucky ludicrous lush luxuriant lying lyrical M macabre macho maddening madly magenta magical magnificent majestic makeshift malicious mammoth maniacal many marked massive materialistic mature measly meek melodic merciful mere mighty mindless miniature minor miscreant moaning modern moldy momentous muddled mundane murky mushy mysterious N naive nappy narrow nasty nauseating nebulous needless needy neighborly nervous new nice nifty noiseless noisy nonchalant nondescript nonstop nostalgic nosy noxious null numberless numerous nutritious O oafish obedient obeisant obscene obsequious observant obsolete obtainable oceanic odd offbeat old omniscient onerous optimal orange ordinary organic ossified oval overconfident overjoyed overrated overt overwrought P painful painstaking panoramic parched parsimonious pastoral pathetic peaceful penitent perfect periodic permissible perpetual petite phobic picayune piquant placid plant plant plausible pleasant plucky pointless political possessive precious premium pretty prickly productive profuse protective proud psychedelic psychotic puffy pumped puny purple Q quack quaint quarrelsome questionable quick quickest quiet quixotic quizzical R rabid racial ragged rainy rambunctious rampant rare raspy ratty rebel receptive recondite red redundant reflective relieved reminiscent resolute resonant rhetorical righteous rightful ritzy roasted robust romantic roomy round royal ruddy rural rustic ruthless S sable sad sassy satisfying savoy scandalous scarce scary scientific scintillating scrawny secretive sedate seemly selective shallow shocking short shrill silly sincere skillful skinny sloppy slow small smelly sneaky snobbish snotty soggy somber sordid spectacular spicy spiffy spiritual splendid spooky spurious squalid square squeamish staking standing statuesque steadfast stereotyped stimulating stingy strange subdued subsequent successful succinct sulky supreme swanky sweltering symptomatic synonymous T taboo tacit tacky talented tall tame tan tangible tangy tart tasteful tawdry tearful telling temporary tender tenuous tested testy therapeutic thinkable threatening tight tightfisted tiny tiresome toothsome torpid tough towering tranquil trashy tricky trite truculent typical U ubiquitous ugliest ugly ultra unable unaccountable unadvised unarmed unbecoming unbiased uncovered understood undesirable unequaled uneven unsightly unsuitable unusual upbeat uppity upset uptight used utopian utter uttermost V vacuous vagabond vague various vast vengeful venomous verdant versed victorious vigorous vivacious voiceless volatile voracious vulgar W wacky waggish wakeful wanting warlike warm wary wasteful wasteful watchful watery weak wealthy weary wee wet whimsical whispering wholesale wicked wide willing wiry wise wistful woebegone womanly wonderful wooden woozy workable worried worthless wrathful wretched wry X x-rated Y yellow yielding young youthful yummy Z zany zealous zippy zonked II. An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun by describing, identifying, or quantifying words. An adjective often precedes the noun or the pronoun which it modifies. In the following examples, the highlighted words are adjectives: The car-shaped balloon floated over the treetops. Mrs. Smith papered her living room walls with hideous wall paper. The large boat foundered on the wine dark sea. The coal mines are dark and dank. Many stores have already begun to play irritating Christmas music. A battered music box sat on the mahogany sideboard. The back room was filled with large, green rain boots. Appearance Appearance Condition Condition Feelings Feelings Contd. Contd. (Bad) (Bad) Contd. adorable glamorous alive impossible adventurous gleaming annoying inexpensive angry grumpy aggressive gorgeous bad innocent annoyed helpless alert graceful better inquisitive anxious homeless attractive grotesque beautiful modern arrogant hungry average handsome brainy mushy ashamed hurt beautiful homely breakable odd awful ill blue-eyed light busy open bad itchy bloody long careful outstanding bewildered jealous blushing bright clean clear cloudy colorful crowded cute dark drab distinct dull elegant excited fancy filthy magnificent misty motionless muddy old-fashioned plain poised precious quaint shiny smoggy sparkling spotless stormy strange ugly ugliest unsightly unusual wide-eyed Feelings (Good) Feelings (Good) Contd. agreeable amused brave calm charming cheerful comfortable cooperative courageous delightful determined eager elated enchanting encouraging happy healthy helpful hilarious jolly joyous kind lively lovely lucky nice obedient perfect pleasant proud cautious clever clumsy concerned crazy curious dead different difficult doubtful easy expensive famous fragile frail gifted helpful helpless horrible important Shape broad chubby crooked curved deep flat high hollow low narrow round shallow skinny square steep straight poor powerful prickly puzzled real rich shy sleepy stupid super talented tame tender tough uninterested vast wandering wild wrong Size big colossal fat gigantic great huge immense large little mammoth massive miniature petite puny scrawny short black blue bored clumsy combative condemned confused crazy, flipped-out creepy cruel dangerous defeated defiant depressed disgusted disturbed dizzy dull embarrassed envious evil fierce foolish frantic frightened grieving Sound cooing deafening faint harsh high-pitched hissing hushed husky loud melodic moaning mute noisy purring quiet raspy jittery lazy lonely mysterious nasty naughty nervous nutty obnoxious outrageous panicky repulsive scary selfish sore tense terrible testy thoughtless tired troubled upset uptight weary wicked worried Time ancient brief Early fast late long modern old oldfashioned quick rapid short slow swift young energetic enthusiastic excited exuberant fair faithful fantastic fine friendly funny gentle glorious good relieved silly smiling splendid successful thankful thoughtful victorious vivacious witty wonderful zealous zany Taste/Touch Taste/Touch Contd. bitter delicious fresh juicy ripe rotten salty sour spicy stale sticky strong sweet tart tasteless tasty thirsty fluttering fuzzy greasy grubby hard hot icy loose melted nutritious plastic prickly rainy rough scattered shaggy shaky sharp shivering silky slimy slippery smooth soft solid steady sticky tender tight uneven weak wet wooden yummy wide small tall teeny teeny-tiny tiny Touch boiling breezy broken bumpy chilly cold cool creepy crooked cuddly curly damaged damp dirty dry dusty filthy flaky fluffy freezing hot warm wet Quantity abundant empty few heavy light many numerous substantial resonant screeching shrill silent soft squealing thundering voiceless whispering
