What is an Adjective?

An adjective is a word that tells us more about a noun. (By "noun" we include pronouns and noun phrases.)

An adjective "qualifies" or "modifies" a noun (a big dog).

Adjectives can be used before a noun (I like Chinese food) or after certain verbs (It is hard).

We can often use two or more adjectives together (a beautiful young French lady).

The scary ghost was not smiling!

scary describes

The colorful butterfly was Evan’s. colorful describes

What words could you use describe this picture?

cute

smiling

happy

friendly

funnyblonde

What other words can you think of?

What words could you use describe this picture?red

tasty

crunchy

juicy

smoothhealthy

What other words can you think of?

Three Questions

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. Adjectives of Quality

2. Adjectives of Quantity

3. Adjectives of Number

4. Demonstrative Adjective

5. Interrogative Adjective

1. Adjectives of Quality (Descriptive Adjective)

Adjectives of Quality (Descriptive Adjective) show the kind or quality of a person or thing.Example:-1. London is a large city.2. He is an honest man.3. The foolish crow tried to sing.

Adjectives formed from Proper Nouns (e.g., French wines, Indian tea, Turkish tobacco) are sometimes called Proper Adjectives.Adjectives of Quality answer the question: Of what kind?

2. Adjectives of Quantity

Adjectives of Quantity show how much of a thing is meant.Examples:-1. I ate some rice.2. He has little intelligence.3. He showed much patience.4. He has lost all his wealth.

Adjectives of Quantity answer the question: How much?

3. Adjectives of Number (Numeral Adjective)

Adjectives of Number (Numeral Adjective) show how many persons or things are meant, or in what order a person or thing stands.Example:-1. The hand has five fingers.2. Most boys like cricket.3. Sunday is the first day of the week.4. There are no pictures in this book.5. Here are some ripe mangoes.

Adjectives of Number answer the question: How many?

Adjectives of Number 3 kinds

a). Definite Numeral Adjectives, which denote an exact number as,One, two, three, etc. - These are called Cardinals.First, second, third, etc. - These are called Ordinals.

b). Indefinite Numeral Adjectives, which do not denote an exact number,All, many, few, some, any, several, certain.

c). Distributive Numeral Adjectives, which refer to each one of a number, asEach boy must take his turn.India expects every man to do his duty.Either pen will do.

4. Demonstrative Adjective

. Demonstrative Adjective point out which person or thing is meant.Example:-That boy is clever.These mangoes are sour.I hate such things.

This and that are used with Singular Nouns, these and those with Plural Nouns.

5. Interrogative Adjective

Interrogative Adjective - What, which and whose when they are used with nouns to ask questions.Example:-What manner of man is he?Whose book is this?Which way shall we go?

Can you find the adjectives?Can you find the adjectives?

The rabbit followed the slow turtle.

Then ask, “What words describe the nouns?”WHAT KIND?WHICH ONE?HOW MANY?

Can you find the adjectives?Can you find the adjectives?

First find the nouns…

The brown dog growled at the tall man.Then ask, “What words describe the nouns?”

WHAT KIND?

WHICH ONE?

HOW MANY?

Degrees of Comparison

Degrees of Comparison are used when we compare one person or one thing with another.

There are three Degrees of Comparison in English.

They are:

1. Positive degree.

2. Comparative degree.

3. Superlative degree.

The comparative degree is usually formed by adding _ er The superlative degree is usually formed by adding _ est

POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE

Short shorter shortest

Dark darker darkest

Lovely lovelier loveliest

Quiet quieter quietest

Fair fairer fairest

Early earlier earliest

POSITIVE DEGREEExamples

• This house is big.

In this sentence only one noun “The house” is talked about.

• He is a tall student.

• This flower is beautiful.

• He is an intelligent boy.

Each sentence mentioned above talks about only one noun.

Comparative degree

When we compare two persons or two things with each other,

We use both the Positive degree and Comparative degree.

Examples

a. This church is bigger than that one. (Comparative degree)

This church is not as big as that one. (Positive degree)

The term “bigger” is comparative version of the term “big”.

Both these sentences convey the same meaning.

c. He is more intelligent than this girl. (Comparative)

She is not as intelligent as this boy. (Positive)

The term “more intelligent” is comparative version of the term “intelligent”.

Both these sentences convey the same meaning.

Superlative Degree

When we compare more than two persons or things with one another,

We use all the three Positive, Comparative and Superlative degrees.

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