English Grammer- Adjectives

Adjectives

What are Adjectives

An adjectives are words which are used to point out or describe a person or thing, animal, place and which describe or modify nouns are known as Adjectives.

Examples :

Sizes : big, small, large, thin, thick
Shapes : triangular, round, square, circular
Colors : black, blue, white, green, red
Personality : happy, sad, angry, depressed
Time : Yearly , monthly, annually
Ages : new, young, old, brand-new, second-hand
Sounds : Loud, noisy, quiet, silent
Tastes : juicy, sweet
Qualities : good, bad, mediocre etc.

Now in a sentence –
Ex – ‘My mother was angry on me.’
In this sentence, the word ‘angry’ is the adjective. It is used to describe about the noun ‘mother’.

There are five types of adjectives. 

1. Adjective of quality

2. Adjective of quantity

3. Adjective of number

4.Interrogative Adjective

5. Demonstrative Adjective

1. Adjective Of Quality:

Words which are used to describe about the kind or quality of a noun are known as adjectives of quality.

Ex – She is a beautiful girl.

In this sentence, the word she is a pronoun which represents a noun and the word beautiful is an adjective. Here the adjective explains or adds more information about the noun in terms of its kind. Hence it is called adjective of quality.

2. Adjective Of Quantity:

Words which shows the quantity of thing needed for a noun are known as adjectives of quantity.

Ex – Take great care of your health.

In this sentence, the word health is the noun and the word great is an adjective. Here the adjective is used to express the quantity or the amount needed for the noun. Hence this is known as adjective of quantity.

3. Adjective of Number:

Words which are used to express the exact quantity of noun are known as adjectives of number.

Ex – I have taught you many things.

Here many is an adjective which describes the noun things. The adjective is used to specify the quantity of the noun. Hence, it is known as adjective of number.

• Adjective of number are of three types namely.
  A. Definite Numeral Adjective
  B. Indefinite Numeral Adjective
  C. Distributive Numeral Adjective

• A. Definite Numeral Adjective:

Words which express the exact number are known as definite numeral adjectives. There are two types of definite numeral adjectives,

a. Cardinals ( one, two, three etc.)
b. Ordinals (first, second, third etc.)

For example,

Ex – He came first in his class.

Here the word first is the adjective which is used to describe the position of the noun.

B. Indefinite Numeral Adjective:

Words which do not express the exact quantity are known as indefinite numeral adjectives. Some of indefinite numeral adjectives are

All
No
Many
Few
Some
Any
Several
Certain
For example,

Ex – All Indians are my brothers and sisters.

Here the word all is an adjective which is used to describe the quantity of noun Indians but not the exact number.

C. Distributive Numeral Adjective:

Words which points out or describes noun one at a time are known as distributive numeral adjectives.

Ex – Either pen will do.

Here The word either is the adjective used to point out one noun from a group of nouns.

4. Demonstrative Adjective:

Words which are used to point any noun in particular are known as demonstrative adjectives. Some of the demonstrative adjectives are this, these, those, that etc.

Have a look at this sentence,

Ex – These mangoes are tasty.

In this sentence, the word these is an adjective which is used to represent a set of noun in this case, mangoes.

5. Interrogative Adjective:

Words which are used to ask questions are known as interrogative adjectives. Some of interrogative adjectives are what, which, whose etc.

Ex – Whose book is it?

In this sentence, the word whose is an adjective which is used to question the ownership of the noun in this case, book.

Note: Adjective of number and Adjective of quantity depends on the usage in a sentence.

Every adjective has three degrees of its own. They are : Positive, Comparative, Superlative degrees.

1. Positive Degree
2. Comparative Degree
3. Superlative Degree

Positive         Comparative          Superlative
bold               bolder                   boldest
bright             brighter                brightest
black              blacker                 blackest
able               abler                     ablest
true               truer                      truest
sad                sadder                   saddest
early              earlier                   earliest
ugly               uglier                     ugliest
active             more active           most active
beautiful         more beautiful       most beautiful
good              better                    best
bad                worse                    worst
little               less                      least

1. Positive Degree : It is used to describe the quality of noun. A positive degree both preceded and followed by as, in negative sense it can be followed by so also.

Ex : Delhi is as big as Mumbai.
He is not so Clever as his sister.

2. Comparative Degree : It is used when there is a comparison between two nouns or pronouns. A comparative degree is followed by than.

Ex : He is better than you
The Ganges is longer than any other river in India.

3. Superlative Degree :  When noun is shown as a superior out of a group, class etc. Superlative degree is always precede by ‘ the ‘.

Ex : He is the best student of the class.

Rules of Adjectives

1. When a selection is made out of the two, and two is given in the sentence, the is used before the adjective denoting comparison.

Ex : Amit is the better of the two brothers.

2. Preferable takes to and is not preceded by more.

Ex : Tea is preferable to coffee in India.

3. When two adjectives in different degrees of comparison are used in the same sentence, each should be complete in itself.

Ex : My father is as rich as if not richer than your mother.

4. If two adjectives are connected by and, they should be in the same degree throughout.

Ex : Seema is more intelligent and more active.

5. The comparative in -er is not used when we compare two qualities of the same person or thing.

Ex : Divya is more wise than strong.

6. When two objects are compared with each other, the latter term of comparison must exclude the former.

Ex : Savita is cleverer than any other student in his class.

7. The comparative degree is generally followed by than but the following comparative adjectives are followed by the preposition to : inferior, superior, prior, anterior, posterior, senior, junior.

Ex : Bangladesh fielding is inferior to Pakistan.

8. Adjectives expressing qualities that do not admit of different degrees cannot be compared.

Ex : Our field is square.

9. Double comparatives and superlatives are to be avoided.

incorrect: Marda mangoes are more sweeter than Maliah ones.
Correct: Marda mangoes are sweeter than Maliah ones.