Adjectives

An adjective is a word that gives us more information about a noun or pronoun in a sentence.

Attributive use: When we use an adjective word before a noun to describe the noun, this is called attributive use.

• big city
• tall tree
• red hair

Predicative use: When we use an adjective word that comes after a verb and describes the subject, it is called predicative use.

• He is happy.
• The box is heavy.
• He is alive.

Comparative and superlative adjectives

We use a comparative adjective to compare someone or something with someone or something else.

• Daniel is younger than me.
• This tree is taller than that one.

We use comparative adjectives to show that someone or something is changing or developing.

• The woman seems to be getting younger and younger.
• The days are getting longer and longer.

For longer adjectives, we use more and more.

• She is getting more and more beautiful.
• Petrol is becoming more and more expensive.

We use a superlative adjective to compare someone or something to every other person or thing in the group.

• She is the tallest girl in our class.
• Coal is one of the cheapest fuels.

For most longer adjectives, we use more or the most to make them comparative or superlative.

• He is more intelligent than his brother.
• This subject is more important than that.
• Jim is the most intelligent person I know.
• Planes are the most expensive mode of transport in the world.

A word that describes the quality of a noun or pronoun, and it generally answers the question “of what kind?”

Before “nouns”

• a heavy box
• a smart boy
• a beautiful city

After the verb “to be” (am, are, is, was, were),

• That car is red.
• The apples are delicious.

After the verbs “taste, look, seem, feel, get, sound, smell.”

• The food tastes good.
• He looks happy.

Compound adjectives are made up of two or more words.

• a thirty-story building
• a five-minute walk
• a part-time job
• a five-foot-long snake

• many students
• much milk
• little time
• enough water
• some sugar
• most people
• no money
• few weeks
• whole life

We use “many, no, few, or whole” with countable nouns.

• I don’t have many friends.
• There were no tickets left.
• May I ask a few questions?
• I spent the whole day walking.

We use “much, little, enough, some, no” with uncountable nouns.

• I don’t have much information about this.
• There is enough sugar for all of us.
• The food has little salt.
• Can I have some water?
• I have no money.
  

Adjectives of number indicate the number of nouns or pronouns, or in what order they stand, and answer the question, “How many?”

• I have two pens.
• There are four carrots.
• I stand first in the class.

There are three types of adjectives of number.

Cardinal and ordinal numbers are adjectives of number:

• Definite numeral adjective
• Indefinite numeral adjective
• distributive numeral adjectives.

Definite numeral adjectives describe the exact number or position of the subject in the sentence and use cardinal and ordinal numbers.

• There are five people in the room.
• It was the first time we met each other.

indefinite numeral adjectives describe a number but do not tell the exact number.

• We arrived several hours ago.
  All students should respect their teachers.
  Do you want some more coffee?
  I worked hard for many years.
  Few people know me here.
  You can meet me any day but Monday.

A distributive numeral adjective refers to each one of a number and always comes before a singular noun and a verb.

• Every person should be on time.
• Each of us has an umbrella.

• This pen is mine.
• These books are yours.
• That shirt is clean.
• Those shoes are expensive.

We use “this, that, these, and those” as demonstrative pronouns, but they do not come before nouns or pronouns.

• This is my book.
• That is a table.

• Each boat has an anchor.
• Every nation is proud of its culture.
• Either answer is correct.
• Neither sweater fits me.

Each (every person or thing) is regarded separately, one by one.

• Each person had a bicycle.
• Each ticket costs $30.

Every (every person or thing) a regarded as a whole.

• Every member should wear a uniform.
• Every job has its good points.

Either (each of the two)

• Either team played well. [Both teams played well.]

Neither (none of the two)

• Neither answer was correct. [Both answers were wrong.]

• What time is it?
• Which pen is yours?
• Whose car is this?

We use “what, which, and whose” as interrogative pronouns, but they do not come before nouns or pronouns.

• What is your plan?
• Which is the shortest way?
• Whose is this pen?

• My name is Jacob.
• Is this your pen?
• It’s his car.
• Her hair is blonde.

We use “his” as a possessive pronoun, but it does not come before a noun or pronoun.

• That pen is his.

Opinion comes before fact.

opinion (beautiful, delicious, ugly, interesting)

fact (new, Italian, black, old)

• A beautiful old cottage
• A delicious Italian pizza

A general idea comes before a specific idea.

general (long, new, cold, big)
specific (American, wooden)

• An old wooden chair
• A big American car

A beautiful, long, old, brown American wooden fishing boat.

Usually, we do not use more than three adjectives in a sentence, but if we do, it’s correct.