Adjectives

 

Adjectives are words that enhance and describe nouns or pronouns, providing additional details to enrich our understanding.

Consider the following example:

• Joseph has got a beautiful car.

In this sentence, the word “beautiful” serves as an adjective, adding depth to the noun “car.” By using adjectives, we provide extra information and create a more vivid picture.

Here are more examples:

• The little boy was playing in the yard.
• The tall tree swayed gently in the breeze.
• This restaurant makes delicious dishes.
• My elder sister wore a pink dress to the party.

Degrees Of Adjectives

Adjectives not only provide details about nouns but can also express different degrees of qualities. There are three main degrees: positive, comparative, and superlative.

1. Positive Degree:
   • This is the simplest form of an adjective, used when no comparison is made. For example:
     • Positive: The cat is fast.
2. Comparative Degree:
   • Used to compare two things or qualities, the comparative degree often ends in “-er” or is preceded by “more” when dealing with longer adjectives. Examples include:
     • Comparative: The cheetah is faster than the lion.
     • Comparative with “more”: The plot of the movie is more interesting than the book.
3. Superlative Degree:
   • This degree is employed when comparing three or more things or qualities. It typically ends in “-est” or is preceded by “most” for longer adjectives. Examples include:
     • Superlative: The hare is the fastest land animal.
     • Superlative with “most”: This is the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen.

Here are more examples:

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
Short Adjectives
Big	Bigger	Biggest
Cold	Colder	Coldest
Hot	Hotter	Hottest
Tall	Taller	Tallest
Long Adjectives
Beautiful	More beautiful	Most beautiful
Interesting	More interesting	Most interesting
Comfortable	More comfortable	Most comfortable
Intelligent	More intelligent	Most intelligent

Usage Of Adjectives In Sentences

Adjectives serve various functions in sentences, each contributing to the overall expressiveness and clarity of our communication. Let’s explore three key ways adjectives are used:

1. Attributive Use:
   • In the attributive use, adjectives directly modify and provide additional information about nouns. They are placed before the noun they describe, enriching the noun with descriptive details.
     • Example: The sunny day brightened everyone’s mood.
2. Predicative Use:
   • Adjectives in the predicative use follow linking verbs such as “be,” “seem,” “appear,” “feel,” “look,” or “smell.” They modify the subject and describe a quality or condition.
     • Example: The cake tastes delicious.
3. Comparative and Superlative Use:
   • Adjectives take on different forms to indicate degrees of comparison. The comparative degree is used for comparing two things, often with the addition of “-er” or “more.” The superlative degree is used for comparing three or more things, often with the addition of “-est” or “most.”
     • Comparative Example: This novel is more intriguing than the previous one.
     • Superlative Example: Among the options, this is the most affordable.

Position Of Adjectives In A Sentence

Adjectives typically come before the nouns they modify, like in “an interesting job” or “a black suit.” But sometimes, when we use certain verbs like “be,” “seem,” “appear,” “feel,” “look,” or “smell,” the adjectives come after the verb and describe the subject. We call these adjectives predicative adjectives. For example, “Jane is intelligent,” or “The food smells delicious.”

Let’s explore examples to understand these nuances:

(The adjective is in bold and what they modify is underlined)

1. Adjectives Before Nouns:
   • James applied for an interesting job.
   • He wore a black suit to the interview.
   • He answered the interviewers’ questions with a beautiful smile.
   • He had a good impression on the interviewers.
2. Adjectives After Linking Verbs:
• Jane is intelligent.
• She seems tired after a long day at work.
• The food appears delicious, but I haven’t tasted it yet.
• I feel happy today.
• The room looks dark and gloomy without any windows.
• The food smells delicious.
• It felt cold and wet.

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