In English the adjective normally goes before the noun. When there is more than one adjective the more precise adjective is nearest the noun.
E.g:
A big black English sheep dog.
Some short blue denim jeans.
A horrible old door mat.
Two beautiful small glass vases.
Exceptions
Adjectives describing measurements come after the measure:
He is
The boat is
The swimming pool is
Some adjectives (e.g. alone, afraid, alive, awake) come after the verb – never before a noun.
I don’t like living alone.
He is afraid of dogs.
I feel alive and wide awake.
Adjectives are often followed by an infinitive + to
It is difficult to read English.
The instructions are easy to follow.
Adjectives ending in –ed come after a verb like be and seem or before a noun, and describe a person’s feelings.
She seems worried about him.
It is a frightened dog that barks.
Adjectives ending in –ing come after a verb or before a noun, and describe the person or thing that produces those feelings.
It is very interesting.
It is a worrying time for all of us.
COMPARATIVES
Comparatives are used to compare two things with each other.
We form the comparative by:
Adding –(e)r to adjectives of 1 syllable. Long – longer, small –smaller
We double the consonant if the word ends in vowel + consonant. Big – bigger, fat - fatter
Adding –ier to adjectives ending in y (the y is dropped). Happy – happier, pretty – prettier
Using more + adjective to adjectives of more than two syllables
More comfortable, more interesting
The word ‘than’ always follows a comparative:
This apple is greener than that one.
My sister is thinner than my brother.
The armchair is more comfortable than the sofa.
SUPERLATIVES
Superlatives are used to compare two or more things but to say why one is exceptional.
We form the superlative by:
Adding –(e)st to adjectives of 1 syllable. Long – longest. Small – smallest
We double the consonant if the word ends in vowel + consonant. Big – biggest. Fat-fattest.
Adding –iest to adjectives ending in y (the y is dropped). Happy – happiest, pretty – prettiest.
Using the most + adjective for adjectives of more than two syllables.
The most comfortable. The most interesting.
Other constructions
We can use as + adjective + as for positive comparisons.
He is as strong as a horse.
And not as/so + adjective + as for negative comparisons.
He is not so / as clever as his sister.
Exceptions
Good - Better – Best
Bad – Worse – Worst
Much/Many – More – Most
Far – farther/Further – Farthest/Further
Old – Older/Elder – Oldest/Elder
Some adjectives with two syllables can form their comparative and superlative in two ways: either by adding –er, -est or by using more, most.
Sally is cleverer/more clever than her brother.
The commonest/most common cause of road death is driving too fast.
EXERCISES
Put the adjectives in the right order:
1. a hair drier German blue small.
2. a leather flat black small wallet.
3. a Japanese fountain pen beautiful red.
4. a French writing desk, wood, antique.
5. a ceramic white round table lamp.
6. a square red silk Chinese scarf.
7. a leather light brown suitcase new.
Complete the following sentences using an opposite adjective in either the comparative or superlative.
1. Bob is more stupid than his brother.
No he’s not, he is..............................................
2. I’m the tallest in the class.
No you are not. You’re ...........................................
3. My homework was worse than yours.
No it wasn’t. It was............................................
4. The weather today is colder than yesterday.
No it is............................................................
5. She bought the cheapest watch in the shop.
No she didn’t. She bought......................................
6. Jack is meaner than John.
No, Jack is....................................................
7. Janet arrived later than Paul.
No she didn’t. She arrived...................................
8. This is the easiest exercise I have ever done!
No it isn’t. It’s..............................................
Rewrite the following sentences with as...........as, or not as/so..................as.
1. Jill is more intelligent than Bill.
Bill ....................................................
2. The sun is much hotter than the moon.
The moon ................................................
3. Are you and your husband the same age?
Are you...................................................... your husband?
4. You can read more quickly than I can.
I cannot read...................................................
5. Harry won more money than Bill.
Bill did not win...................................................
6. Is Switzerland bigger than Spain? No it isn’t.
Is Switzerland....................................Spain? No it isn’t.
7. Eva’s job is better than mine.
My work.............................................
8. Dogs are friendlier than cats.
Cats..........................................................
Write the comparative and superlative of the following adjectives.
Beautiful
Happy
New
Lovely
Hot
Good
Handsome
Mean
Generous
Thin
Busy
Patient
Young
Bad
Comfortable
Rude
Fit
