In the kitchen presentation

Adjectives in English

Degrees of Comparison

There are three degrees:

highest

Superlative

higher

Comparative

high

Basic

One-syllable Adjectives

Usually, the ending er/est is simply added to the positive form of the adjective. For example: fast - faster  strong - stronger 

tall - tallest  young - youngest

When an adjective ends in a silent e , the silent e is dropped before the ending er/est is added.

e.g.:  brav e  - braver - bravest 

clos e  - closer - closest

lat e  - later - latest

When an adjective ends in y preceded by a consonant, the y is changed to i before the ending er/est is added.

e.g.:  dr y  - dr i er-dr i est;   eas y  - eas i er-eas i est

When an adjective ends in a CVC and the last consonant is other than w , x or y or a double vowel - we double the final consonant before adding er/est is added.

e.g.:  big - bigger-biggest  (hot - hotter  sad - saddest

but:

e.g.:  loud - louder;  neat - neater;  soon - sooner

Two and more syllable adjectives

Adjectives of 2 or more syllables (unless it ends with r or y ), we make superior by using:

the most / the least adjective noun.

This book is the most / the least interesting book I have ever read.

Two and more syllable adjectives

Adjectives of 2 or more syllables (unless it ends with r or y ), we compare by using:

noun verb more / less ____ than noun.

This book is more interesting than that book.

My ad is less convincing than your ad.

Irregular Forms of Comparison

the best

better than

the worst

good

worse than

the farthest / furthest

farther / further than

the least

bad

the fewest

far

less than

fewer than

little

the most

more than

few

many/much

MJH_teacher

Adjective Order

Fact Adjectives

Opinion + Fact Adjectives

Suffixation

- ful having… useful

giving… helpful

-less without fearless

-ly having the qualities of cowardly

-like ‘’ childlike

-y like… creamy

covered with… hairy

-ish belonging to Turkish

having the character foolish

-ian in the tradition of Darwinian

Other adjective suffixes:

-able/-ible = worthy/able: readable/edible

-ish = somewhat youngish

-ed = having balconied

Adjective suffixes meaning

“ having the characteristics of…/ peculiar to…/ full of ….”

-al criminal

(also –ial editorial

and –ical musical

-ic heroic

-ive attractive

(also – ative affirmative

and -itive sensitive

-ous virtuous

(also –eous courteous

and –ious vivacious

Suffixation

• NOTE! -ic vs. -ical
• (difference in meaning)

an economic miracle ( in the economy)

the car is economical to run ( money-saving)

a historic building (with a history)

historical research (pertaining to history)

Adjectives as Nouns = Substantivized Adjectives

Fully substantivized – have all characteristics of a noun a native - the natives, a Russian - the Russians, a German - the Germans.

Partially substantivized – are used as nouns only to show a group, many the rich, the unemployed, the good, the evil, the beau­tiful, the English.