| Adjectives
An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun. An adjective indicates
a quality or condition of the noun or pronoun. Usually, an adjective
can be recognized by its function, its position, or its ability
to be compared.
Function -to modify, provide detail about, a noun
or a pronoun
Four green shirts belong to four favorite friends of mine.
Position-next to the noun or pronoun it modifies
or in the predicate after a linking verb.
Comparability-three forms show the degree of the
quality or condition
(1) The positive form is the plain form
of the adjective:
dark, warm, brave, heavy, trustworthy, miserable, economical
(2) The comparative form is used to compare
two items and is usually accompanied by the word than;
the comparative form expresses a greater degree or quality. For
most adjectives of one syllable, add -r
or -er for upward comparisons and use
less for downward comparisons. For most
adjectives of two or more syllables, use more
for upward comparisons and use less for
downward comparisons.
Florida is warmer than Georgia.
Pat is braver than Chris.
I prefer darker shades of blue.
Georgia is less warm than Florida.
Kelly is less brave than Pat.
Kelly is more trustworthy than Chris.
(3) The superlative form is used to compare
three or more items and is usually preceded by the article the. For
adjectives of one syllable, add -est to
the positive form. For most adjectives of two or more syllables, add
least or most.
Kelly is the most trustworthy student in the class.
Pat was the happiest person in our club.
Summer is my least favorite season.
Irregular Adjectives
Some adjectives are irregular because they do not
follow the general rules. Instead, they form the comparative and superlative
in special ways.
Positive-------- Comparative-------- Superlative
good -------------better----------------- best
bad --------------worse ----------------worst
many
or
some------------- more ------------------most
much
or
little -------------less\littler-------------- least/littlest
Comments: writcent@tcc.edu
Last revision:
August 4, 2003
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