We use adjectives to describe nouns such as people and things.
If you describe your hometown to yourself, you would probably come up with words such as:
big/small; clean/dirty; modern/ancient; expensive/cheap etc.
These are all adjectives as they describe a place.
Adjectives are often used in clusters or groups of 2 or 3. In this "list form" the last one is separated from the others by "and"
Ex. The teacher is tall, dark and stunning.
Now have a look at this example:
Ex. She is a tall, dark, stunning teacher.
A noun has now ended our list of adjectives. Notice that the and has disappeared. This is used to give greater emphasis to the adjectives used.
Should these adjectives go in any particular order? And if so,what is it?
Let's take these three examples:
1. The square, white, big sign.
2. The white, big, square sign.
3. The big, white, square sign.
Which of these "sounds" correct? If you said (3) you'd be right. The short answer is that there is an order to them, but it is not exactly written in stone.
Imagine a table. First consider its size. Then, consider the colour. Continue by thinking of its material, (wooden, glass, etc). Lastly, imagine its age (old, new, etc). Put this together and you should have something like this:
A small, old, blue, plastic table.
Now, you have one basic rule:
size--->age--->color--->material--->noun
There are many more rules of this kind for other types of adjectives, which can become quite complicated.
The more books you read on this topic, the more exceptions and differences of opinions you will find. As a guide, it is suggested that you follow what seems natural to you in the context in which you're working.
Comparisons (Comparatives)
We often wish to compare two people or things. Imagine you have two tall students in your class, but they are not the same height. So, to end the argument about who is taller than who, you make them stand against the board and put a mark above the head of each. Write the following observation on the board:
> Pete is taller than Gary.
> Gary is shorter than Pete
> Pete is older than Gary.
> Gary is younger than Pete.
These sentences contain the comparative forms of adjectives. Do you see any common pattern? For basic, regular comparisons:
(adjective) + er than
Note that a few short adjectives change the final y into i, - easy, easier; happy, happier; early, earlier, etc.
Others double the final consonant n, t or d when preceded by a single, short vowel - thin, thinner; hot, hotter; sad, sadder:
Now compare:
Pair I
Elisa is beautifuler than Cecilia.
Elisa is more beautiful than Cecilia.
Pair 2
This exercise is difficulter than the previous one.
This exercise is more difficult than the previous one.
You should have noticed that the first sentence in each pair is not correct!
Adjectives of more than two syllables do not add -er, because it is too unwieldy to say, but are preceded by the word more
Comparisons (Superlatives)
Now put the whole class ( i.e. more than two people) against the wall,
making marks above people's heads. Likewise, ask everyone how old they are.
Let's say we now have a range of heights from Sara who is 1.50 m to Pete who is 1.88 m tall and a range of ages from Gary who is 14 to mark who is 35. We can now make sentences that contain the superlative form of adjectives.
* In our class, Pete is the tallest.
* Sara is the shortest in our class.
* Gary is the youngest in our class.
* In our class, Mark is the oldest.
Again a pattern should be becoming clear. For regular superlatives:
The ( adjectives) + . . .est
Now, compare the following two sentences:
This is the difficultest exercise in the book.
This is the most difficult exercise in the book.
Again, notice that one of the sentences are incorrect. As with comparatives with three syllables or more are preceded by the word most to form the superlatives.
Note again that a few short adjectives change the final y into an i - easy, easiest; happy, happiest; early, earliest; etc.
Others double that final consonant: n, t, or d when preceded by a single, short vowel - thin, thinnest; hot, hottest; sad, saddest.
There are also a few irregular comparative and superlative form. some example:
Adjective Comparative Superlative
1. Good Better Best
2. Bad Worse Worst
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