Larbi Ben MHidi University

Department of English
Module: DL
Level: First Year Students (LMD)
Lecturer: Mrs.ARROUF
ADJECTIVES
1. What is an adjective ?
An adjective is a word that describes a person, a thing, or a place which a noun refers
to. Adjectives can give us information about:
Size: large windows; a big car.
Age: a new theory; an old nation.
Shape: a square box; a round table.
Colour: blue eyes.
Temperature: a cold day; a hot day.
Origin: an Algerian woman.
Some adjectives can be identified by their endings; typical adjective endings
include:
- a
achievable, capable, illegible
bl
e/
ib
le
-al
logical, internal, functional
-ful
beautiful, careful, grateful
-ic
terrific, fantastic
-ive
attractive,
inventive,
persuasive
-less
restless, careless, breathless
-ous
courageous,
disastrous,
dangerous
However, a large number of common adjectives can not be identified in this way; they
do not have a typical adjectival form: bad, distant, elementary, quiet, bright, red, good,
cold, silent, simple, honest, strange, dark, greatetc.
2. Types of Adjectives
2.1. Gradable Vs Non-Gradable Adjectives
Most adjectives can take a modifying word such as very, too, extremely, or enough
before them.
- very cold weather.
- too patient teacher.
- enough cool water.
- extremely large windows.
Here the modifying word locates the adjective on a scale of comparison, at a position
higher or lower than the one indicated by the adjective alone. This characteristic is

known as gradability. We can form the comparative and the superlative forms from the
absolute form of any gradable adjective.
big
bigger
biggest
careful more careful
most careful
The lowest point on the scale is called the absolute form; the middle point is known as
the comparative form, and the highest point is known as the superlative form. Here are
some more example:
- dark
darker
darkest
- new
newer newest
- old
older
oldest
Most adjectives are gradable, yet if the adjective already denotes the highest position
on a scale, then it is non-gradable.
My main reason for coming
My *very main reason for coming
The principal role in the play
The *very principal role in the play
Non-gradable adjectives can not be modified with words like very, too, enough, and
extremely.
Note: Non-gradable adjectives do not have comparative and superlative forms.
2.2. Attributive Vs Predicative Adjectives
An adjective is attributive or used attributively when it comes before the noun it
describes and, therefore, is part of the noun phrase.
- My young brother told me that.
- This work is dedicated to my patient father.
An adjective is predicative or used predicatively when it comes after a linking verb (to
be, appear, look, become, sound, taste, smell, tasteetc). In this case, the adjective
functions as a subject complement on its own.
- Her mother seems angry. predicative adj/Subj.complement
- This pie looks good, but it tastes bad.
Note: Consider the following example:
- He is an old man.
Old is an attributive adjective, not a predicative adjective; it does not function as a
subject complement on its own. It is the whole NP an old man which functions as a
subj.complement.
3. Special Cases of Adjectives
3.1. Participles Used as Adjectives
In English, most participles can be used as adjectives.
- a frightening story
- a frozen lake
- a locked door.
Compare:
- I have locked the door. past participle/past participle
- I went there and found a locked door. past participle/adj
3.2. Nouns Behaving like Adjectives
In English, many names of materials, substances, and nouns indicating use or purpose
look like adjectives.
- a cotton dress N/adj
- a kitchen chair
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- a plastic box
They remain nouns, as far as their form is concerned, having the function of
adjectives.
4. The Order of Adjectives
In English, it is common to use more than one adjective before a noun; for example,
she is a smart young woman. When you use more than one adjective, you have to put
them in the right order which is the following:
An opinion adjective explains what you think about something
(other people may not agree with you). Examples:
silly, beautiful, horrible, difficult

Opinion

A size adjective, of course, tells you how big or small something is.
Size
large, tiny, enormous, small
An age adjective tells you how young or old something or someone
is.
ancient, new, young, old

Age

Shape

A shape adjective describes the shape of something. Examples:

square, round, flat, rectangular

Temperatur
e

A temperature adj describes the temperature of sth.

Cold, hot, frozen

Colour

A colour adjective, of course, describes the colour of something.

blue, pink, reddish, grey

Origin

An origin adjective describes where something comes from.

French, American, eastern, Greek
A material adjective describes what something is made from. Note
that within this class of adjs, we can find nouns behaving like adjs.
metal, cotton, paper

Material

A purpose adjective describes what something is used for. Within

this class of adjs, we often find present participles or nouns
behaving like adjectives (but indicating purpose).
sleeping bag, roasting tin, computer table, football field

Purpose

Some examples of adjective order:

Opinio
n
a

silly

Size

Age

Sha
pe

Temperat
ure

young

Colou
r

Origin
Englis
h

Materia
l

Purpos
e
woman

huge

roun
d

metal

big
a
a

nice

black

large

modern

small

old

white

bowl
clouds

Italian
Frenc
h

cotton

shirt
paintin
g

Note: As far as nouns behaving like adjs, nouns indicating material

precede those indicating purpose.
- A cotton summer dress
- A teak kitchen cupboard
5. The Separation of Adjectives
5.1. Separating Attributive Adjectives with Equal Status
When we have two or more adjectives in front of a noun, we only
need commas to separate coordinate adjectives; i.e, those adjs
which are equally important as far as the description of the noun is
concerned.
- He is a difficult, stubborn child. both adjs are with equal
status in the description of the noun child because both of
them are opinion adjs.
- I bought an enormous red, yellow umbrella. red and yellow
are separated with a comma because they are coordinate adjs
(both adjs are colour adjs). However, enormous and red are not
separated with a comma because they are not coordinate adjs.
Note: Do not use commas to separate those adjectives describing
opinion, age, size etc about/of Sb or Sth because they are not
coordinate adjs.
- *a silly, young, English man incorrect
- a silly young English man correct
5.2. Separating Adjectives Used Predicatively
1. If there are only two adjs, they are separated with and.
- She felt lonely and unhappy.
2. If there are more than two adjs, they are separated with commas
except for the last two adjs which are separated by and.
- The weather was cold, rainy, windy and depressing.
- That poor womans clothes seemed durty, wet and old.
6. The Comparison of Adjectives
6.1. Comparing Short Adjectives
A short adjective is composed of one syllable and not more than two.
One-syllable adjectives form their comparatives and superlatives
by adding er and est to the absolute form.
- clean
cleaner
the cleanest
- bright
brighter
the brightest

 Two-syllable adjs ending in y or er or ly form their comparatives

and superlatives by adding er and est to the absolute form.
- pretty
prettier
the prettiest
- clever
cleverer
the cleverest
- holy
holier
the holiest
Note: Certain one syllable adjectives have the form of consonantvowel-consonant (CVC); these adjs form their comparatives and
superlatives by adding er and est after doubling the last
consonant.
- fat
fatter the fattest
Other examples: big, sad, thin, and wet.
6.2. Comparing Long Adjectives
A long adjective is composed of three or more than three syllables.
Long adjs form their comparative and superlative forms through the
addition of more/less and the most/the least to the absolute
form.
- difficult
more/less difficult
the most/the least
difficult
- comfortable
more/less comfortable
the most/the least
comfortable
Note: Two-syllable adjs which do not end in y or er or ly form
their comparatives and superlatives by adding more/less and the
most/the least to the absolute form.
- honest
more/less honest
the most/the least honest
- modern
more/less modern
the most/the least modern
Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives
Absolute form
Comparative form
good
better
bad
worse
far
farther/further
old

older/elder

Superlative form
the best
the worst
the farthest/the
furthest
the oldest/the eldest

References

Greenbaum, S. (1996). The Oxford English grammar. New York:

Oxford
University Press.
Hewings, M. (1999). Advanced grammar in use: A self study
reference and practice
book for advanced learners of English. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.
Murphy, R. (2004). English grammar in use: A self-study reference and practice book for
intermediate students of English (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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Murphy, R., & Altman, R. (1989). Grammar in use: Reference and practice for intermediate
students of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.