Adjectives and Degree of Comparision

Adjective & Degrees of Comparison

An Adjective is a word that describes, qualifies or adds information about a noun or pronoun.

It may tell us about:

• Quality
  • a beautiful flower
  • an honest man
• Quantity
  • some water
  • little hope
• Number
  • five students
  • the first chapter
• Size
  • a large building
  • a small room
• Colour
  • a red car
  • a blue shirt
• Condition
  • a broken chair
  • a tired worker
• Possession
  • my book
  • their house

Examples:

• Riya is a smart student.
• He bought a new car.
• I have three books.
• There is little water in the bottle.

In each case, the highlighted word gives additional information about a noun or pronoun.

A clear understanding of adjectives is important for competitive examinations because questions often test types of adjectives, adjective order, comparative and superlative forms, degree transformation, adjective–adverb confusion, double comparatives and incorrect comparison structures.

Types of Adjectives

Adjectives can be classified into several major categories according to their function.

The important types are:

• • Adjective of Quality
  • Adjective of Quantity
  • Adjective of Number
  • Demonstrative Adjective
  • Possessive Adjective
  • Interrogative Adjective
  • Distributive Adjective
  • Proper Adjective
  • Emphasising Adjective
  • Exclamatory Adjective

Adjective of Quality

An Adjective of Quality describes the kind, nature or quality of a person, animal, place or thing.

It usually answers the question:

What kind?

Examples:

• a beautiful girl
• an honest officer
• a strong man
• a difficult question
• a dangerous road

Examples in sentences:

• She is an intelligent student.
• He lives in a large house.
• This is a useful book.

Adjectives of quality are also called Descriptive Adjectives.

Adjective of Quantity

An Adjective of Quantity indicates how much of something is meant.

It is commonly used with uncountable nouns.

Examples:

• some water
• much money
• little time
• enough food
• sufficient evidence
• no hope

Examples in sentences:

• There is little milk left.
• We have enough food.
• He has much work to do.

Common adjectives of quantity include:

• some
• any
• much
• little
• enough
• sufficient
• whole
• no

Adjective of Number

An Adjective of Number tells us how many persons or things are meant, or in what order they occur.

It is generally used with countable nouns.

Examples:

• five students
• several books
• first prize
• many people
• few candidates

Adjectives of number are commonly divided into three types.

Definite Numeral Adjectives

These indicate an exact number or position.

They include:

• Cardinal Numbers
  • one
  • two
  • three
  • ten
• Ordinal Numbers
  • first
  • second
  • third
  • tenth

Examples:

• I have three books.
• She stood first in the examination.

Indefinite Numeral Adjectives

These do not indicate an exact number.

Examples:

• many
• few
• several
• some
• all
• no

Examples:

• Many students appeared for the examination.
• Several questions were difficult.
• Few candidates qualified.

Distributive Numeral Adjectives

These refer to members of a group individually.

Examples:

• each
• every
• either
• neither

Examples:

• Each student received a certificate.
• Every candidate must carry an admit card.
• Either road leads to the station.
• Neither answer is correct.

Demonstrative Adjective

A Demonstrative Adjective points out a particular noun.

Common demonstrative adjectives are:

• this
• that
• these
• those
• such

Examples:

• This book is useful.
• That boy is my brother.
• These questions are difficult.
• Those buildings are old.

A demonstrative adjective must be followed by a noun.

Compare:

• This book is expensive. → Demonstrative Adjective
• This is expensive. → Demonstrative Pronoun

Possessive Adjective

A Possessive Adjective shows possession or relationship.

Common possessive adjectives are:

• my
• our
• your
• his
• her
• its
• their

Examples:

• My book is on the table.
• Their house is very large.
• Her brother is a doctor.
• Our teacher is absent today.

These are also commonly called Possessive Determiners in modern grammar.

Compare:

• This is my book. → Possessive Adjective/Determiner
• This book is mine. → Possessive Pronoun

Interrogative Adjective

An Interrogative Adjective is used with a noun to ask a question.

Common interrogative adjectives are:

• which
• what
• whose

Examples:

• Which book do you want?
• What subject do you prefer?
• Whose bag is this?

Compare:

• Which book is yours? → Interrogative Adjective
• Which is yours? → Interrogative Pronoun

Distributive Adjective

A Distributive Adjective refers to each individual member of a group separately.

Common distributive adjectives include:

• each
• every
• either
• neither

Examples:

• Each student received a prize.
• Every child needs education.
• Either answer may be accepted.
• Neither statement is true.

Important: Each may refer to two or more, while every usually refers to more than two and considers all members individually.

Proper Adjective

A Proper Adjective is derived from a Proper Noun.

Examples:

• India → Indian
• America → American
• Europe → European
• Shakespeare → Shakespearean
• China → Chinese

Examples:

• Indian culture is diverse.
• He enjoys Chinese food.
• We studied Shakespearean drama.

Because proper adjectives are derived from proper nouns, they usually begin with a capital letter.

Emphasising Adjective

An Emphasising Adjective adds emphasis to a noun.

Common examples include:

• own
• very

Examples:

• I saw it with my own eyes.
• This is the very book I was looking for.

Here, own and very strengthen or emphasise the noun.

Exclamatory Adjective

An Exclamatory Adjective is used with a noun in an exclamatory expression.

The most common word is:

what

Example:

What a beautiful day!

Here, what modifies day and expresses strong emotion.

Other examples:

• What a wonderful idea!
• What an intelligent boy!

Adjective Position

Adjectives are commonly used in two important positions:

• Attributive Position
• Predicative Position

Attributive Adjective

An adjective used before a noun is called an Attributive Adjective.

Examples:

• a beautiful girl
• a large house
• an interesting book

Predicative Adjective

An adjective used after a linking verb and describing the subject is called a Predicative Adjective.

Examples:

• The girl is beautiful.
• The house looks large.
• The book is interesting.

Linking verbs commonly include:

• be
• become
• seem
• look
• appear
• feel
• smell
• taste
• sound
• remain

Order of Adjectives

When two or more adjectives are used before the same noun, they normally follow a preferred order.

A commonly used sequence is:

Opinion → Size → Age → Shape → Colour → Origin → Material → Purpose → Noun

This may be remembered as:

OSASCOMP

Where:

• O → Opinion
• S → Size
• A → Age
• S → Shape
• C → Colour
• O → Origin
• M → Material
• P → Purpose

Adjective Order Table

Example:

a beautiful small old round brown Indian wooden table

The sequence follows the general order:

• beautiful → Opinion
• small → Size
• old → Age
• round → Shape
• brown → Colour
• Indian → Origin
• wooden → Material
• table → Noun

Another example:

a beautiful long red silk dress

Not normally:

a silk red long beautiful dress ✘

Practical Use of Adjective Order

In everyday English, we rarely use a very long chain of adjectives. Usually two or three adjectives are enough.

Examples:

• a beautiful old house
• a small black bag
• an expensive Italian car
• a large wooden table

Degrees of Comparison

Adjectives may express different levels of a quality. These are called the Degrees of Comparison.

There are three degrees:

• • Positive Degree
  • Comparative Degree
  • Superlative Degree

Positive Degree

The Positive Degree simply states the quality of a person or thing without making a comparison.

Examples:

• • Rohan is tall.
  • This book is interesting.
  • She is intelligent.

The positive degree can also be used in comparisons with: as + adjective + as

Example:

Rohan is as tall as Mohan.

This means both are equal in height.

Negative comparison:

Rohan is not as tall as Mohan.

or

Rohan is not so tall as Mohan.

Comparative Degree

The Comparative Degree is used to compare two persons, places, animals or things.

Examples:

• Rohan is taller than Mohan.
• This book is better than that one.
• Delhi is larger than many other cities.

The comparative degree is commonly followed by than.

Structure:

Subject + Verb + Comparative Adjective + than + Object

Example:

Riya is smarter than Priya.

Superlative Degree

The Superlative Degree is used to compare one person or thing with all others in a group, generally consisting of three or more.

Examples:

• Rahul is the tallest boy in the class.
• This is the best book I have read.
• Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

The superlative degree is usually preceded by the.

Structure:

Subject + Verb + the + Superlative Adjective + in/of + Group

Example:

Riya is the smartest student in the class.

Formation of Comparative and Superlative Degrees

Different adjectives form their comparative and superlative degrees differently.

Rule 1 — Add -er and -est

For many short adjectives:

• • tall → taller → tallest
  • small → smaller → smallest
  • long → longer → longest
  • fast → faster → fastest

Rule 2 — Adjectives Ending in -e

Add:

• -r for comparative
• -st for superlative

Examples:

• large → larger → largest
• wise → wiser → wisest
• brave → braver → bravest

Rule 3 — Consonant + y

If an adjective ends in consonant + y, change y → i before adding -er/-est.

Examples:

• happy → happier → happiest
• easy → easier → easiest
• heavy → heavier → heaviest
• busy → busier → busiest

But if y follows a vowel, it is normally retained:

• gay → gayer → gayest

Rule 4 — Double the Final Consonant

For many short adjectives ending in:

consonant–vowel–consonant

the final consonant is doubled.

Examples:

• big → bigger → biggest
• hot → hotter → hottest
• thin → thinner → thinnest
• sad → sadder → saddest

Rule 5 — Use More and Most

Longer adjectives generally form comparison using:

• more for comparative
• most for superlative

Examples:

• beautiful → more beautiful → most beautiful
• difficult → more difficult → most difficult
• intelligent → more intelligent → most intelligent
• important → more important → most important

Rule 6 — Irregular Degrees

Some adjectives have completely irregular forms.

These forms must be memorised.

Older and Elder

Both older and elder are comparative forms related to old, but they are used differently.

Older

Older can be used for both persons and things.

Examples:

• Rahul is older than Mohan.
• This building is older than that one.

Elder

Elder is mainly used for members of the same family, and it is usually used before a noun.

Examples:

• My elder brother is a doctor.
• Her elder sister lives in Delhi.

Normally:

My elder brother is older than me.

Not:

My elder brother is elder than me. ✘

Farther and Further

Traditionally:

• Farther → physical distance
• Further → additional or figurative meaning

Examples:

• Delhi is farther from here than Agra.
• For further information, contact the office.

In modern English, further is also widely used for physical distance.

Lesser, Less and Least

Less is the normal comparative of little in quantity.

Example:

This bottle contains less water.

Lesser is used in certain expressions to mean smaller in importance, degree or status.

Examples:

• a lesser problem
• a lesser-known author

Comparison with “As…As”

The positive degree can express equality.

Structure:

as + positive adjective + as

Example:

Rohan is as tall as Mohan.

Negative structure:

not as/so + adjective + as

Example:

Rohan is not as tall as Mohan.

This means:

Mohan is taller than Rohan.

Comparative + Than

The standard comparative structure is:

Comparative Adjective + than

Examples:

• Riya is taller than Priya.
• Gold is more expensive than silver.
• This question is easier than that one.

Superlative + In / Of

In is commonly used when referring to a place or group considered as a whole.

Examples:

• He is the tallest boy in the class.
• Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

Of may be used before a group of specific individuals or items.

Examples:

• She is the taller of the two sisters.
• He is the best of all the candidates.

Comparison of Two Persons or Things

When only two persons or things are compared, the comparative degree is traditionally preferred.

Correct:

Riya is the taller of the two girls.

Less appropriate in traditional exam grammar:

Riya is the tallest of the two girls. ✘

Use:

• two → comparative
• three or more → superlative

The + Comparative, The + Comparative

This construction shows that one change happens in relation to another change.

Examples:

• The more you practise, the better you perform.
• The harder you work, the more successful you become.
• The sooner, the better.

Here, the does not function as the ordinary definite article. It forms part of the comparative construction.

Comparative + and + Comparative

This structure shows a continuous increase or decrease.

Examples:

• It is getting colder and colder.
• She became more and more confident.
• The problem is becoming more and more serious.

Much / Far / A Lot + Comparative

Comparatives can be strengthened by words such as:

• much
• far
• a lot
• considerably
• slightly
• a little

Examples:

• Rahul is much taller than Mohan.
• This book is far more useful than that one.
• The new model is slightly cheaper.

Do not normally use very directly before a comparative.

Incorrect:

He is very taller than me. ✘

Correct:

He is much taller than me. ✔

One of the + Superlative + Plural Noun

A very important exam pattern is:

one of the + superlative adjective + plural noun

Examples:

• He is one of the best students in the class.
• This is one of the most useful books for competitive examinations.
• Mumbai is one of the largest cities in India.

Incorrect:

He is one of the best student in the class. ✘

Correct:

He is one of the best students in the class. ✔

Very Few + Plural Noun

This structure is frequently used when transforming a sentence from superlative to positive degree.

Example:

Rohan is one of the tallest boys in the class.

Positive:

Very few boys in the class are as tall as Rohan.

Transformation of Degree

A sentence can often be changed from one degree of comparison to another without changing its basic meaning.

This process is called Transformation of Degree.

The three forms are:

• Positive
• Comparative
• Superlative

Type 1 — Superlative to Comparative

Example:

Rahul is the tallest boy in the class.

Comparative:

Rahul is taller than any other boy in the class.

Structure:

Superlative:

A is the + superlative + noun + in/of group.

Comparative:

A is + comparative + than any other + singular noun + in/of group.

Example:

Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

→ Mount Everest is higher than any other mountain in the world.

Type 2 — Superlative to Positive

Example:

Rahul is the tallest boy in the class.

Positive:

No other boy in the class is as tall as Rahul.

Structure:

No other + singular noun + is as + positive adjective + as + subject.

Example:

Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

→ No other mountain in the world is as high as Everest.

Type 3 — Comparative to Positive

Example:

Rahul is taller than Mohan.

Positive:

Mohan is not as tall as Rahul.

Structure:

A is comparative than B

→

B is not as/so positive as A

Example:

Gold is more expensive than silver.

→ Silver is not as expensive as gold.

Type 4 — Positive to Comparative

Example:

Mohan is not as tall as Rahul.

Comparative:

Rahul is taller than Mohan.

Example:

This book is not as useful as that one.

→ That book is more useful than this one.

Type 5 — One of the + Superlative

Example:

Riya is one of the most intelligent students in the class.

Comparative:

Riya is more intelligent than most other students in the class.

Positive:

Very few students in the class are as intelligent as Riya.

This gives an important transformation pattern:

• Superlative
  • one of the most intelligent students
• Comparative
  • more intelligent than most other students
• Positive
  • very few students are as intelligent as

Transformation Table

Another pattern:

Common Errors with Adjectives and Comparison

Adjective-related errors are frequently tested in error detection, sentence improvement and fill-in-the-blank questions.

Error 1 — Double Comparative

Do not use more with an adjective that already has a comparative -er form.

Incorrect:

• more taller ✘
• more better ✘
• more stronger ✘

Correct:

• taller
• better
• stronger

Example:

Incorrect:

Rahul is more taller than Mohan. ✘

Correct:

Rahul is taller than Mohan. ✔

Error 2 — Double Superlative

Do not use most with an adjective that already has a superlative -est form.

Incorrect:

• most tallest ✘
• most strongest ✘
• most easiest ✘

Correct:

• tallest
• strongest
• easiest

Error 3 — Wrong Use of Than

Comparative adjectives usually require than, not from.

Incorrect:

Riya is taller from Priya. ✘

Correct:

Riya is taller than Priya. ✔

Error 4 — Senior, Junior, Superior, Inferior, Prior

Certain adjectives are followed by to, not than.

Important examples:

• senior to
• junior to
• superior to
• inferior to
• prior to

Incorrect:

He is senior than me. ✘

Correct:

He is senior to me. ✔

Incorrect:

This product is superior than that one. ✘

Correct:

This product is superior to that one. ✔

Exam Rule: Do not use more senior, more superior, more inferior in ordinary standard usage because these words already contain a comparative sense.

Error 5 — Preferable

Preferable is generally followed by to, not than.

Incorrect:

Tea is preferable than coffee. ✘

Correct:

Tea is preferable to coffee. ✔

Similarly:

I prefer tea to coffee.

Error 6 — Comparing Two with Superlative

Incorrect:

Riya is the tallest of the two sisters. ✘

Preferred in traditional exam grammar:

Riya is the taller of the two sisters. ✔

Error 7 — Missing “Other”

Consider:

Incorrect:

Mumbai is larger than any city in Maharashtra. ✘

This logically includes Mumbai itself.

Correct:

Mumbai is larger than any other city in Maharashtra. ✔

Use any other when the subject belongs to the group being compared.

Error 8 — Any vs Any Other

Compare:

Everest is higher than any other mountain in the world.

Everest is itself a mountain, so we use any other mountain.

But:

Everest is higher than any mountain in India.

If Everest is being treated as outside the comparison group mountains in India, other is not required.

Error 9 — One of the Best Student

Incorrect:

He is one of the best student in the class. ✘

Correct:

He is one of the best students in the class. ✔

After:

one of the + superlative

use a plural noun.

Error 10 — Very with Comparative

Incorrect:

This book is very better than that one. ✘

Correct:

This book is much better than that one. ✔

Words commonly used to strengthen comparatives include:

• much
• far
• a lot
• considerably

Error 11 — More Preferable

Incorrect:

This option is more preferable. ✘

Correct:

This option is preferable. ✔

Because preferable already expresses comparative meaning.

Error 12 — More Superior

Incorrect:

This machine is more superior to that one. ✘

Correct:

This machine is superior to that one. ✔

Similarly avoid:

• more inferior ✘
• more senior ✘
• more junior ✘

Error 13 — Elder Than

Incorrect:

My brother is elder than me. ✘

Correct:

My brother is older than me. ✔

Or:

He is my elder brother. ✔

Error 14 — Adjective vs Adverb

A common mistake is to use an adjective where an adverb is required.

Incorrect:

He runs quick. ✘

Correct:

He runs quickly. ✔

Here, runs is a verb, so it is modified by an adverb.

However, after a linking verb, use an adjective.

Correct:

She looks beautiful.

Not:

She looks beautifully. ✘ when describing her appearance

Compare:

• She looks beautiful. → describes she
• She looked carefully at the document. → describes how she looked

Error 15 — Good vs Well

Good is normally an adjective.

Well is commonly an adverb, though it can also be an adjective meaning healthy.

Examples:

• She is a good singer.
• She sings well.
• I am well today.

Incorrect:

She sings good. ✘

Correct:

She sings well. ✔

Error 16 — Less vs Fewer

Traditional formal grammar generally uses:

• fewer → countable plural nouns
• less → uncountable nouns

Examples:

• fewer students
• fewer books
• less water
• less money

Incorrect in formal exam grammar:

There are less students today. ✘

Correct:

There are fewer students today. ✔

Error 17 — Little, A Little and The Little

These expressions have different meanings.

Little

Little means hardly any and has a negative sense.

Example:

There is little hope of recovery.

Meaning → Almost no hope.

A Little

A little means some, though not much.

Example:

There is a little hope of recovery.

Meaning → Some hope exists.

The Little

The little means whatever small amount exists.

Example:

He spent the little money he had.

Meaning → He spent all of the small amount available to him.

Error 18 — Few, A Few and The Few

Few

Few means hardly any.

Few students understood the question.

Meaning → Almost none.

A Few

A few means some.

A few students understood the question.

Meaning → Some students understood.

The Few

The few means whatever small number exists.

The few students who attended were rewarded.

Important Comparison Rules for Competitive Examinations

For quick revision:

• Positive Degree
  • tall
  • beautiful
• Comparative Degree
  • taller
  • more beautiful
• Superlative Degree
  • tallest
  • most beautiful
• Comparative generally uses:
  • than
• Superlative generally uses:
  • the
• Comparison of two:
  • use comparative
  • the taller of the two
• Comparison of three or more:
  • use superlative
  • the tallest of the three
• Do not use:
  • more better ✘
  • more taller ✘
  • most tallest ✘
• Use:
  • better ✔
  • taller ✔
  • tallest ✔
• Use to after:
  • senior
  • junior
  • superior
  • inferior
  • prior
  • preferable
• Use:
  • one of the + superlative + plural noun
  • one of the best students
• When comparing a member with the rest of its group, use:
  • any other
  • most other

Revision Table

Degree Formation Table

Key Points to Remember

• An adjective describes or qualifies a noun or pronoun.
• Major types include:
  • Quality
  • Quantity
  • Number
  • Demonstrative
  • Possessive
  • Interrogative
  • Distributive
  • Proper

• The normal order of multiple adjectives is approximately:

  Opinion → Size → Age → Shape → Colour → Origin → Material → Purpose

• The three degrees of comparison are:
  • Positive
  • Comparative
  • Superlative
• Short adjectives generally use:
  • -er
  • -est
• Longer adjectives generally use:
  • more
  • most
• Important irregular forms include:
  • good → better → best
  • bad → worse → worst
  • little → less → least
  • many/much → more → most
• For equality, use:
  • as + adjective + as
• For inequality, use:
  • not as/so + adjective + as
• Avoid double comparison:
  • more better ✘
  • most tallest ✘
• Use to, not than, after:
  • senior
  • junior
  • superior
  • inferior
  • prior
  • preferable
• Use comparative degree for two:
  • the taller of the two
• Use superlative degree for three or more:
  • the tallest of the three
• In degree transformation, the meaning must remain unchanged even though the grammatical structure changes.

A strong understanding of adjectives and comparison is essential for later topics such as Adverbs, Determiners, Sentence Transformation, Error Detection, Fill in the Blanks and Sentence Improvement.