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Raymat's Tips Index and Contents

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.

Good books entertain us.                            I read a good book last weekend.

Sean considered the book good.                  I thought it was a good book.

That book is good.

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