1What is an adjective?
An adjective describes a noun. It tells us what kind, how many or which one.
- Before a noun: the tiny frog
- After is, are, was or were: the soup is hot
2Degrees of comparison
- Positive describes one thing: tall.
- Comparative compares two things, often with than: taller.
- Superlative compares three or more things: tallest.
ExampleSipho is tall.
Thabo is taller than Sipho.
Kabelo is the tallest.
3Spelling the endings
- Add er and est: fast, faster, fastest.
- Ends in e: add r and st: nice, nicer, nicest.
- Consonant and y: change y to i: happy, happier, happiest.
- One short vowel and one consonant: double it: big, bigger, biggest.
4Long adjectives
Long adjectives do not take er or est. We put more or most in front of them.
Examplebeautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful
careful, more careful, most careful
5Irregular adjectives
A few adjectives change completely. We must learn them.
Examplegood, better, best
bad, worse, worst
6Common mistakes
- Do not use more with er: taller, not more taller.
- Do not use most with est: tallest, not most tallest.
- Use than after a comparative: Thabo is taller than Sipho.
Key words
- adjective
- describes a noun
- positive
- describes one thing: tall
- comparative
- compares two things: taller
- superlative
- compares three or more: tallest
- long adjective
- uses more and most
- irregular
- changes completely: good, better, best