Some Helpful Tools
This section will help you identify adjectives and their function in a sentence.
How to Identify Adjectives
Things to Remember
The crowd was noisy.
The adjective noisy describes crowd.
The car was red and white.
The adjectives red and white describe car.
Adjectives can be used to compare things. If you are comparing two things, you are using the comparative.
If you are comparing three or more things, you are using the superlative.
1. People often confuse adjectives and adverbs.
2. If adjectives are used to compare two things, then er will usually be added to
3. For adjectives that have two or more syllables, add more, when comparing
Let's try some more exact adjectives in their place.
Exact Adjectives
Use adjectives to compare degrees.
Harry made a funny face in the mirror.
The adjective funny describes face.
Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns. They usually come before the words they describe.
Sometimes two or more adjectives can describe the same word.
Vera has soft, fluffy slippers.
The adjectives soft and fluffy describe slippers.
Notice how both adjectives are separated by a comma.
Only use a comma if it sounds natural to separate both adjectives by the word and.
Adjectives can follow forms of a verb.
(good) The dinner was very good.
(expensive) She is wearing an expensive ring.
(bad) Jim had a bad pain in his back.
(cold) It was a cold night.
Sometimes adjectives are too general and less exact as they could be.
Absolute Adjectives
official
empty
excellent
final
perfect
superior
Comparing Adjectives
the end of the adjective. If comparing three or more things, then usually est will be added to the end of the adjective.
two things and add most when comparing three or more things.
Steve ate fewer slices of pizza than before. (Slices can be counted.)
I saw many people at the parade. (People can be counted.)
George ate less soup than Jill did. (Soup cannot be counted.)
Hadley drank much more lemonade than Natalie. (Lemonade cannot be counted.)
(good) The dinner was superb.
(expensive) She is wearing an opulent ring.
(bad) Jim had an excruciating pain in his back.
(cold) It was a bone-chilling night.
Notice how these words add more description.
pretty, prettier, prettiest
This is known as comparative and superlative.
Absolute adjectives express a degree that cannot be compared. Absolute adjectives are at the highest point of degree. There is nothing beyond that point.
Dan designed the official website for the company.
The judges announced the final score.
Example1: Aaron is a better snowboarder than Brad.
This is a comparison between two people - Aaron and Brad. (comparative)
Example 2: Of all the snowboarders, Aaron is the best.
This is a comparison of Aaron to all other snowboarders. (superlative)
Example 3: Susan believes that tomato soup is worse than vegetable beef soup.
This is a comparison between two soups - tomato soup and vegetable beef soup. (comparative)
Example 4: Susan believes that out of all the soups, tomato soup is the worst.
This is a comparison of tomato soup to all other soups. (superlative)
Well is an adverb and good is an adjective.
tall, taller, or tallest
well and good
beautiful (beau-ti-ful) (three syllables)
more beautiful (comparison between two things)
most beautiful (comparison between three things or more)
Lilies are more beautiful than tulips, but roses are the most beautiful of all.
4. For things that can be counted individually, use fewer or many.
For things that cannot be counted, use less, or much.
Note: You will find more exact words in the thesaurus.
Language Arts: Adjectives - Tutorial
