Adjectives can be identified using a number of formal criteria. However, we may begin by saying that they typically describe an attribute of a noun:
cold weather
large windows
violent storms
Some adjectives can be identified by their endings. Typical adjective endings include:
|
-able/-ible |
achievable, capable, illegible, remarkable |
|
–al |
biographical, functional, internal, logical |
|
-ful |
beautiful, careful, grateful, harmful |
|
-ic |
cubic, manic, rustic, terrific |
|
-ive |
attractive, dismissive, inventive, persuasive |
|
-less |
breathless, careless, groundless, restless |
|
-ous |
courageous, dangerous, disastrous, fabulous |
However, a large number of very common adjectives cannot be identified in this way. They do not have typical adjectival form:
| bad bright clever cold common complete dark deep difficult |
distant elementary good great honest hot main morose old |
quiet real red silent simple strange wicked wide young |
As this list shows, adjectives are formally very diverse. However, they have a number of characteristics which we can use to identify them.
Characteristics of Adjectives
Adjectives can take a modifying word, such as very, extremely, or less, before them:
very cold weather
extremely large windows
less violent storms
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. Most adjectives are gradable, though 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 |
As well as taking modifying words like very and extremely,adjectives also take different forms to indicate their position on a scale of comparison:
big bigger biggest
The lowest point on the scale is known as 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 examples:
|
Absolute |
Comparative |
Superlative |
| dark | darker | darkest |
| new | newer | newest |
| old | older | oldest |
| young | younger | youngest |
In most cases, the comparative is formed by adding -er , and the superlative is formed by adding -est, to the absolute form. However, a number of very common adjectives are irregular in this respect:
| Absolute | Comparative |
Superlative |
| good | better | best |
| bad | worse | worst |
| far | farther | farthest |
Some adjectives form the comparative and superlative using more and most respectively:
|
Absolute |
Comparative |
Superlative |
| important | more important | most important |
| miserable | more miserable | most miserable |
| recent | more recent | most recent |