RULES OF ADJECTIVES

 

RULES OF ADJECTIVES

Rule of Adjective	Example
1. An adjective is a word that "describe or modifies" a noun or pronoun	She is a beautiful girl.
2. Adjectives usually answer "what kind, which one, or how many."	He bought three red apples.
3. Adjectives usually come "before a noun."	I saw a tall man.
4. Adjectives can also come "after linking verbs."	The sky is blue.
5. A "linking verb" connect4the subject with an adjective.	T e soup tastes delicious.
6. Don't use an adjective "after an action verb."	Incorrect: He runs fastly. Correct: He runs fast.
7. Use "more" or "most" to form "comparative and superlative" of long adjectives.	More beautiful, most beautiful
8. Add "-er" or "-est" for short adjectives (one syllable).	Tall, taller, tallest
9. Some two-syllable adjectives can take "-er/-est" or "more/most."	Clever, cleverer / more clever
10. Never use "more" and "-er" together.	Incorrect: More better. Correct: Better.
11. Use "than" after comparative adjectives.	She is smarter than me.
12. Don't use "double comparatives."	Incorrect: More higher. Correct: Higher.
13. Don't use "double superlatives."	Incorrect: Most best. Correct: Best.
14. Use "the" before a superlative adjective.	She is the fastest runner.
15. Some adjectives have "irregular" comparative forms.	Good - better - best
16. "Bad" becomes "worsew and "worst."	This is worse than that.
17. "Far" becomes "farther" (distance) or "further" (degree).	Delhi is farther than Agra.
18. "Old" has two comparatives: "older" (age), "elder" (family).	My elder brother lives abroad.
19. "Little" becomes "less" and "least."	He has less money than before.
20. "Much/many" become "more" and "most."	She has more books than I do.
21. Some adjectives are "absolute" and have no comparative form.	Perfect, unique, dead
22. Don't use "more perfect" or "most unique."	Incorrect: Most unique idea.
23. Use "very" to intensify a "positive" adjective.	This is very interesting.
24. Use "much" to intensify a "comparative" adjective.	This room is much cleaner.
25. Use "by far" to emphasize a "superlative."	She is by far the best student.
26. Adjectives can modify "noun' or pronouns."	A happy child / She is happy.
27. Use adjectives in a "specific order" before a noun.	A lovely small old round wooden table
28. The correct adjective order is "opinion-size-age-shape-colororigin-material-purpose."	A beautiful large old red Italian leather bag
29. Don't use "commas" between adjectives that follow order.	A big blue balloon.
30. Use commas when adjectives are "equal in rank."	It was a long, tiring, hot day.
31. Use "and" between the last two adjectives when listing several.	It was cold, dark, and stormy.
32. "Proper adjectives" are formed from proper nouns and begin with capitals.	French wine, Indian food
33. "Possessive adjectives" show ownership.	My book, her car
34. Don't confuse "its" (possessive adjective) with "it's" (it is)	The dog wagged its tail.
35. "Demonstrative adjectives" point out nouns.	T is car, those shoes
36. "Quantitative adjectives' show amount or number.	Some water, few apples
37. "Numeral adjectives" express exact number or order.	Two pens, first prize
38. "Distributive adjectives" refer to members of a group individually.	Each student, every person
39. "Interrogative adjectives" are used to ask questions.	Which book, whose bag
40. "Compound adjectives" combine two or more words to modify a noun.	A well-known author
41. Use a "hyphen" in compound adjectives before a noun.	A five-star hotel
42. No hyphen if the compound comes "after the noun."	The hotel is five star.
43. "Adjectives of quality" describe characteristics.	Honest man, sweet fruit
44. "Adjectives of quantity" describe how much.	Some rice, enough money
45. "Adjectives of number" describe how many.	Three dogs, several people
46. "Distributive adjectives" refer to each one separately.	Each boy received a gift.
47. "Interrogative adjectives" come before a noun in questions.	Whose car is this?
48. Use "same form" of adjective for all genders.	He is kind. / She is kind.
49. Use "more" before adjectives ending in "-ed."	More interested, more bored
50. Use "less" to express a "weaker degree."	Less dangerous than before.
51. Don't use adjectives instead of adverbs.	Incorrect: She sings beautiful. Correct: She sings beautifully.
52. Don't use adverbs instead of adjectives.	Incorrect: She looks beautifully. Correct: She looks beautiful.
53. Some adjectives have "two meanings" depending on position.	The present situation / the people present
54. "Ill" and "sick" differ: "ill" for health, "sick" for nausea.	He feels ill.
55. Use "alone" for by oneself, "lonely" for feeling sad.	he lives alone but not lonely.
56. "Afraid" is never used before a noun.	The child is afraid of the dark.
57. "Asleep" is never used before a noun.	The baby is asleep.
58. Use "sleeping" before a noun instead.	The sleeping baby is cute.
59. "Elder" and "eldest" are used for people only.	My elder sister is taller.
60. "Older" and "oldest" can be used for both people and things.	The oldest tree in the park.
61. "Nearer" and "nearest" show physical closeness.	The nearest hospital is 2 km away.
62. "Later" and "latest" refer to time or order.	The latest news is shocking.
63. Use "next" for immediate sequence.	Next week we'll go.
64. "Last" means the final in a series.	This is my last try.
65. "Some" is used in affirmative sentences; "any" in negative or questions.	you have any milk?
66. "Much" is used with uncountable nouns.	Much water, much time
67. "Many" is used with countable nouns.	Many people, many books
68. "Few" means not many (negative idea).	Few students passed.
69. "A few" means some (positive idea).	A few friends came.
70. "The few" means all that exist.	The few books I have are old.
71. "Little" means not much (negative).	Little hope remains.
72. "A little" means some (positive).	A little sugar is left.
73. "The little" means all that exists.	The little money I had is gone.
74. Don't confuse "few" (countable) with "little" (uncountable).	Few apples, little milk
75. "Enough" is used after adjectives.	He's tall enough.
76. "Too" means more than necessary.	It's too hot to work.
77. "So...that" shows result.	It's so hot that we can't go out.
78. "Such...that" is used before a noun.	It was such a hot day that we stayed inside.
79. Don't use "double intensifiers."	Incorrect: Very too much. Correct: Too much.
80. "Each" is used for two or more considered individually.	Each child got a gift.
81. "Every" is used for more than two considered together.	Every student passed.
82. Use "both" for two, not for more.	Both parents attended.
83. Don't use "more" with "comparatives."	Incorrect: More better.
84. Don't use "most" with "superlatives."	Incorrect: Most best.
85. Use "quite" to mean completely for extreme adjectives.	Quite perfect, quite impossible
86. Use "rather" with mild adjectives for contrast.	Rather good, rather cold
87. Some adjectives end in "-ing" and "-ed" with different meanings.	Boring book / Bored reader
88. Use "-ing" adjectives for cause, "-ed" for feeling.	The movie was exciting. I was excited.
89. "Interested in," "good at," "afraid of"  adjectives take specific prepositions.	She is good at English.
90. Don't mix adjective + wrong preposition.	Incorrect: Interested on. Correct: Interested in.
91. Some adjectives follow specific verbs like "seem," "look,", "feel."	She seems happy.
92. "Adjective phrases" begin with a preposition or participle.	Full of joy, tired of waiting
93. "Adjective clauses" begin with who, which, or that.	The man who came is my friend.
94. "Enough" can come before a noun.	Enough food was served.
95. "Such" comes before adjectives + nouns.	S ch a lovely day!
96. "Rather" and "fairly" areused with positive adjectives.	Fairly easy task
97. Use "so" only with adjectives, not nouns.	So tall, not so height
98. Use "very" only with adjectives, not verbs.	Very tired, not very sleep
99. "Adjective + infinitive" expresses opinion.	Easy to use, hard to find
100. "Adjective + preposition" is common in fixed phrases.	Proud of, afraid of
101. Some adjectives take "thatclauses."	I'm glad that you came.
102. "Adjectives of comparison" compare qualities.	This pen is better than that.
103. Use "as...as" for equality.	She is as tall as her brother.
104. Use "not as...as" for inequality.	He is not as fast as me.
105. Use "less...than" for ower degree.	This is less expensive than
106. Avoid mixing "comparative� structures."	Incorrect: More better than.
107. "Double adjectives" can express emphasis.	A bright, shining light.
108. "Adjectives of color" and "shape" come after size.	A big round red ball,
109. Don't confuse "another" and  "other."	Another book (singular), other books (plural).
110. "The other" refers to the remaining one.	I took one, he took the other.
111. "Every other" means alternate,	She visits every other day.
112. Use "former" and "latter" for two mentioned nouns.	Ram and Shyam; the former is taller.
113. "Later" means after some time; "latter" means second of two.	The latter chapter is shorter.
114. "Nearest" means most close; "next" means immediately after.	The next station is 2 km away.
115. Don't confuse "elder" with "older" in non-family contexts.	Older building, not elder building.
116. "Less" is used for uncountable nouns.	Less water, less sugar.
117. "Fewer" is used for countable nouns.	Fewer cars, fewer people.
118. "Some" and "any" depend on sentence type.	I have some books. Do you have any?
119. Use "whole" before definite articles.	The whole story was boring.
120. "All" is used before plural or uncountable nouns.	All children, all water
121. Always ensure adjectives "agree in number and sense" with the noun they modify.	This student is brilliant. These students are brilliant.

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