They are words used to modify a noun or a pronoun.

It can be a single word, a phrase or

a clause that describes the noun or pronoun in a sentence. Adjectives usually answer any
of these three questions: What kind is it? How many? Which one is it?

•The correct order to place adjectives in a sentence is:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

General Specific
Size Shape Age Color Nationality Material
opinion opinion
•Adjectives can express degrees of modification, in this case, the comparative and the
superlative adjectives are used.
• The comparative are used to compare two things, and the superlatives compare three or more
things.

E.g. Joe is tall, Craig is taller, but Jeff is the tallest boy in my class.
 The little girl is happy with her new doll.
 The old, abandoned building next to our house will be demolished.
 This tableware is beautiful.
 Drinking alcohol is bad, drinking and driving are worse.
 My sister has a cute, tiny, white Chihuahua.
 The dog chewed on my most comfortable shoes.
 Mila is an adorable baby.
All adjectives can be changed into Comparatives or Superlative by adding “er”, “est”, “more
than” or “the most”, but there are some exceptions.

Irregular Adjectives COMPARATIVE (More Than) SUPERLATIVE (The Most)

Good, Well Better Best
Bad, ill Worse Worst
Little Less, lesser Least
Far Farther Farthest
Much, Many More Most
Old Elder, Older Eldest, Oldest
 We don’t normally use the suffix er/est with two-syllable adjectives ending in -ful. Instead, we
use more and most/least:

This information on how to buy a house is useful.

The most useful information she has given me is the one on how to buy a house.

 To form the comparative with adjectives of three or more syllables, use more/less and for the
superlative use most/least:

The second book was more interesting than the first.

 ADJECTIVES AS NOUNS

to categorize people by social class or physical

condition, and to shorten long noun phrases.

 Rich people often donate clothes in charity events.

 The rich often donate clothes in charity events.
This means, all the rich people. For this purpose, the article (the) is always used.

•Another characteristic of these sentences is that the nouns and the verbs are in its plural form.

 Shirley volunteers her time to help the poor.

 The Open Hand Project in San Francisco helps the hungry.
 The Department of Labor provides aid for the unemployed.
 The Metro Linea bus fare is discounted for the elderly.
 A new ramp was put in place for the disabled.
 One should always be suspicious of the calm waters.
 Other ways to compare:

•As + adjective + as: to say that something or someone is like something or someone else, or
that one situation is like another.
 The new film was as funny as the last one.

• As much/many as or as little/few as: to say that a quantity or amount is larger or smaller than
expected. Many and few are preferred before numbers; much and little are preferred with
amounts and distances.
 Prices have increased by as much as 100 percent.

•Not + adjective +enough + to-infinitive: to mean that there isn’t as much as is necessary to do
something.
 I am not tall enough to reach that cabinet.
•Too + adjective + to-infinitive: to means “more than necessary, possible, etc.” to do
something.
 They arrive too late to get seats.

• So + adjective + that-clause: to say that something existed or happened to such a degree

that a specified result occurred.
 It is so simple that even I can do it.
 Check your understanding

Are this sentences “correct” or incorrect”? Take into account the correct order of the adjective.

1. I love that old white tidy big beautiful house.

a. correct
b. incorrect
2. Your sister is better at tennis than I am.
a. correct
b. incorrect
3. Is my amazing, big, old, yellow, plastic ball under your bed?
a. correct
b. incorrect
1. I love that old white tidy big beautiful house.
b. incorrect

2. Your sister is better at tennis than I am.

a. correct

3. Is my amazing, big, old, yellow, plastic ball under your bed?

a. correct
Let’s practice

Now, go to the exercises proposed in this lesson.