Adjectives

Adjectives

Adjective is a word that describes a noun or pronoun.

Adjectives describe quality. They qualify nouns or pronouns. So the words good, bad, ugly, dear, costly, interesting etc. are all adjectives

position of some peculiar adjectives

Usually adjectives come before the noun: He is a great CEO.

But in some cases adjectives come after the noun. In the following phrases the adjective always comes after the noun:

The body politic, New York Proper, God almighty, heir apparent, letters patent, knights temporal, lord paramount, notary public, president elect, IIM-select, time immemorial, the sum total, chairman elect, a God incarnate, Governor-General, from time immemorial.

Here is a sample sentence where the adjective follows the noun: Things eternal are more precious than things temporal.

Absolute superlatives

Sometimes superlatives formed by "most" are used in such a way that they do not carry the sense of the highest degree of comparison; they only lay emphasis on the quality concerned. They are called absolute superlatives.

1. That was a most unfortunate event.                                      2.        It was a most moving speech.

Comparison of equality

When equality or similarity is shown through comparison between two persons, things or qualities, we use the pattern: as adjective + as.

1.     She is as beautiful as her sister.                                       2.       Ram is as tall as Shyam.

Comparison of inequality

When inequality or dissimilarity through comparison is shown between two persons, things or qualities, we follow one of the following two patterns: not as + adjective + as OR not so + adjective + as.

            1.     She is not as beautiful as her sister.                                   

2.     She is not so beautiful as her sister.

            3.     Ram is not as tall as Shyam.                                               

 4.     Ram is not so tall as Shyam.

If we wish to lay more emphasis on inequality, we can use quite before so.

1.       She is not quite so beautiful as her sister.                      2.        Ram is not quite so tall as Shyam.

Concealed comparison

In some sentences, the comparison is not explicit but concealed in its sense. in such sentences we use: not all that + adjective.

1.        He is not all that intelligent. (He is not as intelligent as he was believed to be.)

2.        Its price is not all that high.

3.        The swimming pool is not all that deep.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Comparison of actions (verbs)

In positive degree two actions can be compared in the following ways:

By using as + adjective + as

         1.   Writing is as easy as reading.                          

2,      Walking is as difficult as running.

         3.   It is not as easy to write as read.                     

4..   It is as difficult to walk as run.

In this construction it should be remembered that the first infinitive is used with”to", and the second without"to".

By using had better/had rather/had sooner

         1.    I had rather go than wait.                                  

2.    You had rather read than write.

         3.    You had better work than sit idle.                     

4.    We had better sit there than stand here,

In this construction, infinitive is used twice, and each time without to. This is the correct pattern.

Use of "to"

For all adjectives of Latin origin, comparison is shown by "to" (not by "than"). The more common adjectives of Latin origin are: superior, inferior, junior, senior, prior, anterior and posterior.

Generally these adjectives may be remembered as those that end with "-or".

It may be noted that "to" is used after prefer or preferable also, though they are not of Latin origin. Also, we cannot use comparative degree with these.

         1.   He is junior (or senior) to me. (Not than me)    

2.    This is superior (or inferior) to that.

         3.   His turn comes prior to mine.                            

4.    Milk is preferable to tea. (Not than)

Comparison of qualities of same person

When two qualities of the same person or thing are to be compared, the comparative degree formed by "-er" should not be used. In their place, comparative degree should be made by adding more or less to the adjective concerned.

1.        He is more brave than strong. (Not braver than stronger)

2.        Mohan is more good than wise. (Not better than wise)

3.        He is more industrious than intelligent. (Not more industrious than more intelligent)

Repeated comparative adjective

In some sentences the same comparative adjective is repeated. The form of such sentences is as follows:

         1.    He is getting weaker and weaker.                   

2.      He is working harder and harder.

         3.     The Sensex is rising higher and higher.

Emphatic comparatives

Emphatic comparatives can be used in the following three ways:

Ø        By using much, far, by far or still before the comparative degree (but not by using very)

1.        This house is much larger than that.                         2.     This is far better than that.

3.        This is by far more important than the other.           4.     This book is still better.

5.        This book is better still.

Ø        By using rather

1.        This book is rather cheaper.

Ø        By using all the

1.        This is all the better.

3.        That was all the more disappointing.

•
	Common errors	The correct form	Why? (The theory)
1	My horse is better than	My horse is better than	When two persons, things or
	Ram.	Ram's.	qualities are to be compared, the comparison should be made
2	The climate of Punjab is	The climate of Punjab is
	better than Bihar.	better than that of Bihar.	between correct persons, things or elements.
3	Ram is more intelligent	Ram is more intelligent
	than any student in the	than any other student in
	class,	the class.
4	I have less pens than pencils.	I have fewer pens than pencils.	Fewer is used for number, and
			less for quantity. Fewer is always followed by a countable plural
5	He eats fewer butter than sugar.	He eats less butter than sugar.
			noun and less by an uncountable
			singular noun.
6	This is comparatively	This is comparatively easy.	If an adjective (or an adverb)
	easier.		has "comparatively" before it,
			the adjective (or adverb)
			should be used in the positive
			degree, not in the
			comparative degree.
7	The higher a man rises,	The higher a man rises,	When comparative degree
	the humble he grows.	the humbler he grows.	adjective is split up and used in two parts of the sentence, the
8	The nobler a man is, the	The nobler a man is, the
	most respect he gets.	more respect he gets.	comparative degree should be
			used in both the  arts.
9	He runs as fast, if not	He runs as fast as, if not	Where the comparative and
	faster than you.	faster than you.	positive degree adjectives are used, positive degree adjective
10	This hall     is as large, if	This hall is as large as, if
	not larger than that.	not larger than that.	should be used with as ... as
			(not with one as only) and
			comparative degree adjective
			with than.

Superlative + of or in 

1.        He is the richest of all men here.

2.        This is the cheapest of all books.

3.        This is the best building in the town.

4.        He is the most intelligent boy in the class.

Superlative + "one of" or "among"

When one of or among is used with a superlative, the noun coming after it must be of plural number.

1.     Ram is one of the best boys in the class

           3.     He is the best among these boys.

 2.     This is one of the cheapest books available.

    4.     This is the cheapest among these books.

Emphatic superlative

In order to give additional emphasis to a superlative adjective, we can use by far the, much the, the very or out and out the.

           1.     Bangalore is by far the most beautiful city.                      

2.     This is much the best school.

           3.     This is the very best school.                                                 

4.     This is out and out the best school.

Adjectives of the same degree

If the same noun is qualified by two or more than two adjectives, they must be of the same degree.

1.      She is the best and most talented girl. (We can't say best and talented or good and most talented)

2.      This is the deepest and longest valley.

3.      I have the best and cheapest book.

Non-gradable adjectives

The following adjectives are already of the superlative degree. They cannot be used as comparative degree adjectives, nor can the emphasising expressions such as very, extremely, highly or much be used with them. These adjectives are: Unique, perfect, matchless, excellent, ideal, absolute, universal, impossible, entire, whole, full, complete, round, extreme, eternal, chief, principal, adequate, inevitable, stationary, irrevocable, sufficient, main, unanimous, devoid, manifest, unavoidable, minor, unbroken, fatal, paramount, final, perpetual, preferable etc.

1.        He is an ideal leader. (We can't say more ideal or most ideal)

2.        This is a unique chance. (Not, more unique or most unique)

3.        This plan is perfect.

4.        I have full sympathy with him.

BUT: These days full and perfect are being used in comparative and superlative degrees also. Now we can use full, fuller, and fullest, or perfect, more perfect or most perfect. This use is coming into vogue.

1.        I have the fullest sympathy with you.

2.        This is the more perfect/most perfect plan.

3.        Please give me a fuller account of the incident.

Like best, like most

Both these uses are correct.

1.        Which of these books do you like most?                         

Kind and sort

"Kind" and "sort" are of singular number. Therefore, "this" or "that" should be used with them, not "these" or "those".

1.        I don't like this (or that) kind of men. OrI don't like men of this/that kind.

2.        I don't like this (or that) sort of men. OrI don't like men of this/that sort.

Adjective, adverbially

Sometimes adjectives are used with verbs also, but in that case the adjectives qualify the subject of the verb. If, however, they qualify the action (verb), they should be used adverbially.

1.        The flowers smell sweet (not sweetly)                             

2.       He looked angry (not angrily)

3.        The ship appeared suddenly (not sudden)                      

4.       He looked coldly at us. (not cold)

5.        Incorrect: Flowers were plucked freshly.                       

6.       Correct: Flowers were plucked fresh.

Adjective used as nouns

Sometimes adjectives are used as nouns, as in the following cases.

              1.     The rich should not be proud. (i.e. rich people)

           3.     The humble are blessed.

           5.     Keats was a poet of the beautiful.

Adjectives becoming nouns

Proper nouns

Canadians, Africans, Asians, Italians, juniors, seniors, elders, nobles, inferiors, superiors, criminals, savages, betters, sweets, valuables, eatables, the rich, the poor, the beautiful, the long and short of, in black and white, through thick and thin, from bad to worse, for good, at best, for better, for worse or worst, before long, in short etc.

1.        He has left India for good.

2.        At best, we shall get marginal profit.

3.        The agreement was made in black and white.

4.        We shall remain friends through thick and thin.

5.        We shall not part company for better or for worse.

6.        Nothing better can come.

7.        Nothing worse can happen.

8.        I am prepared for the worst.

9.        I shall start a new business before long.

10       In short, I have lost the chance.

11       His condition is getting from bad to worse.

12 The long and short of the whole matter is that the match had to be cancelled.

	•                                    •     •    •
	Confused	Corrected	The clarification
1	Ram came latter than	Ram came later than Hari.	Later is the comparative
	Hari.		degree of late, while latter is
			the antonym of former. Later gives the sense of
2	Ram and Shyam are	Ram and Shyam are
	brothers but the later is	brothers but the latter is	time, while latter expresses
	more cultured than the	more cultured than the	place or position.
	former.	former.
3	Ram and Shyam are	Ram and Shyam are	When there is reference to
	brothers but the first is	brothers but the former is	only two persons or things,
	very rich and the last very	very rich and the latter	we use former for the first
	poor.	very poor.	and latter for the second. But
			when the reference is for three or more persons or
4	In a list of fifty candidates, Ram's	In a list of fifty candidates, Ram's
	name is former and Mohan's	name is at the first place and	things, we use first for the
	latter.	Mohan's at the last.	first and last for the last.

	•	•        •  ••   . .
	Confused	Corrected	The clarification
5	He was the foremost man	He was the first man to	First is first merely in serial
	to reach here.	reach here.	order without any suggestion
			of more or less in importance, while foremost
6	Jawaharlal Nehru was the	Jawaharlal Nehru was the
	first statesman of his time,	foremost statesman of his	means most important
		time.	without any reference to serial
			order.
7	The latest person in the	The last person in the	Last is the antonym of
	queue is my friend,	queue is my friend,	first, while latest is
			the antonym of earliest. Therefore,
8	What is the last news	What is the latest news
	about ° his condition?	about his condition?	last has the sense of
			place in serial order,
			while latest has the
			sense of time.
9	Which is the next railway	Which is the nearest	Nearest means nearest   in
	station from here?	railway station from here?	distance, while next means
			after this or that in serial order.
10	My seat was nearest to	My seat was next to the
	the door.	door.
11	There is nothing farther	There is nothing further	Farther means away in
	to say.	to say.	distance, while further
			means 'in addition to' but is also used sometimes for
12	Lucknow is furtherfrom	Lucknow is fartherfrom
	Agra than Kanpur.	Agra than Kanpur.	distance.
13	Lesser visitors came to	Fewer visitors came to	Fewer is used for number,
	see the Taj this year.	see the Taj this year.	less for quantity, and lesser
			for less in importance.
14	Popcorn without butter has	Popcorn without butter
	fewer fat than popcorn	has less fat than popcorn
	with butter.	with butter.
15	I have not read the less	I have not read the lesser
	poets of the Elizabethan  Age.	poets of the Elizabethan Age.
16	I have ten rupees fewer	I have ten rupees less at	If in a certain sentence there
	at the moment.	the moment.	is a definite numeral
			adjective, followed by a plural noun, use less in
17	There are two members	There are two members
	lesser in the team.	less in the team.	place of fewer.
18	He is the eldest man in	He is the oldest man in	Elder and eldest are used
	the village,	the village,	for members of the same
			family. Elder means senior in age and eldest means
19	He is my older brother.	He is my elder brother.
			senior-most in age. Older and oldest are used for other
20	My oldest brother is like	My eldest brother is like
	my father,	my father.	people or things, in the same
			sense of age.
21	I don't want to read some	I don't want to read any	Some is used in affirmative
	more books.	more books.	and interrogative sentences
			for request or invitation. Any is used in negative and
22	Will you please have any	Will you please have some
	tea?	tea?	interrogative sentences.

Little, a little, the little

Little means almost nil or nothing. It has a negative sense.

There is little hope of his success. This means "There isa/most no hope of his success."

I have little time to waste. This means "Ihave no time to waste."

A little means small in quantity. It has a positive sense.

         1.    There is a little money left.                                   2.     I have only a little sugar left.

         3.    We had only a little time to complete the work.

The little means not much but all that is there. It has a neutral sense.

1.        He has wasted the little money he had. Not much, but all that he had.

2.        Make the best use of the little time you have.

So, in short, we have:

1.      He has little knowledge of politics. (Hardly any knowledge)

,2.     He has a little knowledge of politics. (Some knowledge)                                                             

3.        The little knowledge of politics that he possesses has been gained through newspapers. (Whatever little)

Few, a few, the few

Few means "almost nil". It has a negative sense.

1.     He has few enemies. (Hard/yany)                        2.      He has few achievements to write on his CV. (Hardly any)

A few means "small in number". It has a positive sense.

1.     I can give you a few books.                                 2.      I have only a few friends.

"The few" means small in number, but all that are there.

1.      I have lost the few books I had. Very few in number but all those that I had.

2.      Carefully read the few books you have.

A lot of, lots of, quite a little, quite a few, a little bit of, quite a bit of, plenty of

1.      Lots of effort will be required to solve this problem. (Uncountable)

2.      A lot of Americanstravel to Europe each year. (Countable)

3.      They offered quite_,a little help for my problem. (Meaning "a large amount") (See quite a bit o( below.)

4.      Quite a few restaurants in this town offer vegetarian dishes. (Meaning "a large number")

5.      There's a little bit of pepper in the soup. (Meaning "a small amount")

6.      There's quite a bit of pepper in the soup. (Meaning "a large amount")

7.      There are plenty of mountains in Switzerland.

8.      She has plenty of money in the bank.

Each and every

Each is used for two or more than two. Every is used for at least three or more. Every should not be used for two.

         1.    Each of you must reach in time.                              

2.    Each of the two brothers is highly cultured.

         3.    Every one of them was ready to go.                        

4.    I know every street of Kolkata.

Either and neither

Either means "one of the two"; neither means "neither this nor that of the two". Neither is antonym of either. Neither and either are not used for more than two.

         1.    You can take either side.                                       

2.    Either of the two brothers is coming.

         3.    You should take neither side.                                 

4.    Neither of the two brothers is likely to come.

Due to, because of and owing to

Due to means caused by. It is related to the action of a verb.

1.     His demotion was due to his negligence of duty.     

2.     He has risen so high due to his hard labour.

Due to and prior to should be used as predicative adjectives. When prepositional functions are to be performed, use because of in place of due to, and before in place of prior to.

Incorrect: Wickets fell due to superb bowling.

As it/s used in the given sentence, due appears to be an adverb qualifying the verb fell or a preposition linking the fall of wickets and bowling. But neither is true. Usually, due is used as a predicative adjective. In cases such as the given one, because of should be used.

Correct: Wickets fell because of superb bowling.

However, if the sentence were in the form, • "The fall of wickets was due to superb bowling ; the usage would be correct.

Owing to is only a prepositional phrase. It only governs a noun or a nominal. It is generally placed at the beginning of the sentence.

1.      Owing to his illness, he could not appear at the examination.

2.      Owing to heavy rain, the programme was badly disturbed.

Many a

It is used like a singular numeral adjective, though it is plural in sense. It takes a singular noun and a singular verb after it. It means many (one by one).

1.       Many a young man has laid down his life for the country.

2.       Many a great occasion has cone in my life.

Verbal and oral

Verbal means of or in words.

1.      There is no verbal difference between the two documents.

2.      There is a striking verbal similarity between the two poems.

"Oral" means by "mouth", not in writing.

1.      There will be an oral test.                                 2.       He has failed in the oral examination.

Incorrect: His written statement differs from his verbal one. Correct: His written statement differs from his oral one.

Note: Nowadays "verbal" is also used in the sense of oral (by mouth). We have received a verbal message --such a usage should be avoided, though.

Common and mutual

Common means belonging to two or more persons or things.

1.      There is nothing common between them.        

2.       This is our common property.

Mutual means "between two", "for each other"

1.        There was mutual exchange of views between them.

2.        There was little mutual understanding between them. (Hardly any)

1.        Incorrect: We started smoking on the advice of a mutual friend.

2.        Correct: We started smoking on the advice of a common friend.

Adjectives revisited

Incorrect	Correct
These kind of questions is often asked in examinations.	This kind of questions is often asked in examinations.
The later part of the novel is not neatly written.	The latter part of the novel is not neatly written.
What is last news?	What is the latest news?
I have an older brother.	I have an elder brother.
Mohan is the eldest boy in the town.	Mohan is the oldest boy in the town.
After this he made no farther statement.	After this he made no further statement.
This is the next post-office to my house.	This is the nearest post-office to my house.
Mohan is wiser than strong.	Mohan is more wise than strong.
Satish is clever than any student in his class,	Satish is cleverer than any other student in his class.
India's fielding is inferior than South Africa's.	India's fielding is inferior to South Africa's.
Our field is moresquare than theirs.	Our field is assquare as theirs.
Of the two boys, his brain is the sharpest.	Of the two boys, his brain is sharper.
Alexander was the most powerful of all other kings.	Alexander was the most powerful of all kings.
The orientation of Indira Awas Yojana is better than other housing schemes.	The orientation of Indira Awas Yojana is better than that of other housing schemes.
Zarda mangoes are more sweeter than the Maldah ones.	Zarda mangoes are sweeter than the Maldah ones.
Staying indoors is more preferable than going out an summer day.	Staying indoors is preferable to going out on a summer day.
No less than forty VIPs were involved in the hawala scam.	No fewer than forty VIPs were involved in the hawala scam.
I saw only the two first episodes of the serial.	I saw only the first two episodes of the serial.
Of   Manohar, Shyam and Joshi, the latter is a  driver.	Of Manohar, Shyam and Joshi, the last is a driver.
It grew hot and hot.	It grew hotter and hotter.
He is as good if not better than his brother.	He is as good as if not better than      his brother.
I have fallen in love with the beautiful woman's daughter.	I have fallen in love with the woman's beautiful daughter.