RULES FOR ADJECTIVE
An adjective is a word that qualifies or adds something to the meaning of a noun.
Some facts about adjectives and their Uses:
a) Adjective can be used in two ways-Attributively and Predicatively. When an adjective is placed just before the Noun, its used is attributive, but when it is used after the noun or pronoun, the use is called predicative.
Examples:
1) This is a sweet mango. (Attributive)
2) This mango is sweet. (Predicative)
3) Fame is perfume of heroic deeds. (Attributive)
4) The Judge declared him guilty. (Predicative)
Now Understand
In sentences (1) and (3), the adjective sweet and heroic have been used before mango and deeds. Thus the use is ‘Attributive’. In sentences(2) and(4), the adjective sweet and guilty have been used after mango and him.So, their use is ‘Predicative’.
Note:
The following adjectives cannot be used attributively.
Asleep, Awake, Afraid, Alive, Ill, Well.
Don’t Say: I am you afraid of.
Say: I am afraid of you.
Don’t Say: The teacher in the class is asleep.
Say: The teacher is asleep in the class.
Adjectives have three degrees of comparison:
(A)Positive Degree: It expresses the common form of an adjective.
Ram is a tall boy.
In the above sentence tall is an adjective and expresses the common form.
(B) Comparative Degree: It expresses more of the same form.
Ram is taller than Mahesh.
In the above sentence taller is an adjective that expresses the more of the common form of the adjective tall.
“When and How to Use” Comparative Degree?
Errors are frequently committed in the use of the degree of comparison. It is due to the fact that most of us do not know when and how to use this degree.
(i)Comparative Degree is used when two persons or two groups of persons or things are compared.
a) He is wiser than his younger brother.
(Two persons- He and his younger brother, have been compared).
b) This glass is cleaner than the other.
(Two things- This glass and the other (glass), have been compared).
(ii) When two different qualities in the same person are compared, more is used instead of er to form the comparative. The formula used in this case should be :
More+Positive Degree
She is fairer than polite. (Incorrect)
She is more fair than polite. (Correct)
(iii)When selection of one out of two person or things is menat, the degree of comparison is followed by of and the used before it.
Zia is abler of the two sisters. (The sentence implies selection)
(iv) If two comparatives are used in the same sentence to impress upon an idea, both should be preceded by the definite article.
a) The higher you go, the cooler it is.
b) The more we get, the more we desire.
(v) When one person or thing is compared with another or the same kind, other is used after the comparative degree.Note: In such sentences othe is normally preceded by any or all.
a) Kalidas is greater than any dramatist. (Incorrect)
Kalidas is greater than any othe dramatist. (Correct)
(Kalidas, a dramatist being cofmapred with persons of the same kind, i.e. dramatists)
b)Lead is heavier than all metals. (Incorrect)
Lead is heavier than all other metals. (Correct)
(Lead, a metal has been compared to other metals)
(vi)Seven Latin adjectives of comparative degree, i.e. senior, junior, superior, inferior, prior, anterior (earlier than) and posterior (later than)( are always followed byt ‘to’:
a) Sachin is senior to Mohan by three years.
b) This pen is inferior to that.
c) He is junior to me.
d) His birth was anterior to the birth of Bangladesh.
e) This even was posterior to that.
Never use than after the above-mentioned Latin adjectives.
Note:
i)Senior, junior, inferior, superior an also be used in positive degree as, a junior teacher, a senior member, superior stuff, inferior taste.
ii) Preferable is also used as an adjective of the comparative degree. As such, it is always followed by to and not than.
Death is preferable than dishonour. (Incorrect)
Death is preferable to dishonour. (Correct)
iii) The English comparatives, i.e. elder, former, latter, inner, outer, utter, upper,hinder have lost their force as adjectives of the degree of comparison and are now used as adjectives of the positive degree.
iv)The Latin comparatives i.e. major minor, interior, exterior, ulterior are also used as adjectives of the positive degree.
v)To intensity of degree comparison, we use far or much before the comparative.
a) This book is far better than that.
b) His performance was far better than that of Mohan’s.
Always avoids the use of comparatives.
Don’t say: Ahmed is more cleverer than his younger brother.
Say: Ahmed is cleverer than his younger brother.
(C) Superlative degree: It expresses the most of the common form of an adjective.
Example: He is ablest of man of the town.
(In the above sentence ablest is the most of the adjective able).
Now study the following example to understand the three degrees.
Able Abler Ablest
Common of the adjective More of the Adj.’Able’ The most of the Adj.’Able’
(Positive Degree) (Comparative Degree) (Superlative Degree)
How and when to use Superlative Degree?
i)The Superlative Degree is used when more than two persons or things ae compared.
ii) The Superlative Degree is generally proceeded by ‘the’ and followed by ’of’ in most of the cases or otherwise.
Example: He is the ablest man of the town.
(In this example the persons are more than two i.e. that is ‘man of the town’ and ‘ablest’ – the Superlative degree is preceded by’the’).
The above sentence can be written as follows:
‘He is the ablest of all the men in the town’.
iii) When an adjective of the superlative degree is preceded by a Possessive Adjective or a Noun in the Possessive case, ‘the’ should not be used before it.
Examples:
a) Which is Kalidas’ best play?
b) My eldest son lives in Jalandhar.
(In the above two cases, the should not be used before the superlative degree).
It will be Blunder to use ’the ‘ before the Superlative Degree in such cases.
Don’t Say: Which is Kalidas’s the best play.
iv) To intensify the degree of comparison, by far is used before the superlative degree.
India is by far the most beautiful country of the world.
Always avoid the use of double superlatives.
Don’t say: He is the most strongest by in the class.
Say: He is the strongest boy in the class.
Both ‘most’ and ‘strongest’ are superlatives form of the adjectives and cannot be used together in the same sentences.
(D) Interchange of the Degree of Comparison.
As has already been said there are three degrees of comparison, i.e. Positive, Comparative and Superlative. These degrees of Comparison can be interchanged. The transformation from one form to another should be made in such a way that the meaning of the sentence should not hang when we changed it from one form to another. For a proper understanding of the interchange of the degrees of comparison, read the following formulas care fully.
i)Superlative Degree Formula
S + HV + THE + A3 + Rp
He is the ablest man of the town.
India is the most beautiful country of the world.
ii) Comparative Degree formula:
S + HV + A2 + THAN + ANY OTHER + Rp
He is abler than any other man of the town.
India is more beautiful than any other country of the world.
iii)Positive Degree Formula:
NO OTHER + Rp + HV + AS + A1+ AS + S
No other man of the town is as able as he.
No other country of the world is as beautiful as India.
Now Understand Please mark the above formulas carefully. You will find that any sentence given in any of the three degrees can be changed into any other degree. Consider the two examples given above.
Please Note.
i) It is necessary to use ‘the’ before the superlative degree.
Don’t Say: He is ablest man of the town.
Say: He is the ablest man of the town.
ii) It is necessary to use’ other’ with ‘than any’ in the comparative degree.
Don’t say: Kalidas is greater than any dramatist.
Say: Kalidas is greater than any other dramatist.
iii) The above formulas can be used only if the subjects are three or more than three.
iv) If the subjects are only two the above rules will not hold good.
(E) How to proceed when Subjects are only two?
When the subjects are only two, the formation of ‘superlative degree’ is not possible.
In that case, the transformation can take place only from ‘Positive ‘ to ‘Comparative’ or ‘Comparative’ to ‘Positive’.
Positive(-) <-------------->Comparative (-)
The above cross indicates the following facts:
i) If a sentence having a positive degree has some negative sense, it will become affirmative in sense when we change it into a sentence having comparative degree.
ii) If a positive degree sentence has an affirmative sense, it will become negative in sense when we change it into a comparative degree sentence.
iii) If a comparative degree sentence has some negative sense, it will be affirmative in sense when it is changed into a positive degree sentence.
iv) If a comparative degree sentence has some affirmative sense, it will be negative in sense when it is hanged into a positive degree sentence.
Note: the following formula in the case
a)Sentences having ‘positive degree’.
i) Positive Statement
S +HV +AS + A1 + AS+ O
Zia is as beautiful as Kanta.
ii)Negative Statement
S + HV+ NOT+ SO+ A1+ AS+ O
Zia is not so beautiful as Kanta.
Remember:
With Positive statement As….. as is used and with negative statement. So…….as is used.
b)Sentence with ‘comparative degree’.
i)Positive Statement
S + HV + A2 + THAN + O
Zia is more beautiful than Kanta.
ii) Negative Statement
S + HV + NOT + A2 + THAN + O
Zia is not more beautiful than Kanta.
Now understand
i) Zia is more beautiful than Kandta. (Comparative degree, positive statement).
ii) Suppose the above sentence is to be changed using a positive degree. Apply Formula Kanta is not so beautiful as Zia. Positive degree negative statement).
iii) Kanta is beautiful as Zia.(Positive statement, Poositive degree) Zia is not more beautiful than Kanta. Comparative degree, bnegative statement.)
The above transformation is strictly according to cross formula.
USE OF SOME IMPORTANT ADJECTIVES
For avoiding errors in the use of adjective it is necessary to study the use of some important adjectives. It is so because:
a)These adjectives frequently used during conversation.
b) They are very confusing nature. A wrong use or misplacement of these adjectives can change the sense of a sentence altogether.
List of these adjectives
1. Some, any,
2. Older,elder,
3. Few, a few, the very few
4. Farther, Further
5. Less, Lesser
6. Mutual, Common
7. Little, a little, the little.
8. First, Former,
9. First, Foremost.
10. Much Many,
11. All, Whole,
Less fewer each, every oral verbal Either , neither, many a many , great many, whole the whole, the whole of, a whole, sick ill, Enough onl;y nearest, next, latter later, latest last each other, one another.
Note: These adjective are generally studied in groups.
Sp instead of mentioning them separately, we are writing them according to the groups in which they exist;
Use of these adjectives
Some is used in the affirmative sentences. Any is used in the negative sentences.
a) Some is used as follow:
i) With countable nouns where it mean- a little, a small quantity.
ii) In a question which shows some request.
Examples:
i) There is some water in the bottle.
ii) Some of the students were absent yesterday.
iii) Will you have some milk?
iv) Will you buy some fruit form me?
Note: ‘Some’ is not used in negative sentences , but it can be used in questions of negative nature.
Examples:
i) Can’t you spare some time for social work?
ii) Didn’t I give you some money yesterday?
B) ‘Any’ is used as follows:
i) In negative sentences.
ii) In interrogative sentences.
iii) After hardly, Scarcely and Barely
iv) After’If’.
Examples:
i) There is not any sugar in the pot.
ii) We haven’t any rice in the house.
iii) Are there any girls in your school?
iv) I have hardly any money.
v) There are scarcely any plants in this field.
vi) If there is any danger, blow the whistle.
2.a) Older: Older(and Oldest) are used for persons, animals and things.
Examples:
i) Radha is older than Shyama.
ii) The dog is older than that.
iii) This building is older than that.
iv) John is the oldest member of the staff.
v) This monument is oldest in the city.
Note:
‘Older’ and ‘Oldest’ refer to the persons who don not belong to the same family.
b) Elder (and eldest) are use in respect of the members of the same family like sons, daughters, brothers, sisters etc.
Examples:
i) My elder sister is a lecturer.
ii) Sachin is older of the two brothers.
iii) Meenakshi is the eldest of the three sisters.
Note:
i) ‘Elder’ is not followed by ‘than’.
ii) ‘Elder’ and ‘Eldest’ cannot be used for things.
iii) In Some cases, it may be followed by ‘to’ e.g. My brother Ram is older to me.
3. a) ‘Few’ is negative and is the opposite of ‘Many’. It means ‘not many’
b) A few is positive and means ‘some at least’. It is the opposite ‘None’.
c) The few means ‘minority’ and suggests ‘whether there is’.
Examples:
i) We have few holidays in school.
ii) Very few students have done well in the examination.
iii) He is a man of few words.
iv) Happy is the man who has few cares.
v) Only a few boys will fail in the examination.
vi) We are going away for a few days.
vii) The few poems that he wrote are very popular.
viii) He lost the few books he had.
4.a) Further means ‘something additional’.
b) Farther means ‘a greater distance’.
Examples:
i) Further discussion will be held in the office of the principal.
ii) Amritsar is farther from Delhi than Ambala.
5.a) Less means in a small degree. It can be used as a noun, and adjective and an adverb.
b) Lesser can be used only as an adjective. As an adjective it is a step further to less.
Examples:
i) The porter said that he would not charge less than ten rupees for his services. (Noun)
ii) My income is less than yours. (adjective)
iii) Chemistry is less difficult than Physics. (Adverb)
iv) Choose lesser evil of the two.
6.a) Mutual means reciprocal.
b) Common means belonging to many.
Examples:
i) The mutual friendship between Sudhir and Ashok is growing day by day.
ii) Soharn is our common friend.
7.a) Little is negative. It means, not much, or hardly any.
b) A little is positive. It means some quantity.
c) The little denotes quantity. It means, not much but all that is, or whatever quantity there is.
Examples:
i) There is little hope of his success.
ii) He has little affection for his cousin.
iii) The teachers have little influence on him.
iv) He knows a little of everything.
v) A little of money has been stolen.
vi) Will you stay here a little longer?
vii) A little knowledge is dangerous thing.
viii) I have spent the little money I had.
ix) The little knowledge of shoe-making proved very useful to me.
8.a) First shows order or position.
b) Foremost means the most notable.
Examples:
i) He was the first to come and the last to go.
ii) First in beauty is first in might.
iii) The first edition of this book was published in 1965.
iv) Mrs. Gandhi was the foremost politician of her time.
Note:
First and foremost can be used together in the same sentence, when the idea in the sentence is to be intensified.
Example:
“Our first and foremost duty is to serve or motherland.”
9. a) Much expresses quantity.
b) Many express number.
c) Many a – singular noun and singular verb are used with many a. It means a
person or a thing—many times.
Examples:
i) there is not much water in the jug.
ii) Many boys are absent today.
iii) Many a battle has been fought on the soil of India.
iv) Many a dacoit was killed in the encounter.
10.a) All shows the total of many things together.
b) The whole of is used before proper nouns.
Examples:
i) I will die as all men are mortal.
ii) All that glitters is not gold.
iii) The whole of India mourned the death of Mrs. Indira Gandhi.
11.a) Less denotes in a small degree.
b) Fewer denotes number.
Examples:
i) He devotes less time to his studies.
ii) He has no less than five acres of land.
iii) There is no less than two litres of milk in the jug.
iv) There are now fewer than forty boys in out class.
v) There are no fewer than ten chairs in this room.
12.a) Each is used for the single number of two persons or things.
b) Every is used for a single number of many persons or things.
Examples:
Each:
i) Each boy must take part in games.
ii) It rained each day last week.
iii) Each boy of the class was punished yesterday.
iv) There were only two poets. Each poet recited his poem.
Every:
i) Every man is expected to do his duty.
ii) Every man dies in this world.
iii) India wans peace in every corner of the world.
13.a) Oral mean by word of mouth.
b) Verbal means concerned with words.
Examples:
i) He sent me an oral message.
ii) There is not much verbal difference between the two statements.
Oral is the opposite of the written.
14.a) Either means one of the two or both.
b) Neither is the negative of either.
Examples:
i) You may buy either or these two chairs. (one of two).
ii) Either of the book will do.
iii) There are shady trees on either side of the road. (Both)
iv) I can speak on either side.
v) He can write with either hand.
B) i) I can speak on neither side.
ii) Neither of them could be speak on the stage.
iii) He can write with neither hand.
iv) Neither of the tow pens is costly.
15.a) Sick means slight indisposition.
b) Ill means unwell, indisposed.
Examples:
i) I am feeling sick.
ii) He has been ill for the past ten days.
16.a) Enough is used with both singular and plural number. It conveys the sense of the sufficient.
Examples:
i) There is enough sugar in the pot.
ii) There are enough eggs in the basket.
17.a) Nearest expresses distance.
b) Next expresses position.
Examples:
i) He lives nearest to his office.
ii) He is next to me in rank.
18.a) Later expresses late in time.
b) Latter means second in postion or order.
c) Latest expresses time.
d) Last means Final in position or order.
Examples:
i) My father reached later than I expected.
ii) The latter postion was better than the former .
iii) What is the latest news?
iv) He was the first to come and last to go.
F) Additional Information:
1. Each, every either, and neither are always followed by singular noun. No plural noun should follow these adjectives.
Don’t say: Each boys are interested in the debate.
Say: Each boy is interested in the debate.
The following adjectives do not admit of comparison because their meaning is already superlative:
Unique,
ideal,
perfect,
complete,
universal;
entire;
extreme;
chief;
full round;
square.
Don’t Say: It is most extreme hot.
Say: It is extreme hot.
Don’t say: Sardar Patel was the unique politician of the world.
Say: Sardar Patel was the unique politician of the world.
Superlative degree cannot be used with ‘Than’.
Don’t Say: This pen is worst than the one I have in my drawer.
Say: This Pen is worse than the one I have in my drawer.
When words like quantity, number, amount etc. occur in a sentence, Small is preferred to Little as qualifying adjective.
Don’t Say: He has invested a little amount of money.
Say: He has invested a little amount of money.
Positive degree when preceded by the means plural common noun.
The following nouns are made from adjectives by giving them a plural sense. Betters, belongings, movables, elders, goods, eatables, ancients, morals, sweets, particulars, necessaries.
