Adjectives

1. Adjectives are words that tell us more about people, animals, places and things.
a. Examples
i. Samy is a tall boy. (tall tells us about Samy)
ii. That thick book is very heavy. (thick tells us about the book)
iii. Wild animals are kept in cages in the zoo. (wild tells us about the animals)
iv. Dollah's grandfather is busy. (busy tells us about Dollah's grandfather)
2. We can also use adjectives to compare people, animals, places and things. There are three degrees
of comparison: positive, comparative and superlative.
The positive form of the adjective is used when no comparison is made.
Examples
a. She is a smart girl.
b. He is a fast runner.
c. The cat is a quiet animal.
The positive form is also used when comparing two persons or things that are similar or equal.
Examples
a. We are as slow as the other group.
b. She is as kind as her father.
c. Thomas is as hungry as his uncle
The comparative form is used when two unequal persons, places or things are compared.
The comparative form of many adjectives is formed by adding -er to the adjective followed by the word
'than'.
Examples
a. He is older than my father.
b. I am taller than my sister.
c. They are younger than I am.
The comparative form of some adjectives is formed using 'more + adjective + than'.
Examples
a. This problem is more difficult than that.
b. My book is more interesting than yours.
c. She is more hardworking than her brother.
The superlative form is used when three or more persons, places or things are compared.
The superlative form of many adjectives is formed by adding –est to the adjective. We must
use the before the adjective.
Examples
a. This is the shortest way to the post office.
 b. The 'Kancil' is the smallest car in Malaysia.
c. Malek is the strongest boy in his class.
The superlative form of some adjectives is formed by adding most before the adjective.
Examples
a. Harlina is the most beautiful girl in my village.
b. Tan is the most hard-working boy in the school.
c. Chun Chong is the most disobedient pupil in class.
Note: The spelling of some adjectives changes completely when they are used in the comparative and
superlative degrees.
LIST OF ADJECTIVES IN THE DIFFERENT DEGREES OF COMPARISON

Positive Comparative Superlative

active more active the most active
bad worse the worst
beautiful more beautiful the most beautiful
big bigger the biggest
black blacker the blackest
bright brighter the brightest
clean cleaner the cleanest
clever cleverer the cleverest
confused more confused the most confused
cruel crueler the cruellest
dark darker the darkest
difficult more difficult the most difficult
dirty dirtier the dirtiest
fascinating more fascinating the most fascinating
famous more famous the most famous
far farther/further the farthest/furthest
fast faster the fastest
fat fatter the fattest
fierce fiercer the fiercest
generous more generous the most generous
good better the best
graceful more graceful the most graceful
great greater the greatest
handsome more handsome the most handsome
hard-working more hard-working the most hard-working
happy happier the happiest
heavy heavier the heaviest
important more important the most important
kind kinder the kindest
late later the latest
light lighter the lightest
little less the least
long longer the longest
old older the oldest
poor poorer the poorest
proud prouder the proudest
quiet quieter the quietest
responsible more responsible the most responsible
rich richer the richest
sad sadder the saddest
sharp sharper the sharpest
short shorter the shortest
simple more simple the most simple
slow slower the slowest
small smaller the smallest
strange stranger the strangest
strong stronger the strongest
tall taller the tallest
thin thinner the thinnest
ugly uglier the ugliest
weak weaker the weakest
wise wiser the wisest
young younger the youngest