Order of adjectives
Adjectives can be arranged in the following order:
(a/ an) + opinion → size → shape → age → colour → country → substance + NOUN
Examples:
a. a large, round table.
b. an old, white, cotton shirt.
Uses of some confusing indefinite adjectives:
⮚ Another
a. another + singular noun (one more, an additional one)
Example:
I want to buy another flat. [I = one more flat]
⮚ Another
a. another + singular noun (one more, an additional one)
Example:
I want to buy another flat. [I = one more flat]
b. another + numeral adjective + plural noun
Example:
Where shall we be in another ten years? [= ten years from now]
Note: Another is used in affirmative. But any other is used in Negative instead of another.
⮚ Other
a. Other+plural nouns and non-count nouns (more of)
Example:
I need other pencils. [= some more pencils]
I want other water. [= some more water]
⮚ The other
the other + singular noun (last of the set)
Example:
He bought the other pencil. [= the last pencil present]
the other + non-count noun (all the rest)
Example:
He showered the other water. [= the remaining water]
the other + plural noun (the rest of the set)
Example:
She sold the other books. [= all remaining books]
Numerical Adjective
(a/ an) + number + (–) + singular noun + noun adjective
Example:
We took a five- week tour.
Comparisons
The two qualities of the same person/ thing can be compared as:
Example:
Where shall we be in another ten years? [= ten years from now]
Note: Another is used in affirmative. But any other is used in Negative instead of another.
⮚ Other
a. Other+plural nouns and non-count nouns (more of)
Example:
I need other pencils. [= some more pencils]
I want other water. [= some more water]
⮚ The other
the other + singular noun (last of the set)
Example:
He bought the other pencil. [= the last pencil present]
the other + non-count noun (all the rest)
Example:
He showered the other water. [= the remaining water]
the other + plural noun (the rest of the set)
Example:
She sold the other books. [= all remaining books]
Numerical Adjective
(a/ an) + number + (–) + singular noun + noun adjective
Example:
We took a five- week tour.
Comparisons
The two qualities of the same person/ thing can be compared as:
⮚ Subj + Verb + More/ less + adj1 + than + adj2 + …….
Example:
He is more good than bad.
OR
He is less bad than good.
Equal Comparisons
Here two entities are exactly the same.
Example:
He is as tall as his father.
Note: Subject form of a pronoun will always be used after as in correct English
⮚ Subj + verb(have) + the same + noun + as + noun/pronoun
Example:
My house has the same height as his.
Unequal Comparisons
Here entities are comparable in greater or lesser degrees.
⮚ Subj + Verb + + than + noun/pronoun
Note:
a. Add '- er' to the adjective base of one-syllable adjectives.
b. Use the form more + adjective for more than two-syllable adjectives.
c. Some Latin adjectives ending in '- or' follow 'to' instead of 'than' in comparative.
Examples:
senior, junior, superior, Inferior, prior, anterior, posterior, but not with a minor, major, exterior, interior, ulterior, etc.
Examples:
This chair is more comfortable than the other.
He is a senior to me.
He is more good than bad.
OR
He is less bad than good.
Equal Comparisons
Here two entities are exactly the same.
Example:
He is as tall as his father.
Note: Subject form of a pronoun will always be used after as in correct English
⮚ Subj + verb(have) + the same + noun + as + noun/pronoun
Example:
My house has the same height as his.
Unequal Comparisons
Here entities are comparable in greater or lesser degrees.
⮚ Subj + Verb + + than + noun/pronoun
Note:
a. Add '- er' to the adjective base of one-syllable adjectives.
b. Use the form more + adjective for more than two-syllable adjectives.
c. Some Latin adjectives ending in '- or' follow 'to' instead of 'than' in comparative.
Examples:
senior, junior, superior, Inferior, prior, anterior, posterior, but not with a minor, major, exterior, interior, ulterior, etc.
Examples:
This chair is more comfortable than the other.
He is a senior to me.
⮚ Unequal comparisons can be further intensified by adding much, far, slightly, a bit, little, far etc
Examples:
Watermelon is much sweeter than a lemon.
She dances much more artistically than her predecessor.
⮚ Subj. + Verb + number multiple + as + + noun + as +
Example:
This encyclopedia costs twice as much as the other one.
She has half as much money now as I had last year.
Double comparative (Parallel increase or decrease)
⮚ The + comparative + Subj + Verb + (,)+ The + comparative +...
Examples:
The older I get, the happier I am.
The more you study, the more marks you will obtain.
Gradual Development or decline
⮚ Subj + Verb+ er and -er/ more and more + ……
Examples:
I am getting fatter and fatter.
She was becoming more and more ambitious.
Some other constructions of comparative
⮚ Subj + Verb + the + comparative + of the two + plural noun
Examples:
Anjan is smart of the two boys.
Of the two shirts, This is the Prettier.
Superlative Constriction
⮚ Subj + Verb+ the + +
Example:
Diana is the shortest of the three sisters.
He is the most intelligent student in his class.
Note:
The superlative degree can be intensified by much, by far, quite, almost, practically and easily.
Example:
He is much the most enthusiastic of them all.
Examples:
Watermelon is much sweeter than a lemon.
She dances much more artistically than her predecessor.
⮚ Subj. + Verb + number multiple + as + + noun + as +
Example:
This encyclopedia costs twice as much as the other one.
She has half as much money now as I had last year.
Double comparative (Parallel increase or decrease)
⮚ The + comparative + Subj + Verb + (,)+ The + comparative +...
Examples:
The older I get, the happier I am.
The more you study, the more marks you will obtain.
Gradual Development or decline
⮚ Subj + Verb+ er and -er/ more and more + ……
Examples:
I am getting fatter and fatter.
She was becoming more and more ambitious.
Some other constructions of comparative
⮚ Subj + Verb + the + comparative + of the two + plural noun
Examples:
Anjan is smart of the two boys.
Of the two shirts, This is the Prettier.
Superlative Constriction
⮚ Subj + Verb+ the + +
Example:
Diana is the shortest of the three sisters.
He is the most intelligent student in his class.
Note:
The superlative degree can be intensified by much, by far, quite, almost, practically and easily.
Example:
He is much the most enthusiastic of them all.
Things to remember
⮚ 'Equally as' is not used together. ⮚ 'That of' is used for singular partitive whereas 'those of' is used for plural one.
Examples:
The price of this book is as much as that of that book.
People of Kathmandu are more laborious than those of Pokhara.
Examples:
The price of this book is as much as that of that book.
People of Kathmandu are more laborious than those of Pokhara.
⮚ Elder/ Eldest ⮚ seniority rather than age in a family (old + than + ……., but not elder + than + ……)
Examples:
My elder sister lives in London.
He is older than she is.
My elder sister lives in London.
He is older than she is.
⮚ Farther/ Farthest: distance while further ⮚ additional
Examples
Have you anything further to say?
Let us walk a little farther.
Have you anything further to say?
Let us walk a little farther.
⮚ Latter/ Last ⮚ Position/ order while Later/ Latest ⮚ time
Examples:
What is the latest news?
You reached there later than your wife.
⮚ Few ⮚ Number, Less ⮚ Quantity and followed by than, Lesser ⮚ double comparative and never followed by than
What is the latest news?
You reached there later than your wife.
⮚ Few ⮚ Number, Less ⮚ Quantity and followed by than, Lesser ⮚ double comparative and never followed by than
Examples:
I have less confidence in him than you.
It is the lesser of the two evils.
Fewer students are noticed today.
Note: Like best/ Like most
Examples:
Which of the books do you like most/best?
I have less confidence in him than you.
It is the lesser of the two evils.
Fewer students are noticed today.
Note: Like best/ Like most
Examples:
Which of the books do you like most/best?
⮚ Some irregular adjectives
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| Bad, ill, evil, badly | Worse | Worst |
| far | farther/further | furthest/furthest |
| Fore | former | foremost/ first |
| good | well/better | best |
| late | later/latter | latest/last |
| little | less, lesser | least |
| much | many, more | most |
| near | nearer | nearest/next |
| old | older/elder | oldest/eldest |
| out | outer/ utter | outermost/utmost |
Also, Read our other Notes of English for Entrance Exams:
- Article
- Connectives
- Number
- Concord
- Tense Use
- Causative Verbs
- Conditional Sentence
- Voice
- Reported Speech
- Transformation
- Gerund / To-Infinitive
- Sentence Pattern
- Agreement & Disagreement
- Inversion
- Adjectives
- Embedded Question
- Illogical participle Modifiers
- Preposition
- Question Tag
- Pronouns
- Commonly Confused Words
- One Word Substitution
- Words of Comparision
- Specialists
- Phobias
- Killing & Killers
- Graphy Words