How More Adjectives Can Transform Your Writing
Words are more than communication; having the power to paint vivid imagery or evoke emotions. Some of these versatile words are adjectives. Adjectives allow you to bring your thoughts to life in a sentence, describing people’s colors, textures, quantity, time, appearance, and personalities.
From modifying the subject’s quality to creating poetic imagery and conveying thought-provoking emotions, adjectives are vital in enhancing the noun within a sentence. These words are big, tall, clever, fat, beautiful, etc.
Let’s dive deeper into the adjectives and discover the endless features and insights it holds in English.
What is an Adjective?
Adjectives are parts of speech that modify a noun and pronoun, representing an attribute of the subject in the sentence. These are commonly adjusted before a noun and ahead of a verb. Adjectives are often known as describing words since they not only describe a noun but also denote its attributes, quantity, or extent.
Examples:
- My cousin looks stunning in her black dress.
- We are having a great time in London.
- Do you know which is the tallest skyscraper in the world?
- I bought four suits for an event.
Degree of Comparison – Forms of Adjectives
There are four forms of adjectives: absolute, comparative, superlative, and coordinate adjectives.
So, move further to learn these degrees of comparison and apply them in your writing.
Absolute Adjectives
Absolute adjectives are the complete state or exact original form of words in a sentence. It is also called a positive adjective because the sentence has no subject to compare.
Example:
- This room’s decoration is stunning.
- I make delicious food for my family.
Comparative Adjectives
The word ‘comparative’ emphasizes comparing two people or objects’ quality. Both subjects possess a similar trait.
You can form a comparative degree through 2 techniques:
- If an adjective is short with a 1-syllable, such as old or 2-syllable ending with -y, like happy add -er at the end of the words.
There are certain variations you need to understand, have a look at the table below:
| Short Adjectives: Add -er | Example |
| Adjectives ending with -e, add -r | Nice to nicer |
| Adjective with consonant or vowel add -er | Old to older |
| For adjective ending with -y, alter it to -I and add -er | Happy to happier |
- Secondly, a long adjective constituting 2-syllables not ending with the letter -y or one with more syllables add ‘more.’
| Long Adjectives: Add more | Examples |
| 2-syllable not ending with -y | Careful to more careful |
| Adjectives with more syllables | Interesting to more interesting |
Exception: Irregular forms
Some irregular forms of adjectives don’t require -er or more; instead, they change into different words.
- Good to Better
- Bad to Worse
- Much to More
- Little to Less
- Far to Further
Examples:
- Mount Everest is the tallest mountain other than K-2.
- This question is more difficult in French than in English.
Superlative Adjectives
Superlative adjectives represent the highest quality—comparing two attributes to distinguish the superior one over the other performing an action.
Adjectives with 1-syllable ending with -e and not ending with -y add -est, while those ending in consonant or vowel double the consonant by adding -est.
| Add -est | Examples |
| 1-syllable adjective not ending with -y, add -est | Clean to cleanest |
| Adjective ends in a vowel or consonant, double the consonant | Old to oldest |
| Adjectives ending with -e, add -est | Nice to nicest |
| Adjectives ending with -y, alter to -I and add -est | Happy to happiest |
Adjectives with 2-syllables ending with -y or having more than two syllables add the word ‘most.’
| Add Most | Examples |
| 2-syllable adjective ending with -y, add -est | Careful to most careful |
| Adjectives with more syllables | Interesting to most interesting |
Exception: Irregular forms
In these irregular forms, you don’t have to adjust -est or most but change the words.
- Good to best
- Bad to worst
- Much to most
- Little to least
- Far to furthest
Examples:
- Your room is the dirtiest place in the house.
- Rolex is the most expensive watch among other brands.
Coordinate Adjectives
Two or more adjectives describe a noun in a clause, linked and separated through a conjunction ‘and’ or a comma.
Example:
- The oranges were sweet and delicious.
- Marina wrote a mind-blowing, inspiring novel.
The Bottom Line
Adjectives have different forms expressing the traits of a person or thing. With practice and attention, you can use adjectives in a sentence to communicate a message that resonates with your audience. Remember not to overuse adjectives; they can clutter or confuse the readers.
So, continue to develop your English speaking and writing skills with the power of adjectives and excitingly write your ideas.