Adjective | Aptitude (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 3 Mar, 2026

An **adjective is a word that modifies or describes a noun or pronoun by giving more information about its qualities.

**Example:

John is a **good boy.
He is **intelligent.

In the above sentence, "**good" and "**intelligent" qualify "**John" and tell us the quality of "**he".

Types of Adjectives

Some of the main types of adjectives are:

types_of_adjectives

Rules of Adjective

Below are the key rules of adjectives to use them correctly:

**Rule 1. Adjectives Modify Nouns and Pronouns
Adjectives describe or modify nouns (people, places, things) and pronouns (he, she, it, they).

**Example:

_She has a **red car.

**Rule 2: After linking verbs, adjectives describe the subject
When adjectives describe the subject via a **linking verb (e.g., _be, seem, appear, become, feel), they come **after the verb.

**Example:

_The sky is **blue .

**Rule 3: Multiple adjectives follow this specific order
Opinion→Size→Age→Shape→Color→Origin→Material→Purpose

**Example:

_A lovely little old rectangular green French silver jewelry box.

**Rule 4: Use comparative forms (-er/more) for comparing two things

**Example:

_"taller," "more interesting"

**Rule 5: Use superlative forms (-est/most) for comparing three or more things

**Example:

_"tallest," "most beautiful"

**Rule 6: Never use double comparatives or superlatives

**Example:

_"more better" / Correct: "better"

**Rule 7: Some extreme adjectives can't take "very" (use "absolutely" instead)

**Example:

_"very perfect" / Correct: "absolutely perfect"

**Rule 8: Demonstrative adjectives must match the noun in number (singular or plural).

**Example:

_"this book" (singular), "these books" (plural)

**Rule 9: Avoid Overusing Adjectives

Tips and Tricks for Adjectives

  1. 1-2 syllable adjectives typically take **-er/-est.
    e.g., **tall → taller → tallest
  2. 3+ syllable adjectives use more/most.
    e.g., **beautiful → more beautiful → most beautiful
  3. Some adjectives are in Irregular forms try to remember them.
    e.g., **good → better → best, bad → worse → worst
  4. "**As...as" constructions use the base adjective form.
    e.g., She is **as tall as her brother
  5. Spelling ending with **-y Change **-y to **-ier (comparative) and **-iest (superlative).
    e.g., **happy → happier → happiest
    **Doubling consonants: Double the final consonant for short adjectives.
    e.g., big → bigger → biggest
  6. In negative equality comparisons use "**not as...as".

Solved Questions and Answers

**Question 1: This road is ___ than the other one.

A) narrow
B) narrower
C) more narrow
D) narrowest

**Answer: B) narrower
**Explanation: "Narrow" is a two-syllable adjective ending in _-ow, so we usually add **-er for the comparative form.

**Question 2: Today is the ___ day of the week.

A) cold
B) colder
C) coldest
D) more cold

**Answer: C) coldest
**Explanation: "Cold" is a one-syllable adjective, so we add **-est for the superlative form.

**Question 3: This puzzle is ___ than the last one.

A) easy
B) easier
C) more easy
D) easiest

**Answer: B) easier
**Explanation: "Easy" ends in consonant + y, so we change **y → i and add **-er (easy → easier).

**Question 4: She is the ___ student in the class.

A) intelligent
B) intelligenter
C) more intelligent
D) most intelligent

**Answer: D) most intelligent
**Explanation: "Intelligent" has more than two syllables, so we use **most for the superlative form.

**Question 5: This box is ___ than that one.

A) heavy
B) heavier
C) more heavy
D) heaviest

**Answer: B) heavier
**Explanation: "Heavy" ends in consonant + y, so we change **y → i and add **-er (heavy → heavier).

**Also Check:

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