Getting to know English adjectives. Degrees of comparison of adjectives in English Exceptions

(good, yellow, interesting).

Adjectives in English do not change either by gender, or by number, or by case. Adjectives in English can only be modified by degrees of comparison.

Adjectives can be simple or derived. Simple adjectives have neither prefixes nor suffixes. Derived adjectives contain suffixes or prefixes, or both at the same time.

Adjectives form, as in Russian, two degrees of comparison: comparative and superlative. The basic form of the adjective does not express comparison and is called the positive degree.

Adjective

An adjective is a part of speech that is used to denote a characteristic of an object.

  • a clever boy
  • an English book (English book)
  • good butter (good butter)
  • a cold winter
An adjective in English has three forms of degrees of comparison:
  • positive degree
  • comparative degree
  • superlative degree.

Adjective degrees

Formation of degrees of comparison of adjectives

The basic form of an adjective is the positive degree. The comparative and superlative forms are usually formed from the positive degree in one of two ways:

The first way to form degrees of comparison of adjectives. If the form of an adjective in the positive degree consists of one syllable, the form of its comparative degree is formed using the suffix -er, and the superlative form - using the suffix -est, which are added to the base of the form of the positive degree.

The second way to form degrees of comparison of adjectives. From adjectives whose positive form consists of three or more syllables, the comparative degree is formed using the word more, and the superlative degree - using the word most, which are placed before the positive form of the adjective.

From two-syllable adjectives, the comparative and superlative forms are also formed using the words more and most.

Sometimes there are forms of two-syllable adjectives, formed using the suffixes -er and -est. Most often these are adjectives whose positive form ends in -у, -er, -ow.

Some adjectives form special forms of degrees of comparison, and these adjectives must be immediately memorized in all forms.

The adjective old forms degrees of comparison in two ways. In most cases, the suffix -er or -est is added to the base of the positive degree form.

However, in cases where they talk about members of the same family - “elder brother”, “eldest of the brothers”, they use the form elder (senior) or eldest (eldest).

To correctly write forms of degrees of comparison of adjectives, you need to know that when adding the suffixes -er and -est, the final letters of the adjective in the form of a positive degree change as follows:

  • y changes to i after a consonant and does not change after a vowel: dry dry (dry) - drier - driest But: gay (cheerful) - gayer - gayest
  • e is omitted: nice (good) - nicer - nicest
  • the consonant is doubled in one-syllable adjectives after a short vowel: big - bigger - biggest

Using an adjective

The adjective is usually used in a sentence as a definition of a noun and stands before the word being defined. An adjective can also be a nominal member of a compound nominal predicate (predicative) and in this case stand after the linking verb to be.
Not a clever boy. He's a smart boy. (Clever - definition.) .Not is clever. He is smart. (Clever is a nominal member of a compound nominal predicate.)

Not all adjectives are used in these two functions. Adjectives alive (alive), afraid (scared), asleep (sleeping), awake (awake), ill (sick) and some others are used only as a nominal member of a compound nominal predicate.

To denote a lower or lowest degree of quality of one item compared to another, the adjective is usually preceded by the word less (less, less) or least (least of all).

Additional material.
Degrees of comparison of adjectives and adverbs.

in English, just like in Russian, adjectives and adverbs have three degrees of comparison:

  1. positive
  2. comparative
  3. excellent.
In English there are two ways to construct degrees of comparison.
1. For short (one syllable) words:
Notes:

The definite article is often used with a superlative adjective; When constructing degrees of comparison of adjectives in writing:

  1. the final consonant with the preceding short vowel is doubled: big (bigger ((the) biggest
  2. if there is a consonant before the final -y, then -y goes into -i:
    easy (easy ((the) easiest; early (earlier ((the) earliest
  3. when adding -er u -est, the final -e is omitted: (see large above). Spelling features do not affect pronunciation.
2. For long (two or more syllables) words:

It doesn't make sense to lengthen the word any further, so in English we add another short word in front:

  • beautiful beautiful
  • more beautiful
  • easily easy
  • more easily easier
  • most easily

To pass values least and least of all (least) the words less and least are used respectively:

  • less beautiful
  • least beautiful least beautiful
Note:

Sometimes monosyllabic words form degrees of comparison using more / less or most / least , and conversely, words consisting of more than one syllable have -er / -est at the end; it depends only on the sound - if some form is perceived better by ear than another, it is put into the sentence: crisp - more crisp - (the) most crisp sounds better than crisp - crisper (the) crispest.

The forms of degrees of comparison of some adjectives and adverbs in English are not formed according to the rule:

Note: The word little can be either an adjective or an adverb; in this case it is used only as an adverb little; if you need to construct degrees of comparison from the adjective small, we use the word small (see above).

Note: the forms elder / eldest are used more often when the speaker is talking about members of his family:

  • My father is older than my mother. My father is older than my mother.
  • This is my eldest son. This is my eldest son.
In most other cases, degrees of comparison of adjectives are formed using method 1:

old old er old est

.

The word most with the indefinite article (a most) is not a degree of comparison, but means very: a most beautiful girl is a very beautiful girl.

The word most can appear before a plural noun or pronoun (often with the preposition of) and has the meaning many/most:

Most people like this. Many people like it. Most of them will not be able to come. Most of them won't be able to come.

The definite article is preserved before the superlative form even if there is no noun: Not is the best. He is the best.

To denote the comparative degree of an adjective, the word than is used; however, in order to avoid repetition of the same noun, the word one is often used as a substitute for this noun or a possessive pronoun in absolute form:

  • My car is bigger than their one / theirs. My car is bigger than theirs.
  • These cigars are stronger than those ones. These cigars are stronger than those.

In the second part of comparative constructions, you can use pronouns both in the objective case (colloquial version) and the accusative case (literary version, usually with an auxiliary verb):

  • She reads more than him / he does. She reads more than him.
  • You are taller than me / I am. You are taller than me.
  • Didn't come earlier than them / they did. He arrived earlier than them but
  • I know him better than her. I know him better than her.
  • I know him better than she does. I know him better than she does.

When comparing the same quality, the combination as ... as (same (same) ... as (s) / as (same) ... as (s) is used: She is as beautiful as my mother(She is as beautiful as my mother.

When comparing quality in a negative form, the combination not so ... as is more often used (not such ... as: I am not so beautiful as her / she is.(I'm not as beautiful as her.

When comparing with a multiple effect, the combination as ... as with numerals is used; the second as may be omitted if another comparison object is not mentioned in the situation:

  • My sister is twice as beautiful (as yours).(My sister is twice as beautiful (as yours).
  • His car is about three times as big (as my car).(His car is three times larger (mine).

The word half in such cases means half as much:

This liquid is half as strong (as that one).(This liquid is twice as weak (that one). I have half as much money (as you have).(I have half as much money (than you).

Sometimes a comparison can be strengthened with the help of additional words; more often than others, much is used for this: much more / less beautiful;

The Russian version of than..., the... is translated into English the + comparative degree of the adjective... the + comparative degree of the adjective:

  • The faster you come the more you will get. The faster you arrive, the more you will get.
  • The sooner you do it the better. The sooner you do this, the better.


Adjective– a word that describes the characteristics, properties or qualities of a noun.

Adjectives can describe any characteristics (properties or qualities) of a noun, such as:

  • color: red (red), green (green), blue (blue, cyan), yellow (yellow);
  • age: old (old), new (new), young (young), ancient (ancient);
  • quality or value of an item: expensive (expensive), refined (recycled), cheap (cheap), nice (cute);
  • human qualities: smart (smart), beautiful (beautiful), friendly (friendly), short (low);
  • emotional state of a person: happy (happy), sad (sad), ecstatic (excited), tired (tired); and so on

Comparative adjectives(or comparative adjectives)

Adjectives are often used for comparison purposes. Such adjectives are called comparative adjectives. To get a comparative adjective, you need to either add the suffix “-er” to the main form of the adjective, or put the auxiliary word “more” in front of the adjective.

Superlative adjectives(or superlative adjectives)

The superlative adjective describes the most extreme case and is used to characterize an item that is “the most…” among a number of items. To form a superlative adjective, you can either add the suffix “-est” to the base form of the adjective, or put the auxiliary word “most” in front of the adjective.

One-syllable adjectives

Typically, the comparative form of adjectives consisting of one syllable is formed by adding the suffix “-er” to the base form, and the superlative form is formed by adding the suffix “-est”.

For example:

Adjective

comparative

Superlative

smart (smart)

smarter (smarter)

smartest (the smartest)

fast

faster (faster)

fastest (fastest)

old (old)

older (older)

oldest (oldest)

warm (warm)

warmer (warmer)

warmest (warmest)

Adjectives consisting of two syllables

The comparative degree of two-syllable adjectives is formed by adding the suffix “-er” to the base form or by using the word “more” before the adjective. To form a superlative degree, add the suffix “-est” or the word “most”.

For example:

Adjective

comparative

Superlative

friendly

friendlier (friendlier)

friendliest (most friendly)

pretty (handsome)

prettier (prettier)

prettiest (most beautiful)

sneaky (cunning)

sneakier (cunning)

sneakiest (the most cunning)

crazy (crazy)

crazier (crazier)

craziest (the craziest)

Typically, if an adjective ends in the letter “-y,” the letter “-y” is removed and the suffix “-ier” is added to the base word instead to form a comparative degree, or the suffix “-iest” to form a superlative degree.

Here are some examples of forming comparative and superlative degrees for adjectives consisting of one syllable, using the function words “more” and “most”.

Adjective

comparative

Superlative

honest (honest)

more honest (more honest)

most honest
(the most honest)

extreme (extreme)

more extreme
(more extreme)

most extreme
(most extreme)

helpful (helpful)

more helpful

most helpful
(the most useful)

careful

more careful

most careful
(most careful)

When forming the comparative or superlative degree of adjectives, it is important to use only one of the possible suffixes / function words:

“more” or

Adjectives consisting of three or more syllables

The comparative degree of adjectives consisting of three syllables is formed using the word “more”, which is placed before the adjective. To form a superlative degree, the word “most” is added in the same way.

For example:

Adjective

comparative

Superlative

delicious (delicious)

more delicious (tastier)

most delicious
(the most delicious)

beautiful (beautiful)

more beautiful (more beautiful)

most beautiful
(the most beautiful)

exciting (exciting)

more exciting
(more exciting)

most exciting
(most exciting)

sensitive

more sensitive
(more sensitive)

most sensitive
(most sensitive)

Exceptions to the general rule

Some adjectives are irregular, that is, the comparative and superlative degrees for them are not formed according to general rules. You need to remember such adjectives.

For example:

Using adjectives

Adjectives are usually placed immediately before the noun they describe.

For example:

They bought a new (adjective) computer (noun).

He has a nice (adjective) bicycle (noun).

I like green (adjective) apples (noun) more than red (adjective) apples (noun).

Sometimes adjectives can be placed after the noun they define.

For example:

Let's try something (noun) new (adjective).

He likes his coffee (noun) black (adjective).

In addition, adjectives can be placed after the verb “to be”.

For example:

I am (verb “be”) friendly (adjective).

Angelina (noun) is (verb “be”) beautiful (adjective).

The girls (noun) are (verb “be”) diligent (adjective).

Vacation (noun) will be (verb “be”) fun (adjective).

English Joke

Four Jewish ladies are playing Bridge.
Betty sighs and says, “Oy...”
Freda nods, sighs, and says, “Oy vey!”
Kitty says, "Oy veys meer!"
Charlotte chimes in: “Enough talk about the children already. Let's get back to the game."

Hello dear friends!
Imagine a situation where you are in a store, trying on a shirt and realizing that it is too big. You want to ask for a smaller size and you realize that you know how to say “small”, but you find it difficult to remember what to add to get “smaller”. And there are enough situations when you need to be able to compare. To be able to do this, you need to know the difference between monosyllabic and polysyllabic adjectives in English.

From this article you will learn:

How to identify them

Basically, the division of words into syllables coincides with the Russian language, that is, their number corresponds to the number of vowels. For example, in Russian kar-tosh-ka there are 3 vowels, respectively 3 syllables. It's the same with po-ta-to. But there are also small differences. There are consonants in English that are called sonorant. They give sounds: [m], [n], [l], [w], [r], [j]. Even if a word has one vowel sound, two syllables are counted, as in mild. You'll soon see that it's very simple!
A word that has only a diphthong (a combination of two vowel sounds) among vowel sounds is considered indivisible. Thus, fine contains a diphthong.
And now I’ll tell you why we discussed this...

The simplest rule

So now let's learn powers of comparison. The general scheme of a comparative sentence is as follows: Subject + verb to be + comparative adjective (comparative adjective) + than.
If a word consists of only one syllable, then add –er to it. Examples: tall – taller, small – smaller, fast – faster. We get in a sentence: My car is faster than yours.

Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss anything and receive a phrase book in English, German and French as a gift. It has Russian transcription, so even without knowing the language, you can easily master colloquial phrases.

The superlative sentence structure looks like this: subject + verb to be + the + superlative adjective (superlative).
To make a superlative adjective from a short word, add –est to it. We get: tallest, smallest, fastest.
There are some nuances to remember here. If a word contains a combination of letters consonant + vowel + consonant, double the last letter. For example, sad – sadder – the saddest, big – bigger – the biggest. Moscow is bigger than Tomsk (Moscow is bigger than Tomsk).

Comparative and superlative degrees

With doubling consonants

When a word ends in –e (those with diphthongs), add only –r/-st: nice – nicer – the nicest. Sally is the nicest girl I’ve ever met (Sally is the nicest girl I’ve ever seen).

Endings with diphthongs - you need to remember

Ending in -y

When words are longer
With adjectives that have two or more syllables, use more in the comparative degree and the most in the superlative degree. In this case, the ending is no longer added. For example, wonderful – more wonderful – the most wonderful. Emily is the most beautiful girl in class (Emily is the most beautiful girl in the class).
However, with some people the rule of small words also applies. Most often these are those in which the stress falls at the beginning: quiet – quieter – the quietest, clever – cleverer – the cleverest, narrow – narrower – the narrowest. Although you can add more/most to them.
If the word consists of two and ends in y, then change y to i and add –er/est. For example, funny – funnier – the funniest, crazy – crazier – the craziest.

It's as easy as shelling pears - add more or the most

By the way, did you know that you can easily form adjectives?

With two or more syllables
Not without exceptions
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. Also here, but there are few of them, so learning them will be as easy as shelling pears. I announce the list: good – better – the best, bad – worse – the worst, far – further – the furthest, old – elder – the eldest. However, old is also changed as a regular one, without changing the meaning: older – the oldest. As you noticed, the form itself is changing here, and not just endings are added. But remember, in Russian the same phenomenon is observed: good - better - best.

Exception table

Exceptions

Therefore, the sentence “I have the best dad” will sound in English as My father is the best.
Let's now put the information we received into a table:

adjective comparative superlative
One syllable
YoungYoungerYoungest
Vowel + consonant + vowel
HotHotterHottest
Two or more syllables
CuriousMore curiousMost curious
Ending with -e
CuteCuterCutest
Ending with -y
Funnyfunnierfunniest
exceptions
GoodBetterBest

By the way, speaking English is as easy as shelling pears! You will understand this after your first lesson at Marina Rusakova’s school! Get your first 5 lessons for free! The course can be completed online, no boring cramming or tons of textbooks. Only interesting, lively communication and a simple approach to learning complex rules.

Exercises

And so that the scheme fits into your head forever and bounces off your teeth, I offer you exercises to practice.
Put the adjectives in brackets in the comparative degree:

  1. John is ________ (weak) than Michael.
    John is weaker than Michael.
  2. My teacher is ________(strict) than yours.
  3. People in the North are ________ (friendly) than in the South.
  4. People in Thailand are ________(lazy) than in China.
  5. Sam is 3 years ________(old) than Emily.
  6. Stan has a ________(fat) cat than Dan.
  7. Matt is ________(generous) than Scrooge.
  8. My apartment is ________(big) than yours.
  9. Their workers are even ________(lazy) than ours.
  10. My book is ________(interesting) than yours.

Now translate the sentences into English:

  1. Jack is more sociable than his wife.
    Jack is more sociable than his wife.
  2. Adam is the most insecure person I have ever met.
  3. Mason is more talkative than his neighbor.
  4. Evan is even more arrogant than his boss.
  5. Justin is the most untrustworthy person I know, so I never ask him to help me.
  6. Jessica is more sincere than her friend.
  7. Violet is more practical than Jazmine, she will never spend her last money on lipstick.
  8. Diana is the most forgetful. Yesterday she left her passport at the bank.

Write your answers in the comments, we’ll check it together!

Want more educational articles and reinforcement exercises? All this can be found on the Viva Europe blog. Subscribe and practice your English, because this language will help you communicate freely in Europe!

I was with you, a philologist of the English language, Ekaterina Martynova.
Have a nice day everyone!

Hey, everyone! Today we will discuss English adjectives, or more precisely: their role and order in a sentence, types, structure, formation, characteristic suffixes and prefixes, degrees of comparison and the use of articles with them. You need this! C"mon!

Adjective(adjective) is one of the main parts of speech, which denotes the attribute of an object and answers the questions “ Which?», « whose?».

An adjective is used with a noun to show its special attribute, property and to give additional characteristics of a different nature. It is thanks to adjectives that our speech becomes diverse and emotionally rich.

Unlike adjectives in Russian, in English they do not change neither by gender, nor by case, nor even by number.

We just take an adjective and put any noun after it. Everything is very simple.

smart cat - smart cat;
cute kids - cute children;
hot stuff is hot stuff.

Order of adjectives in an English sentence

Adjective in definition functions stands before the noun it refers to, and in functions of the nominal part compound predicate - after the linking verb. Here's what it looks like in an example:

I have bought a black cat. - I bought a black cat (definition).
This cat is black. - This cat black(predicative).

If adjectives two or more, then they must be used in a certain order. The Russian language also has such a rule, and it can help you avoid getting confused. Often the correct order can be established intuitively, but just in case, here are the rules for you.

First There will be adjectives showing the speaker’s attitude (opinion) to the subject: handsome (attractive), ugly (ugly), luxurious (luxurious).

Second adjectives are used that describe the parameters of an object (size, characteristics, age, shape, color): black (black), old (old), huge (huge).

A before a noun usually purpose: kitchen (kitchen), throwing (throwing), educative (educational).

Order of adjectives in a sentence
Article/Determiner a some my
Opinion lovely
(amazing)
stunning
(stunning)
reasonably priced
(inexpensive)
Size big
(big)
small
(small)
-
Quality
(status characteristic)
well made
(artfully executed)
artful
(skillfully executed)
boiling
(boiling)
Age new
(new)
old
(old)
-
Form rectangular
(rectangular)
square
(square)
-
Color black - red
(red)
Origin
(a country)
American
(American)
english
(English)
Ukrainian
(Ukrainian)
Material (substance) steel
(steel)
oil
(oil)
-
Purpose throwing
(propelling)
ceiling
(ceiling)
Halloween
(Halloween)
Noun knife
(knife)
paintings
(paintings)
meal
(dish)
She has fascinating long hair. - She has charming long hair.
Take that small black metal box. - Take that one small black metal box.
It was a modern wooden dinner table. - It was modern wooden dining room table.
I've bought a new steel carving knife. - I bought new steel cutting knife.
I've bought some expensive square fragile china plates. - I bought several expensive square fragile porcelain plates.

Adjectives, showing measure(deep - depth, high - height, long - length, wide - width, etc.), are placed after the noun being defined.

The highway is 10 kilometers long. - This route is 10 kilometers length.
This lake isn’t big, but it is 30 meters deep. - This lake is small, but depth 30 meters.

Formation of adjectives in English

There are adjectives simple, derivatives and complex(composite).

  • Simple adjectives have neither prefixes nor suffixes (big, short, black, red).
  • Derivatives include suffixes or prefixes, or both at the same time (natur al, in correct, un natur al).
  • Complex(composite) adjectives are formed from two words denoting one concept: dark blue,red-cheeked, snow-white.

Suffixes, prefixes and endings of adjectives

Most famous suffixes adjectives are:

«- less": help less helpless, use less useless;
«- able,« -ible": suit able(suitable), access ible accessible;
«- ous":fam ous famous, danger ous dangerous;
«- ful": use ful useful, care ful(attentive);
«- ent": intelligent ent(smart); preval ent(common)
«- ary": element ary(elementary);
«- ive": aggression ive(aggressive);
«- al": form al formal, center al central;
«- ic": hero ic(heroic);
«- y": sno wy(snow).

The most famous adjective prefixes include:

« un-»: un happy (unhappy), un equal (unequal);
« in-»: in complete (incomplete), in different (indifferent);
« im-»: im polite (impolite), im puberal (immature).

In English there is a list of adjectives that can be used and with suffixes, and with the words “ more/most», « less/least».

able(capable);
angry(wicked);
clever(smart);
common(general);
cruel(cruel);
friendly(friendly);
gentle(gentle);
handsome(Beautiful);
narrow(narrow);
pleasant(nice);
polite(polite);
quiet(quiet);
serious(serious);
simple(simple);
sour(sour).

Types of adjectives in English

According to their meaning, English adjectives are:

  • Quality(big - big, small - small, clever - smart).
  • Relative(wooden - wooden, central - central), etc.

Relative adjectives of the English language do not have degrees of comparison, but qualitative adjectives have the following degrees of comparison: positive, comparative and superlative.

Degrees of comparison of adjectives

Qualitative adjectives and adverbs of manner of action in English, as well as in Russian, have three degrees of comparison:

  • absolute,
  • comparative
  • superlative.

So, with absolute everything is clear in form: long, far, good, active, expensive etc.

Comparative form an adjective is used when comparing two or more objects or people.

A comparative adjective can be formed in two ways:

  • adding a suffix«- er» to the absolute form of the adjective . This applies to one-syllable adjectives (long) and two-syllable adjectives with a “y” at the end (pretty).
This is a long er book.
This doll is pretty ier.

Features of education:

- in words ending with " e", is added " r" at the end (lam e-lame r);
- in words with one vowel and one consonant at the end doubles consonant and add “- er" (b ig- bi gger);
- in words with more than one vowel or with more than one consonant at the end, add “- er" at the end (ha rd- hard er).

  • adding « more» before an adjective. This applies to two-syllable adjectives without a “y” at the end (charming) and adjectives with three or more syllables (powerful).
She is more charming than her friend.
This gun is more powerful than that one.

Features of education:

When comparing two objects (people), the word " than» located between adjective and subject of comparison.

Oranges are sweeter than grapefruits
This painting is more interesting than that painting.

Superlative used to show that a thing or person has the greatest amount of a particular quality (in a group or of its kind). Commonly used with article« the».

It can also be formed in two ways.

  • adding «- est» to absolute form. This applies to one-syllable adjectives (big) and two-syllable adjectives ending in “y” (lucky).
This is the bigg est table in the room.
I"m the luck iest person in the company.

Features of education:

- in words, h ending with " e", the suffix "-" is added st"at the end (large - the large st);
- in words with one vowel and one consonant at the end, the consonant is doubled and “-” is added est" (big-bi ggest);
- in words with more than one vowel or with more than one consonant at the end, add “- est" (blue - blu est);
- in words ending with " y", it is replaced by " i" with addition "- est"(pretty - prettiest).

  • adding « the most» before an adjective. Applies to two-syllable adjectives with a "y" at the end, as well as adjectives with three syllables or more.
This is the most beautiful dress I have ever seen.
This is the most popular song on the list.
That was the most powerful weapon.

Note: Comparative and superlative adjectives come before all others.

I'd like to buy this more beautiful white rose. - I would like to buy this more beautiful white rose.
At the ceremony there were some of the best young French actresses. - Several of the best young French actresses were present at the ceremony.

Positive form of adjective

The positive form is used when no difference between two things or people being compared.

To form a positive we use " as"before and after the absolute form of the adjective.

Danny is as smart as Phillip.
She is as beautiful as her older sister.

This can also be applied in a negative context by adding the word " not» before first « as" This way we indicate that the objects being compared not alike.

Danny is not as smart as Phillip.
She is not as beautiful as her older sister.

Exceptional adjectives

The following adjectives, degrees of comparison of which are not formed according to the general rule, and their forms should be known by heart.

good- better- the best(good - better - best);
bad - worse- the worst(bad - worse - worst);
little- less- the least(small - smaller - smallest);
many/much - more- the most(many - more - greatest);
old- older- the oldest(old - older - oldest);
old- elder-the eldest(old - older - the eldest) - about family members;
late- later- the latest/last(late - later - last/latest in time);
late- the latter- the last(late - the second of the two listed - the last in order);
near- nearer - the nearest(close - closer - closest in distance);
near- nearer- next/the next(closer - closer - next in time/next in order);
far- farther- the farthest(distant - more distant - farthest);
far- further- the furthest(distant, distant - further - further/additional).

Using the article with adjectives

A noun with a definition expressed by an adjective in the superlative degree is used with a definite article if the meaning does not require any pronoun.

London is the largest city in the UK.
My best friend lives in Seattle.

The definite article is retained before the superlative even when the noun is not mentioned (i.e. the noun is implied).

The London underground is the most beautiful in the world.

An English sentence, two parts of which (separated by a comma) begin with an adjective or adverb in the comparative degree with a definite article in front of it, is translated into Russian using the conjunctions “ how …, those … »:

The more we suffer the stronger we get.

Note: In English we can make nouns out of adjectives. To do this we need to add definite article « the" before the adjective, and we get the word in plural number.

All the doctors examined the sick. - All the doctors examined sick.
He is always used to help the poor. - He always helped before poor.
The rich also cry. - Rich they cry too.

Adjectives ending in "-" sh» «- ch"(English, French), turning into nouns, are used with a plural meaning to denote the nation as a whole.

In this case, they are preceded by a definite article: the French (French), the English (English), the Dutch (Dutch), the Spanish (Spaniards).

Top 100 basic adjectives

Eng Rus
nice good, dear
good good
bad bad
terrible horrible
beautiful Beautiful
incredible magic
important important
useless useless
helpful useful
small small
big big
short short
long long
tall high
strong strong
weak weak
funny funny
interesting interesting
boring boring
angry wicked
kind Kind
happy happy
sad sad
satisfied satisfied
wonderful beautiful
slow slow
fast fast
dangerous dangerous
safety safe
possible possible
impossible impossible
early early
late late
cold cold
warm warm
hot hot
sunny solar
clean clean, clear
clever smart
stupid silly
young young
old old
new new
dark dark
bright bright
live alive
dead dead
crazy crazy
easy simple
hard difficult
true correct
false wrong
hungry hungry
comfortable comfortable
lonely lonely
talkative talkative
active active
passive passive
tired tired
shy modest
rich rich
successful successful
tasty delicious
sweet sweet
lovely amazing
deep deep
far far
close close
round round
sharp spicy
soft soft
straight straight
red red
yellow yellow
orange orange
green green
blue blue
black black
gray grey
white white
colored color
fresh fresh
simple simple
complicated difficult
common general, common
rare rare
unique unique
serious serious
busy busy
different different, different
lucky lucky
perfect ideal
surprised surprised
shocked shocked
glad pleased
excellent great
wet wet
dry dry
normal ordinary
free free

Conclusion

We hope that the topic of adjectives is now more than clear to you. To reinforce the material, we suggest you try our simulator on adjectives and degrees of comparison.

EnglishDom #inspiring to learn

The rules for forming degrees of comparison of adjectives can be very clearly presented in the form of a table:

Length
words
Degree of comparison of an adjective
Positive degree comparative Superlative
1 - 2
syllable

adjective


cheap
cheap

big
big

happy
happy

adjective + er


cheap er
cheaper

bigg er
more

happy er
happier

adjective + est


cheap est
the cheapest

bigg est
biggest

happy est
the happiest

more
2-x
syllables

adjective

expensive
Expensive

serious
serious

beautiful
beautiful

enclosed
telial

more expensive
more expensive

more serious
more serious

more beautiful
more beautiful

enclosed
telial

the most expensive
dearest

the most serious
the most serious

the mos t beautiful
the most beautiful

Degrees of comparison of adjectives in English, table 1.

As can be seen from the table, degrees of comparison of adjectives are formed in one of two ways:

1) An ending is added to short words –er(for comparative degree) or ending -est(for superlatives).

For example, the word cheap(cheap), consists of one syllable, so its comparative and superlative look like this:

2) A particle is added before a long word more(for comparative degree) or particle most(for superlatives). For example, the word beautiful consists of 3 syllables, so to form comparative and superlative degrees you need to use the particles more/most

beautiful more beautiful the most beautiful
Beautiful more beautiful the most beautiful

Please note that no matter whether the word is long or short, you must always add the definite article the before the superlative degree.

As you can see, the rules for forming degrees of comparison are quite simple. But there are exceptions to every rule.

Exceptions. Adjectives whose degrees of comparison need to be remembered.

There are 8 exception adjectives that do not form degrees of comparison according to the general rule. Here is their list:

Positive degree comparative Superlative

good(good)

well(Fine)

better(better) the best(the best / the best)

bad(bad)

badly(Badly)

worse(worse) the worst(the worst/worst of all)

many(a lot of)

much(a lot of)

more(more/over) the most(most/most)
little(few) less(less/less) the least(least/least)
far(far) farther(more distant) the farthest(the furthest)
far(far) further(further) the furthest(farthest)
old(old) elder(older) the eldest(oldest)

Table 2. Exceptions in the degree of comparison of adjectives in English.

This list must be learned by heart. Because adjectives from this list are very often used in oral speech.

How to write degrees of comparison of adjectives correctly?

When adding the ending –er/-est to an adjective, you need to follow a few simple rules:

1) If an adjective has an “e” at the end, then the “e” does not need to be doubled. For example:

3) The letter "y" at the end of the word is replaced with the letter "i":

easy eas ie r eas ie st
simple easier simplest

If something remains unclear to you, you can read