structure of English

1. The Use of Adjectives
Making
Descriptions
This looks
a little...

4. What is an adjective?

6. Classes of Adjectives

7. Coordinate adjectives
These are small groups of adjectives used to
describe some attributes of the same noun or
subject. They are separated by a comma to avoid
confusing the adjectives as singular modifier and
not a coordinate pair.
Examples
She wore a blue and white blouse
yesterday.
It was a dark, gloomy and
thunderous afternoon in
Boracay.

8. Demonstrative adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives refer to "which" noun or
pronoun you are speaking about. A demonstrative
adjective comes before all other adjectives in the
noun phrase. Some of the common demonstrative
adjectives are this, that, these and those.
Examples
Would you like these shoes?
This car used to be his.
She doesn't want that gown.

9. Descriptive adjectives
These adjectives generally modify a noun. They
give the noun a quality or attribute, i.e. the good
son, the majestic mountain.
Examples
He hurt her feelings when he
called her lying bitch.
The pitiful dog got trapped in
the filthy cage.

10. Distributive adjectives
These adjectives point out specific entities and
single out a particular noun or pronoun in order to
modify, or draw attention, to it. Some of these
adjectives are any, each, either, every, neither.
They stand before the noun they modify.
Examples
I don't like to hear any news
about COVID-19.
Don't touch every plant you see
in the garden.
She bought each cellphone
model in that store.

11. Indefinite adjectives
Indefinite adjectives point to non-specific items.
They are similar to indefinite articles. Some of
these are any, few, many, no and several.
Examples
I don't like to hear any
complaints from you.
Do you have many units in
stocks?
There are no teachers in the
faculty room.

12. Interrogative adjectives
Interrogative adjectives pose a question and need
a noun or pronoun by their side. Some of these are
what, which and whose.
Examples
What brand do you prefer for a
laptop?
Which dress do you want to
wear tonight?
Whose mother is here to see the
principal?

13. Possessive adjectives
Possessive adjectives show possession. Some of
these adjectives are his, her, my, our, their and
your. They come before their corresponding
noun/s.
Examples
Is that their house?
Don't touch our Ferrari.

14. Predicate adjectives
They come after a linking verb. These linking verbs
include am, is, are, was, were, etc.
Examples
She is intelligent.
We are so poor.

15. Proper adjectives
These adjectives are capitalized adjectives derived
from proper nouns.
Examples
I love Korean cuisine.
Singaporean English is different
from conventional English.

16. Quantitative adjectives
These describe the quantity of something. They
answer the question, "how much?" Numbers zero
through nine must be written in words while for
anything 10 and above, numerals must be used.
Examples
She has four siblings.
Soon, I hope to have three
children.
I'll take the whole pizza

17. Subsequence adjectives
Sequence adjectives are similar to quantitative
adjectives, they are also called ordinal adjectives.
Examples
This is my third take for the
licensure examination.
She celebrated her eighteenth .
I watched the latest movie
sequel of Spiderman
This is her next album

18. Articles as adjectives
Articles such as a, an, the act as adjectives. They
stand beside their nouns.
Examples
She is the daughter of the
president.
I just saw a comet fall.

19. Describes one noun
We use the positive form of adjectives to
describe a single noun.
Positive
A hotel is comfortable.
Are you feeling good?
The weather today is hot.
Greta is tall.
I can drive fast.
She looks happy.
Greta

20. Comparison between two
We use the comparative form of adjectives and
adverbs to compare two things or actions.
Comparatives
A hotel is more comfortable than a tent.
Are you feeling better?
It's hotter today than yesterday.
Greta is taller than Lorna.
I can drive faster than you.
She looks happier than before.
Greta
Lorna

21. Comparison in a group
We use the superlative form of adjectives and
adverbs to compare one thing or action with a
group of things or actions.
This is the most comfortable sofa I've ever sat on.
He's my best friend.
The hottest temperatures in Brazil are in January.
Greta is the tallest in her family.
Is this the fastest you can drive?
Some of my happiest memories are from the 90s.
Greta
Superlatives

22. to make comparisons
Other types of clauses

23. A bike isn't as fast as car.
(not) as/so ... as
A smartphone might be just as expensive as a laptop.
just as ... as
The higher you climb, the dizzier you feel.
the ... the
Tom's nose is getting redder and redder with that cold.
more... and more
Other Expressions

24. 1 syllable
2 syllable
ending in -y
1 syllable
ending in -e
1 syllable ending
consonant-vowel-
consontant
2 or more
syllables*
Irregular (good/well -
bad/badly - far -
old**)
Comparative -er -ier -r
double consontant +
-er
more...
better
worse
farther/further
elder*
Superlative -est -iest -st
double consontant +
-est
the most...
the best
the worst
the farthest/the furthest
the eldest*
Forms
**Old has a regular form (older/the older) and an irregular one (elder/the eldest) when describing people's ages, especially when they are family members.
*Some two-syllable adjectives can take both forms (adding -er/-est or more/the most): narrow - clever - simple - cruel - common - likely - gentle - common.
*Adverbs ending in -ly always add more/the most.

25. Notes
Less/the least are the opposites of more/the most.
Planes are less dangerous than cars.
I bought the least expensive phone. I only need it to make calls.
Superlatives are common in expressions with ever.
This is the biggest hamburger I've ever eaten!
Before comparatives, we can use much/a lot/a bit/no/any.
Your car is much faster than mine.

26. Order of Adjectives/Cumulative Adjectives
The order of adjectives refers to the specific sequence in which
multiple adjectives are placed before a noun in English. When you
describe something using more than one adjective, these adjectives
follow a fixed order to ensure the sentence sounds natural and
clear.
Cumulative adjectives are adjectives that work together to build a
description without needing commas between them. They are not
interchangeable, and their order follows a particular hierarchy.

27. Placement Type of Adjective Examples
1
Article, Demonstrative
determiner, or
Possessive determiner
a, an, the, this, that,
these, my, your, his, our.
2 Quantity one, three, ninety-nine
3 Opinion or Observation
beautiful, clever, witty,
well-mannered
4 Size big, medium-sized, small
5 Physical quality thin, lumpy, cluttered
6 Shape square, round, long
Order of Adjectives/Cumulative Adjectives
Placement Type of Adjective Examples
7 Age young, middle-aged, old
8 Colour/Color red, blue, purple
9 Origin or Religion French, Buddhist
10 Material metal, leather, wooden
11 Type
L-shaped, two-sided, all-
purpose
12
Purpose, or Attributive
noun
mixing, drinking, cooking,
service, football, head

28. Order of Adjectives/Cumulative Adjectives
"A beautiful small
round old red Italian
wooden dining table."
Example: ORDER
A (article)
Beautiful (opinion)
Small (size)
Round (shape)
Old (age)
Red (color)
Italian (origin)
Wooden (material)
Dining (purpose)

29. Order of Adjectives/Cumulative Adjectives
Why Does the Order Matter?
If you mix up the order, the sentence can sound unnatural or
confusing. For instance:
❌"A French old wooden round beautiful table" sounds
wrong.
✔️"A beautiful old round wooden French table" is correct.

30. Order of Adjectives/Cumulative Adjectives
"My big blue leather
travel bag."
Example: ORDER
My (determiner)
Big (size)
Blue (color)
Leather (material)
Travel (purpose)
Bag (noun)

31. Happy
learning!