Adjectives
English Language: AQA A Level, topic 1.2.4
Lexis - Adjectives
Adjectives are words which describe nouns. These adjectives come in different forms.
Base adjectives
- Base adjectives are just plain adjectives without anything suffixed (added onto the end) onto the word.
- For example, big, pretty and high.
Base adjectives - examples
- James is handsome.
- Handsome is the base adjective.
- Sarah has a pretty voice.
- Pretty is the base adjective.
- It is such a sunny day.
- Sunny is the base adjective.
Comparative adjectives
- Base adjectives become comparative when the ‘-er’ suffix is added onto the end of the base adjective.
- For example, bigger, prettier and higher.
Comparative adjectives - examples
- Sally is kinder than Millie.
- Kinder is the comparative adjective here.
- Casper is older than Martin.
- Older is the comparative adjective here.
- The supermarket is nearer to my house than yours.
Superlative adjectives
- Base adjectives become superlative when the ‘-est’ suffix is added onto the end.
- For example, biggest, prettiest and highest.
Superlative adjectives examples
- He is the greatest dancer.
- Greatest is the superlative adjective.
- Edina is the wisest woman I know.
- Wisest is the superlative adjective.
- That library is the oldest library in the world.
- Oldest is the superlative adjective.
Test yourself on Adjectives
Which sentences use comparative adjectives?
Which sentence contains a base adjective?
Which sentence contains a superlative adjective?
Types of Adjectives