A - Comparison with -er/-est
clean - cleaner - (the) cleanest
We use -er/-est with the following adjectives:
1) Adjectives with one syllable
positive |
comparative |
superlative |
clean |
cleaner |
Cleanest |
new |
newer |
Newest |
cheap |
cheaper |
Cheapest |
2) Adjectives with two syllables and the following endings:
2 - 1) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -y
positive |
comparative |
Superlative |
dirty |
dirtier |
Dirtiest |
easy |
easier |
Easiest |
happy |
happier |
Happiest |
pretty |
prettier |
Prettiest |
2 - 2) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -er
positive |
comparative |
Superlative |
clever |
cleverer |
Cleverest |
2 - 3) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -le
positive |
comparative |
Superlative |
simple |
simpler |
Simplest |
2 - 4) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ow
positive |
comparative |
Superlative |
narrow |
narrower |
Narrowest |
3) Spelling of the adjectives using the endings -er/-est
positive |
comparative |
superlative |
Comment |
large |
larger |
largest |
leave out the silent -e |
big |
bigger |
biggest |
Double the consonant after short vowel |
sad |
sadder |
saddest |
|
dirty |
dirtier |
dirtiest |
Change -y to -i (consonant before -y) |
shy |
shyer |
shyest |
Here -y is not changed to -i. (although consonant before -y) |
B - Comparison with more - most
positive |
comparative |
Superlative |
difficult |
more difficult |
(the) most difficult |
all adjectives with more than one syllable (except some adjectives with two syllables - see 2 - 1 to 2 - 4)
C - Irregular adjectives
positive |
comparative |
superlative |
Comment |
good |
better |
best |
|
bad |
worse |
worst |
|
much |
more |
most |
uncountable nouns |
many |
more |
most |
countable nouns |
little |
less |
least |
|
little |
smaller |
smallest |
|
D - Special adjectives
Some adjectives have two possible forms of comparison (-er/est and more/most).
positive |
comparative |
superlative |
clever |
cleverer / more clever |
cleverest / most clever |
common |
commoner / more common |
commonest / most common |
likely |
likelier / more likely |
likeliest / most likely |
pleasant |
pleasanter / more pleasant |
pleasantest / most pleasant |
polite |
politer / more polite |
politest / most polite |
quiet |
quieter / more quiet |
quietest / most quiet |
simple |
simpler / more simple |
simplest / most simple |
stupid |
stupider / more stupid |
stupidest / most stupid |
subtle |
subtler / more subtle |
subtlest / most subtle |
sure |
surer / more sure |
surest / most sure |
E - Difference in meaning with adjectives:
positive |
comparative |
superlative |
Comment |
far |
farther |
farthest |
Distance |
further |
furthest |
distance or time |
|
late |
later |
latest |
|
latter |
x |
|
|
x |
last |
|
|
old |
older |
oldest |
people and things |
elder |
eldest |
people (family) |
|
near |
nearer |
nearest |
Distance |
x |
next |
Order |
1. something is similar A=B
Our car is as fast as Peter's car.
2. something is not similar A><B
a) Use not as ... as (to say that something is not similar)
John's car is not as fast as our car. (A><B)
b) Use than (to say that something is bigger or smaller)
Our car is faster than John's car. (A>B) John's car is slower than our car. (A<B)
NOTE!
Peter is taller than me. (informal) Peter is taller than I am. (formal)
Max is as tall as me. (informal) Max is as tall as I am. (formal)
Do not mix up than with then. see: then or than - Confusing words
What are adjectives?
Adjectives tell us something about a person or a thing.
What do adjectives modify?
Adjectives can modify nouns or pronouns/names.
person |
Thing |
Mandy is a careful girl. |
This is a nice car. |
She is careful. |
It is nice. |
Mandy is careful. |
|
Where do adjectives go?
An adjective can be put before the noun). Then it is an attribute.
person |
Thing |
Mandy is a careful girl. |
This is a nice car. |
An adjective can be put after the verb to be (is). Then it is part of the predicate.
person |
Thing |
The girl is careful. |
This car is nice. |
Adjectives can go after the following verbs: appear, become, feel, get, go, keep, turn.
When we speak about what something looks like, smells, sounds and tastes - we use the adjective. Mind the difference between adjective and adverb.
I feel great. She looks good. It seems impossible. The steak smells fantastic.
Can adjectives be used without nouns?
Yes, adjectives can be used without nouns. Mind the definite article "the":
the rich = rich people
Here is an example from the fairy tale "Cinderella":
“The good must be put in the dish, The bad you may eat if you wish.”
Here is another example with nationalities in the plural:
The Scottish live in the North of the United Kingdom.
Can two or more adjectives used together?
Yes, if you use more adjectives you can put them in front of the noun:
a fat old cat
or you can put them after the verb (eg. to be). Then and is placed between the last two adjectives.
It was cold, wet and windy.
Adjectives, ending in -ing and -ed
There are adjectives ending in -ing and -ed. These are participle constructions, used like adjectives. Here are some examples:
A) Here the adjective is put before the noun:
Yesterday I read an amusing story in a magazine. Doris has a boring job. We watched the group of excited people.
B) Here the adjective is put after the verb:
I was not at all amused by the dicussion. Children get bored very quickly. The end of the film was really exciting for me.
The adverbs and the adjectives in English
Adverbs tell us in what way someone does something. Adverbs can modify verbs (here: drive), adjectives or other adverbs.
Adjectives tell us something about a person or a thing. Adjectives can modify nouns (here: girl)or pronouns (here: she).
adjective |
Adverb |
Mandy is a careful girl. |
Mandy drives carefully. |
She is very careful. |
|
Mandy is a careful driver. This sentence is about Mandy, the driver, so use the adjective.
Mandy drives carefully. This sentence is about her way of driving, so use the adverb.
Form
Adjective + -ly
adjective |
Adverb |
dangerous |
Dangerously |
careful |
Carefully |
nice |
Nicely |
horrible |
Horribly |
easy |
Easily |
electronic |
Electronically |
irregular forms |
|
good |
Well |
fast |
Fast |
hard |
Hard |
If the adjective ends in -y, change -y to -i. Then add -ly. happy - happily but: shy - shyly
If the adjective ends in -le, the adverb ends in -ly. Example: terrible - terribly
If the adjective ends in -e, then add -ly. Example: safe - safely
Tip: Not all words ending in -ly are adverbs.
adjectives ending in -ly: friendly, silly, lonely, ugly nouns, ending in -ly: ally, bully, Italy, melancholy verbs, ending in -ly: apply, rely, supply
There is no adverb for an adjective ending in -ly.
Use of adverbs
to modify verbs: The soccer team played badly last Saturday.
to modify adjectives: It was an extemely bad match.
to modify adverbs: The soccer team played extremely badly last Wednesday.
to modify quantities: There are quite a lot of people here.
to modify sentences: Unfortunately, the flight to Dallas had been cancelled.
Types of adverbs
1) Adverbs of manner quickly kindly
2) Adverbs of degree very rather
3) Adverbs of frequency often sometimes
4) Adverbs of time now today
5) Adverbs of place here nowhere
How do know whether to use an adjective or an adverb?
John is a careful driver. -> In this sentences we say how John is - careful.
If we want to say that the careful John did not drive the usual way yesterday - we have to use theadverb: John did not drive carefully yesterday.
Here is another example:
I am a slow walker. (How am I? -> slow -> adjective) I walk slowly. (Ho do I walk? -> slowly -> adverb)
Adjective or Adverb after special verbs
Both adjectives and adverbs may be used after look, smell and taste. Mind the change in meaning.
Here are two examples:
adjective |
adverb |
The pizza tastes good. (How is the pizza?) |
Jamie Oliver can taste well. (How can Jamie Oliver taste?) |
Peter's feet smell bad. (How are his feet?) |
Peter can smell badly. (How can Peter smell?) |
Do not get confused with good/well.
Linda looks good. (What type of person is she?)
Linda looks well. (How is Linda? -> She may have been ill, but now she is fit again.)
How are you? - I'm well, thank you.
One can assume that in the second/third sentence the adverb well is used, but this is wrong. well can be an adjective (meaning fit/healthy), or an adverb of the adjective good.
Conclusion: Use the adjective when you say something about the person itself. Use the adverb, when you want to say about the action.
These adverbs have two forms:
without -ly |
with -ly |
fair |
fairly |
free |
freely |
high |
highly |
late |
lately |
most |
mostly |
near |
nearly |
pretty |
prettily |
right |
rightly |
wrong |
wrongly |
The definite article - the
The definite article the is the same for all genders in singular and in plural. the boy, the girl, the cat, the computers
If
the following word begins with a vowel, we speak [
],
if the following word begins with a consonant, we speak [
].
[ |
[ |
the following word starts with a spoken consonant |
the following word starts with a spoken vowel |
the girl |
the English girl |
the book |
the orange book |
the school |
the old school |
the unit
Here
a [ |
the uncle
Here
a [ |
]
]
]
is pronounced at the beginning of the word.
]
is pronounced at the beginning of the word.We have listed some examples in the following table. There you can see when we use the definite article and when we don't.
without the definite article |
with the definite article |
general words (indefinite) |
general words (definite) |
Life is too short. I like flowers. |
I've read a book on the life of Bill Clinton. I like the flowers in your garden. |
names of persons on the singular, relatives |
family names in the plural |
Peter and John live in London. Aunt Mary lives in Los Angeles. |
The Smiths live in Chicago. |
public buildings, institutions, means of transport (indefinite) |
public buildings, institutions, means of transport (definite) |
Mandy doesn't like school. We go to school by bus. Some people go to church on Sundays. |
The school that Mandy goes to is old. The bus to Dresden leaves at 7.40. The round church in Klingenthal is famous. |
names of countries in the singular; summits of mountains; continents; towns |
names of countries in the plural; mountain ranges; regions |
Germany, France; Mount Whitney, Mount McKinley; Africa, Europe; Cairo, New York |
the United States of America, the Netherlands; the Highlands, the Rocky Mountains, the Alps; the Middle East, the west of Australia |
single islands |
groups of islands |
Corfu, Bermuda, Sicily |
the Bahamas, the British Isles, the Canaries |
parks; lakes; streets |
name with of-phrase; oceans; seas; rivers |
Central Park, Hyde Park; Lake Michigan, Loch Ness; 42nd Street, Oxford Street |
the Statue of Liberty, the Tower (of London), the Isle of Wight; the Atlantic (Ocean); the Mediterranean (Sea); the Nile, the Rhine, the Suez Canal |
months, days of the week (indefinite) |
months, days of the week (definite) |
The weekend is over on Monday morning. July and August are the most popular months for holidays. |
I always remember the Monday when I had an accident. The August of 2001 was hot and dry. |
We use the seasons of the year (spring, summer, autumn, winter) with or without the definite article.
in summer or in the summer
The American English word for autumn >fall< is always used with the definite article.
Sometimes we use the article and sometimes we do not. It often depends on the context. Watch the following example:
The student goes to school. The mother goes to the school.
In the first sentence we do not use the definite article, in the second we do. The student goes to school for its primary purpose, so we do not use the article.
The mother might talk to a teacher, for example. She visits the school for a different reason. That's why we use the definite article in the second sentence.
The indefinite article - a
The indefinite article is the a is the same for all genders. a boy, a girl, a cat
The indefinite article has no plural form. a boy - boys
We use an if the following word starts with a vowel.
the following word starts with a consonant |
the following word starts with a vowel |
a boy |
an aunt |
a school |
an old school |
a girl |
an American girl |
Mind the pronunciation of the following word.
a unit |
an uncle |
This u sounds like a consonant, so we use a. |
This u sounds like a vowel, so we use an. |
Use of the indefinite article a/an
- before phrases of time and measurements (per week/weekly)
We have English 4 times a week. |
I go on holiday twice a year. |
Our car can do 220 kilometres an hour. |
Tomatoes are $2 a kilo. |
- before phrases of jobs
My father is a car mechanic. |
- with a noun complement
He is a good boy. |
- before phrases of nationality
Bruce Springsteen is an American. |
- half/quite
We need half a pound of sugar. |
This is quite a good story. |
Fill in the article >a<, >an< or >the< where necessary. Choose >x< where no article is used. |
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|
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|
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|
blue
T-shirt over there better than
red
one.
Decide whether to use the definite article >the< or not. If you do not need the article >the<, usex. |
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|
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|
Decided whether to use the definite article >the< or not. If you do not need the article >the<, type an x. |
|
|
|
|
USA
last Monday. We left
Rome,
flew over
Alps
and made a quick stop in
London.
There we went shopping in
Harrods,
visited
Tower
and enjoyed a sunny afternoon in
Hyde
Park. On the following day we left for
New
York.
time
on board wasn't boring as there were two films to watch
on
monitor.
people
on
plane
were all
Italian.
Before we landed at
JFK
airport, we saw
Statue
of Liberty,
Ellis
Island and
Empire
State Building.
hotel
I stayed in was on
corner
of
42nd
Street and
5th
Avenue. I don't like
hotels
very much, but I didn't have
time
to rent an apartment.
Please
say hello to Peter and Mandy.
Yours,
Peter
Use >a< or >an<. Write the correct forms of the indefinite articles into the gaps. Toggle example |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
new
English book on the desk.
old
comic.
Conditional sentences
The conditional sentences are sometimes confusing for learners of English.
Watch out:
1) Which type of the conditional sentences is used?
2) Where is the if-clause (e.g. at the beginning or at the end of the conditional sentence)?
There are three types of the if-clauses.
type |
condition |
I |
condition possible to fulfill |
II |
condition in theory possible to fulfill |
III |
condition not possible to fulfill (too late) |
Form
type |
if clause |
main clause |
I |
Simple Present |
will-future (or Modal + infinitive) |
II |
Simple Past |
would + infinitive * |
III |
Past Perfect |
would + have + past participle * |
Examples (if-clause at the beginning)
type |
if clause |
main clause |
I |
If I study, |
I will pass the exam. |
II |
If I studied, |
I would pass the exam. |
III |
If I had studied, |
I would have passed the exam. |
Examples (if-clause at the end)
type |
main clause |
if-clause |
I |
I will pass the exam |
if I study. |
II |
I would pass the exam |
if I studied. |
III |
I would have passed the exam |
if I had studied. |
Examples (affirmative and negative sentences)
type |
|
Examples |
|
|
|
long forms |
short/contracted forms |
I |
+ |
If I study, I will pass the exam. |
If I study, I'll pass the exam. |
- |
If I study, I will not fail the exam. If I do not study, I will fail the exam. |
If I study, I won't fail the exam. If I don't study, I'll fail the exam. |
|
II |
+ |
If I studied, I would pass the exam. |
If I studied, I'd pass the exam. |
- |
If I studied, I would not fail the exam. If I did not study, I would fail the exam. |
If I studied, I wouldn't fail the exam. If I didn't study, I'd fail the exam. |
|
III |
+ |
If I had studied, I would have passed the exam. |
If I'd studied, I'd have passed the exam. |
- |
If I had studied, I would not have failedthe exam. If I had not studied, I would have failedthe exam. |
If I'd studied, I wouldn't have failed the exam. If I hadn't studied, I'd have failed the exam. |
|
* We can substitute could or might for would (should, may or must are sometimes possible, too).
I would pass the exam. |
I could pass the exam. |
I might pass the exam. |
I may pass the exam. |
I should pass the exam. |
I must pass the exam. |
Thanks to Kai.