Adjective (Introduction) Error in the use of Adjective
Errors in the use of Adjective
A word that describes a noun or pronoun is called adjective.
Poor people, beautiful girl, tall tree.
There are three degrees of an adjective.
| First Degree | Second Degree | Third Degree |
| Positive Degree | Comparative Degree | Superlative Degree |
Formulas to Make Degrees.
1. We add ‘er’ and ‘est’ with one syllable adjective.
Examples:
| First Degree | Second Degree | Third Degree |
| Black | Blacker | Blackest |
| Hard | Harder | Hardest |
| Big | Bigger | Biggest |
| Kind | Kinder | Kindest |
2. We add ‘more’ and ‘most’ with two syllable adjectives.
Examples:
| First Degree | Second Degree | Third Degree |
| Beautiful | More beautiful | Most beautiful |
| Charming | More charming | Most charming |
| Honest | More honest | Most honest |
3. We add ‘er’ and ‘est’ with two syllables adjectives ending in y, ow and er.
Examples:
| First Degree | Second Degree | Third Degree |
| Busy | Busier | Busiest |
| Happy | Happier | Happiest |
| Simple | Simpler | Simplest |
| Narrow | Narrower | Narrowest |
| Pretty | Prettier | Prettiest |
| Noble | Nobler | Noblest |
| Clever | Cleverer | Cleverest |
4. Irregular Comparisons
| First Degree | Second Degree | Third Degree |
| Bad, ill, Evil | Worse | Worst |
| Far | Farther | Farthest |
| Fore | Former | Foremost |
| Good | Better | Best |
| Late | Later | Latest |
Adjectives used in the Positive degree.
1. The following adjectives are always used in a positive degree.
Exterior, Interior, Minor, Major, Latter, Upper, Lower, Inner and Elder.
2. Adjectives not used in the superlative degree.
Perfect, unique, universal, ideal, chief, excellent, extreme and worldwide
3. Adjectives used with ‘to instead of than’.
Superior, senior, junior, inferior, prefer, prior, elder.
Errors in the Use of Comparative Degree.
- In comparative degree, the adjectives are followed by ‘than’.
- One thing is compared with only one or two things.
- The degree should not be doubled.
i. He is more stronger than his brother. (Incorrect)
He is stronger than his brother.(Correct) (no double degree)
ii. He is fatter from his friend. (Incorrect)
He is fatter than his friend. (Correct) (comparison, used ‘than’ instead of ‘to’)
iii. He is taller than any boy in the class.(Incorrect)
He is taller than any other boy in the class. (Correct)
Note: If there is ‘any’ in the comparative sentence add ‘other’ to ‘any’.
1. The following comparatives are used by ‘to’ instead of ‘than’. Don’t use more or most before them.
Superior, senior, junior, inferior, prefer, prior, elder.
Examples:
i. He is more senior than I. (Incorrect)
He is senior to I. (Correct)
ii. He prefers tea than milk. (Incorrect)
He prefers tea to milk. (Correct)
iii. His pen is superior than mine. (Incorrect)
His pen is superior to mine. (Correct)
2. Comparison is done with the same species and the quality must be the same. If comparison is not done with the same species use ‘that of’ after, ‘than’.
Examples:
i. Iqbal’s style is better than Hali. (Incorrect)
Iqbal’s style is better than that of Hali. (Correct)
ii. The population of Karachi is greater than Lahore. (Incorrect)
The population of Karachi is greater than that of Lahore. (Correct)
iii. Your pen is better than me. (Incorrect)
Your pen is better than that of mine. (Correct)
3. If ‘any’ is used in the comparative degree add ‘other’ to any
Examples:
i. He is taller than any man in the town.(Incorrect)
He is taller than any other man in the town. (Correct)
ii. He is more intelligent than any boy in the class.(Incorrect)
He is more intelligent than any other boy in the class. (Correct)
Comparative degree in the selective sense:The definite article ‘The’
4. When the comparative degree is used in selective sense, the definite article ‘the’ is used.
Examples:
i.Salma is cleverer of the two sisters. (Incorrect)
Salma is the cleverer of the two sisters. (Correct)
ii. She is more intelligent of the two. (Incorrect)
She is the more intelligent of the two. (Correct)
Hopefully, your concept about Adjective (Introduction) Error in the use of Adjective is clear now, This lecture is part of the whole series of English Grammar by Miss Nabila Gulzar, For Other Lectures Click Here also We have an Essay on every topic, Check the complete list here. If you are Studying in Matric Free Video Lectures of Maths, Physics and English are here, and if we got you covered for I.COM Business Maths also.
