Adjectives of degree

Charles Dube

ADJECTIVES can show degrees of intensity in three main ways: through a list of adjectives showing ascending or descending intensity, for example, “hot”. “warm” tepid, through use of the comparative and superlative forms, for instance, “hot”, “hotter”, “hottest” and through the addition of adverbs, for example, “very quiet”, “quite small”, “rather loud” and many more.

Adjectives can be used for comparing things. Comparative adjectives are used when we want to compare two things.

We usually add “er” to the adjective to form the comparative, for instance: This substance is hot. That liquid is hotter. Look at the following list of adjectives and how they are formed. Are there any spelling changes. Warm – warmer, kind – kinder, sad – sadder, cooler– cooler, happy – happier, windy – windy, wider – wider.

If the adjective ends in “e” we just add “r”. Look at long adjectives, for example “frightening”. “important”, “gracious”
and others. We do not just add “er” when forming comparatives on these but they form their comparatives with the word more. Examples: frightening – more frightening, important – more important, gracious – more gracious, fantastic – more fantastic, attractive – more attractive.

Rules for comparing three or more things by adding “est”. Look at this list of adjectives and their superlative forms: short – shortest, long – longest, fine finest, hot – hottest, sleepy – sleepiest, sharp – sharpest, big – biggest fat – fattest. If an adjective already ends in “e” we just add “st”. Long adjectives form their superlatives with most. For example, frightening – most frightening, important – most important, beautiful – most beautiful, gracious – most gracious, light – lightest, fast – fastest, happy – happiest.

Learn the irregular comparatives and superlatives as follows: bad – worse – worst, good – better – best, little – less – least, much – more- most, many – more – most, some – more – most. Lazy – lazier – laziest, heavy – heavier – heaviest, young – youngest, sad – saddest. Brown – more brown – most brown, dangerous – more dangerous – most dangerous, peaceful – more peaceful – most peaceful, sunny – sunnier – sunniest, loud – louder – loudest.

Too, very, so and much. These are four words that are sometimes confused. All the four words precede adjectives, but they do not have the same meaning. Precede means these words come before or go before adjectives. You use too when you want to express excess.

The tea was too hot, I couldn’t drink it. The tea was too hot to drink. She could remember too well the ill-treatment she got from her husband. He is not too keen on it. My answer is too long. I have to shorten it.

I am sorry I cannot buy you that present. It is too expensive. You use very in order to emphasise an adjective or verb.

She walked very slowly. She was very young when she joined the band. He likes his friend very much. They were there from the beginning. It is very cold outside today. The course is very expensive, I will only take when funds permit. Use so when you want to show a cause-and-effect relationship.

Mary was so late that she missed the bus to school. My car is so old that it cannot be repaired. It was so dark outside that I could not figure out the path to my neighbour’s home. The restaurant was so expensive that John and his guest had to seek an alternative.

You use much to emphasise that something is true to a great extent. The learners are looking forward very much to the holidays. He is very much at ease in life. The travelling party stopped half way through the journey for a much-needed rest. After the teacher explained the concept again the learners were much more confident in answering the questions. Jeremy does not talk about them much.

Complete the sentences using the following words: very, so, too, such. Peter, I am – glad you gave my mother some money. Be – careful when you get to the snake park. There is a – dangerous python. Ben is not feeling – bad this afternoon. He is getting better. The dress wasn’t – expensive, so Thembi bought. We have to thank Rose for the – delicious food. It is a pity you were not at the hotel yesterday. We had – nice time. The show was – better than Prisca expected.

Adverbs – An adverb is a word which gives more information about a verb, an adjective or another adverb. While verbs tell us what is happening, adverbs tell us how, when, where and to what degree something is happening. Adverbs of manner – tell us how something is happening. For example: seriously, cheerfully. Too much play can seriously affect your performance in the examinations. I have never deliberately hurt anyone. He moved slowly and spoke softly.

Adverbs of time – tell us when something is happening. For instance, often, rarely. She visits his ailing granny more often these days. She rarely goes to church these days. She finished her homework first. There are more examples to be covered under the same topic in future.

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