Important Rules of Adjective With Examples

Adjective of Number

Definite Number

• Ordinal (O)- first, second
• Cardinal (C)- One, two, three, four
• Multiplicative (M)- Single, double

Examples:

•  2/3= Two (C)-third (O)
• 2/3 of book= Two-thirds of book
• We use “thirds” not “third” because of the countable nature of a book. In the case of uncountable, we use “third”.
• 2/3 of land= Two-third of land

Sequence of definite number- (O)>(C)> (M)
Example: 

I have prepared the first five chapters of the book.
Note: Before ordinal number, we use “the” article.

Adjective With -ior suffix

Some adjectives such as posterior, senior, inferior, junior, superior, prior, preferably are not followed by “than” but followed by “to”
Examples: 

My friend is senior to me. Virat is superior to Rohit.

Adjective with no superlative degree

Unique, extreme, excellent, absolute, complete, entire, minor, major, whole, lunar, chief, eternal, perfect, impossible, supreme, geometrical shapes (rectangular, circular, oval and round) are not preceded by any comparative and superlative.
Examples: 

• I have never seen a more complete man like him. (Wrong)
• I have never seen a complete man like him. (Correct)

Replacement of  "To"

“To” is placed after likely, sure and certain.
Examples: 

• Rain is likely to begin. 
• It is likely to rain. 
• We are sure to win.

Less & Few

Less is used to show quantity while fewer are used to show numbers.
Examples: 

• I earn less money than my brother. 
• I have fewer coins than Sachin.

Last & Latest

“Last” is used to show the final one. “Latest” is used to show the last up to the present
Examples: 

• He hits six on the last ball. 
• I have watched the latest movie of Akshay Kumar.

Selection of one item

Selecting one from the collection, we use the superlative degree.
Example: 

The Ramayana is the most interesting book of all the Epics.

The & Than

If we use “the” before the comparative then we don’t use “than” after the comparative.
Example: 

She is the better of the two students.

Progressive Statement

In the case of a progressive statement, we always use the comparative degree.
Examples: 

• The more you earn, the more you become rich. 
• The more you work hard, the more you get success.

Prefer to/than

Prefer to- Between two nouns
Example: 

I prefer tea to coffee.

Prefer than- Between two verbs.
Example: 

I prefer to sit than stand.

Little/ A little/ The little

Little in the case of negative sense. Little gives the sense of hardly any.
Example: 

I know little about his problems.

A little in the case of positive sense. A little means not much but some.
Example: 

A little knowledge of computer is a must for all.

The little in the case of neutral. It represents the sense of whatever is the remaining or the sense of not much but all.
Example: 

The little did I know, helped me a lot.
Note: Little, a little and the little are used to show quantity.

Few/A few/ The few

Few in the case of negative. Few give the sense of hardly anyone or anything.
Example: 

No few than fifty students were present in the class.

A few in the case of positive. A few refers to not many but some.
Example: 

I have met a few famous people in my life.

The few in the case of neutral. The few covers not many but all.
Example:

He lost the few friends he had.
Note: Few, a few and the few are used to show numbers.

Lesser

Lesser means less important
Example: 

Lesser leaders also delivered the speech after Modi.

Some/Any

Some for positive while Any for negative
Example: 

I could not find anybody there but some officers were present in the office.

Elder and Older

Elder for human being representing blood relations.
Example:

I am elder to my brother.

Older for the living or non-living/animal.
Example: 

He is oldest in the college.

(Note: In the case of comparison we use “to” with elder and “than” with older.)

So/As

So…..as (-ve)
Example: 

You are not so intelligent as your father.

As……as (+ve)
Example: 

You are as hard working as your father.