Adjectives | Common Mistakes

Cardinal numbers (one, two, three, four etc.) and ordinal numbers (first, second, third, fourth etc.) are both adjectives. Note that ordinal numbers go before nouns whereas cardinal numbers go after nouns.

• There is an error on the sixth page / There is an error on page six. (NOT There is an error on six page.)
• He is in the third class. / He is in class 3 (NOT He is in three class.)

Use the comparative form when change is implied in a sentence.

• Is he getting any better? (NOT Is he getting any well?)
• Nobody is getting younger. (NOT Nobody is getting young.)

When a comparison is made between two people or things, use the comparative form.

• Nandita and Nivedita are both beautiful but Nevidita is the prettier of the two. (NOT Nivedita is the prettiest of the two.)
• Choose the lesser of the two evils.
• Take the shorter of the two routes. (NOT Take the shortest of the two routes.)

However, when a comparison is made between more than two people or things, choose the superlative form.

• Sophia is the prettiest of the four sisters.

When no comparison is implied, choose the positive form of the adjective.

• It is a good movie. (NOT It is a best movie)
• It is the best movie of the year. (We use the superlative form here because we are obviously comparing this movie to all other movies released this year.)

Some comparative adjectives are used with the preposition to. Examples are: senior, junior, inferior, superior, anterior, posterior etc.

• She is senior to me. (NOT She is senior than me.)
• This material is superior to that. (NOT This material is superior than that.)

Sections in this article

Adjectives

Adjectives placed before nouns

Adjectives placed after verbs

Adjectives without Nouns

Adjectives: order before nouns

Kinds of Adjectives

Adjectives with and

Complements of adjectives

See also

Adjective clauses

Relative clauses

Relative pronouns

Identifying relative clauses

Omission of relative pronouns